The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-06
CHAPTER XVI.

| at the eastern end of the Crow's s A Nest. and when Ldgerwood reached it he found the observation l platform fully occupied. Hello. MT. Lidgerwood, is that | you?" called Van Lew when the su- | perintendent came across to the spur track. II thought you said this was a bad mans country. We have been out here for solid hour. and nobody l has shot up the town or even whooped single lonesome war whoop. In fact, think your village with the heavenly name has gone ingloriously to bed. We're defrauded." ''It does go to bed pretty early-that 1 part of it which doesn't stay up pretty l late." laughed Lidgerwood. Then he came closer and spoke to Miss Brew | ster. 'I am going west in my car, and don't know just when shall return. Please tell your father that every thing we have here is entirely at his service. If you don't see what you want you are to ask for it." "Will there be any one to ask when you are gone?' she inquired, eneither sorrowing nor rejoicing so far as he could determine.
 "Oh, yes; McCloskey, my trainmas- ter, will be in from the wreck before morning, and he will turn fipfaps trying to make things pleasant for you if you will give him the chance" Miss Brewster was running her fin gers along the hand rail as if it were the keyboard of a piano. 'You say you don't know how long you will be awayY' she asked.
 'No, but probab bly, not more than the night. I was only providing for the unexpected. which some people say is what always happens" twill your run take you as far as the Timanyoni canyon?" 'Yes. through it and some little dis tance beyond"
 aeYou have just said that we are to ask for what we want. Did you mean itr'
 Surely he replied unguardedly.
 "Then we may as we'll begin at once." she said coolly, and. turning quickly to the others "Oh, all you people, listen a minute, will you? Hush, Carolyn! What do you say to a moonlight ride through one of the grandest canyons in the west in MT. Lidgerwood's car? 1t will be some thing to talk about as long as you live. Don't all speak at once. please"
 But they did. There was an instant and enthusiastic chorus of approval, winding up rather dolefully. however, n,,k fhAR will never consent to it. Eleanor!'
 "Mr. Lidgerwood will never consent, you mean" put in Miriam Holcombe quietly.
 Underwood said what he might without being too crudely inhospitable. His car was entirely at the service of the presidents party. of course, but 1t was not very commodious compared with the Nadia. Moreover, he was going on business trip. and at the end of 1t be would have to leave them for an hour or two. maybe longer. Moreover, again, if they got tired they would have to sleep as they could. though possibly his stateroom in the service car might be made to accom- modate the three young women. All this he said. hoping and believing that Mrs. Brewster would not only refuse to go herself. but would promptly veto an unchaperoned excursion.
 But this was one time when his dis tantIy related kinswoman disappointed him. Mrs. Brewster, cajoled by her daughter. yielded reluctant consent, going to tie car door to tell Lidger- wood that she would hold him responr sible for the safe return of the trip. pers.
 "See. now. how fatally easy it is for one to promise nore-oh. so very much more!-than one has any idea Of per. forming" murmured the presidents daughter, dropping out to walk beside the victim when the party trooped down the long platform of the Crows Nest to the service car, and when he did not reply, Please don't be grum- py."
 ''It was the maddest notionw he pro. tested. Whatever made you suggest itw
 "Listen," she said. "I did 1t out of pure hatefulness. You showed so plainly this afternoon that you wished to be quit of me--of the entire party that I couldn't resist the temptation to pay you back with good, liberal inter est. Possibly you will think twice be- fore you snub me again. Howard. dear"
 Quickly he stopped and faced her. The others were a few steps in ad- vance-were already boarding the serv- ice car.
 'One word. Eleanor, and for heav- en's sake let us make it final. There are some things that can endure and some others that I cnnnot-will not. I love you: what you said to me the last time we were together made no difference: nothing you can ever say will make any difference. You must take that fact into consideration while you are here and we are obliged to meet h justice to me. in justice to Van Lew"-
 T think your conductor is waiting to speak to you" she broke in sweetly. and he gave it up. putting her on the car and turning to confront the mar with the green shaded lantern, who proved to be Bradford.
 "Any special orders, Mir. Lidger- who'd 2D inoJ1irod Rradford