Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1911-07-27
CHAPTER VI
Inc chi In RIue.


The Girl In Blue.
l was growing more and more ir
ritable. The thought of what the
loss Of the notes meant was fast
crowding the murder to the back of
my mind. The forced inaction was
intolerable. The porter had reported
no bag answering the description of
mine on the train, but | was disposed
to make my own investigation. | made
a tour of the cars. scrutinizing every
variety of hand luggage. ranging from
luxurious English bags with gold
mountings to the wicker nondescript
of the day coach at the rear. / was
not alone in my quest, for the girl in
blue was just ahead of me. Car by
car she preceded me through the train,
unconscious that l was behind her.
looking at each passenger as she
passed ] fancied the proceeding was
distasteful, but that she had determin-
ed on course and was carrying it
through. We reached the end of the
train almost together-empty-handed,
both of us.
The girl went out to the platform.
Wien she saw me she moved aside,
and stepped out beside her. Behind
us the track curved sharply; the early
sunshine threw the train, in long black
shadow, over the hot earth. Forward
somewhere they were hammering.
The girl said nothing. but her profile
was strained and anxious
IF you have lost anything" /
began, Il wish you would let me try to
help. Not that my own success Is any.
thing to boast Of
She hardly glanced at me. It was
not fiatterlng.
Il have not been robbed, II that Is
what you mean" she replied quietly.
Il am-perplexed. That is ALL"
There was nothing to say to that.
lifted my hattie other fellows
hat-and turned to go back to my car.
Two or three members of the train
crew, including the conductor, were
standing in the shadow talking. And
at that moment. from a farmhouse
near came the swift clang of the
breakfast bell. calling in the hands
from barn and pasture. ! turned back
to the girl
I'VE may be here for an hour"
said, "and there is no buffet car on
II ] remember my youth, that bell
means ham and eggs and country but
ter and coffee. If you care to run
the risk"
Il am not hungry" she said, but
, perhaps a cup Of coffee-dear me,
believe ! am hungry" she finished
Only" She glanced back Of her.
Il can bring your companion ! sug
, gested. without enthusiasm. But th'
young woman shook her head
she is not hungry" she objected
/ 'and she Is very-well, / know she
wouldn't come DO you suppose VIZ
! could make it II we rum"
4 Il haven't any idea" ! said cheer
fully. ANY old train would be bettei
= than this one, II It does leave US be
e hind
! yes Any train would be bettel
[ than this one she repeated gravely
/ found myself watching her changing
A expression. I had spoken two dozel
= words to her and already / felt tina
+ knew the lights and shades in he
v voice., who had always known hoS
4 a woman rode to hounds. and Wit
I never could have told the color 0
:. her hair.
4 / stepped down on the ties AM
r turned to assist her. and together W
q walked back to where the conducto
r and the porter from our car were il
close conversation. Instinctively M
/. hand went to my cigarette pocket an
r came out empty She saw the gei
a ture
I III you want to smoke. you may,
she said Il have a big cousin VIII
smokes all the time He says I al
I kippered."
o drew out the gun-metal cigarett
case and opened It. But this mos
. commonplace action had an extraoi
4 binary result: The girl beside m
y stopped dead still and stood starin
! at it with fascinated eyes.
II "ls-where did you get that2" sh
demanded. with a catch IN her voice
10 her gaze still fixed ON the cigarett
y case
CTO BE CONTINUED)
r Uneasy lies The head that wears a
n lee hapfH