The Delta independent., 1912-07-26

oulsAue- -AuMiH6, Dut not smoking
And now Mrs. Jimmie had staked out
a claim on the observation platform,
She sat there, puffing like a major.
general, and in one portion Of Ne.
braska two farmers fell of their agri.
cultural vehicles at the sight of her
cigar-smoke trailing after the train,
In Wyoming three cowboys followed
her for a mile, yipping and bowling
their compliments.
Feeling the smoke mood coming on.
Mrs. Wellington invited Mrs. Temple
to smoke with her, but Mrs. Temple
felt reminiscent qualm at the very
thought, so Mrs. Jimmie sauntered
out alone, to the great surprise of
Ira Lathrop, whose motto was, 1.-TWO
heads are better than one," and who
was apparently willing to wait till
Anne Gattle's head grew on his
shoulder.
Il trust don't intrude," Mrs. Well
ington said.
"Oh. no. Oh, yes" Anne gasped in
fiery confusion as she fled into the
car, followed by the purple-faced Ira,
who slammed the door with a growl:
THAT Wellington woman would break
up anything"
The prim little missionary toppled
into the nearest chair: "Oh, Ira. what
will she think?"
She can't think" Ira grumbled.
'1n little while she'll know"
Don't you think we'd better tell
everybody before they begin to talk?
Ira glowed with pride at the
thought and murmured with all the
ardor of senile Romeo: Il suppose
SO. ducky darling. I'll break it-I
mean I'll tell it to the men, and you
tell the women"
'All right, dear. I'll obey you," she
answered, meekly.
"Obey mel" Ira laughed with boy
ish swagger. And you a mission
ary!"
We'll, I've converted one heather,
anyway" said Anne as she darted
down the corridor, followed by Ira,
who announced his intention to "go
to the baggage car and dig up his old
Prince Albert"
In their fight forward they passed
the mysterious woman in the state
room. They were too full of their
own mystery to give thought to hers.
Mrs. Fosdick went timidly prowling
toward the observation car, suspect
ing everybody to be a spy, as Mallory
suspected everybody to be a clergy
man in disguise.
AS she stole along the corridor
past the mems clubroom she saw her
husband-her here-and-there husband
-wearily counting the telegraph
posts and summing them up into
miles. She tapped on the glass and
signalled to him. then passed on.
He answered with a look, then pre-
tended not to have noticed, and wait
ed few moments before he rose with
an elaborate air of carelessness. He
beckoned the porter and said:
Let me know the moment we en-
ter Utah, will you?"
"Yassah. Well be comm along
right soon now. We got to pass
through the big Aspen tunnel, after
that. befo' long, We splounce into old
Utah"
Don't forget" said Fosdick. as he
sauntered out. Ashton perked up mis-
ears at the promise of a tunnel and
kept his eye on his watch.
Fosdick entered the observation
room with hungry look in his
luscious eyes. His now-and-then wife
put up a warning finger to Indicate
Mrs. Whitcombs presence at the
writing desk.
Fosdick's smile froze into smIrk
OF formality and he tried to chill his
tone as If he were speaking to total
stranger.
Good afternoon"
Mrs. Fosdick answered with equal
ice: Good afternoon. Won't you sit
DOWN."
Thanks. Very picturesque seem
cry, isn't it?"
Isn't it?" Fosdick seated himself,
looked about cautiously, noted that
Mrs. Whitcomb was apparently abb
sorbed in her letter, then lowered his
voice confidentially. His face kept up
a strained pretense of Indifference,
but his whisper was passionate with
longing:
Has my poor little WHEY missed
her poor old hubby?"
"Oh, 80 much!" she whispered
HAS poor little hubby missed his
poor old wife?"
Horribly. Was she lonesome in
that dismal stateroom all by her
self"
"Oh, SO miserable! 1 can't stand It
much longer"
Fosdick's face blazed with good
news: "In just little while we come
to the Utah ltne-then we're safe"
God bless Utah!"
The rapture died from her face as
she caught sight of DIR. Temple, who
happened to stroll in and go to the
bookshelves, and taking out book
happened to glance near-sightedly her