The record., 1912-05-02
Across the
Aisle
Copyright. 1911. by Associated Literary Press,

Jess opened her eyes. She had
been browsing for the last hour The
view was gorgeous from the car win
dows. She leaned forward. and looked
out at the great encircling mountains
the still. dark lake far below the
track, the vast, outstretching dis
tances beyond the pass itself Some
where over toward the golden sunset
lay her brothers ranch, and the new
life that had swept her out OF the rut
down east. After ten years of school
teaching in the country. it seemed like
enchantment that she should he out
here, skimming over the last ridge OF
the Rockies
1T won't be all easy work. Jess.
Tom had written. but I've got the
upper hand of things here now, and
l think you'll like it."
The man across the aisle was talk.
ing to his fellow passenger, a sleepy
old man, who had been doing com.
fortably, and refused to warm up to
the glories of the scenery
Il wouldn't give a hands breadth
w AhiS Souhtis up mere iOI All MAN.
haitian"
Where you from?" growled back
the other.
"Deerfoot. sir. Finest section and
richest out here. Come into the
smoking compartment with me and
let me tell you about it,
He rose impulsively, a tall, strong,
limbed youngster. with all the vivid
assurance and hope of the west in
his face. Suddenly he hesitated and
looked across the aisle at the girl
..-, Thri. eyes met He almost
smiled. and ached for a handbag in
the upper rack.
Gould | leave this with you just
while l step into the smoker?" he
asked. Il won't be more than iii an
hour"
Jess bowed her head ass,ltu@i.
and he slipped the bag in beside asr
own suitcase on the floor. 1t seemed
very heavy. After he had gone Jess
threw her fur scarf over it and Won
dered who its owner was.
Not ten minutes la'c- The lsain
'cve5 up. TT -gs sac s.-.,su hiSs
q arr brakes. gus wheels seenled
70 crate and grind along on the rails
Almost instantly shots sounded up for
ward. Some of the men passengers
rose. Jess held her breath and won.
dered If, after all, she was not to
reach her new life.
The doors at the end of the car
swung open. Two masked. armed men
entered.
Hands up and shut up, and no
body'll be hurt" said one tersely
The other started Systematically to
search. At Jess seat he reached for her
suitcase and saw the girl had tainted
Her pretty head lay back on the roll
and it checked him. He glanced at
1.-The suit case. back at her face, and
passed on. Under her skirts rested
the leather satchel unobserved.
When she came to some one was
bathing her face in cold water.
'Plucky? Well, rather That's bet
ter. It's all right now. We're on
our way and the gang didn't get what
it wanted after ALL" he leaned nearer;
thanks to you."
81 don't know what you mean." fal
tered Jess.
"Of course you don't, but I'm
mighty obliged to you Just the same
They passed by the smoker and miss
ed me. and didn't look for my belong
ings in your seat, that's ALL"
You mean the satchel?"
you didn't try to lift 1t, did you
It's full of solid gold. think you de.
serve TO know, don't you? Do you
mind If l sit here? Well be into
Eagle View IN 20 minutes, and leave
the train there"
so do l." said Jess. shyly.
Where bound?" There was no mis-
taking his eagerness.
ITO the Sawtooth ranch. It's my
brothers."
Tom McQuaid's? Why, we're neigh
bors. It's a queer little juggler's ball
that We dance on, this world, isn't it?
I'm Raleigh Sayres. superintendent al
the Deerfoot works. Why, when | first
spoke to you. and you looked at me,
why, just felt as IL we must know
each other. Don't you know what
mean?"
Jess long dark lashes dropped down
ward.
Il know" she said. "T'm glad too
that you will be near-Tom."
But do you know what you've
done this day? Why. you'll be the
heroine OF the whole valley! We
pay off in gold up there. So. we'll
the gold is in that satchel, and back
yonder in the pass there's q band oi
train robbers wondering who gave the
wrong tip that the Deerfoot money
was to go through on this train. Dc
you see now? II rested safely right
here under your blessed feet"
"But l tainted. wasn't bit
brave" protested Jess.
'And made doubly suro thereby
be laughed.
The train was pulling around the
last mountain curve into Eagle View
He helped to slip her long cloaf
about her and fold the dark furs close
about her throat. Then he reached
down for the satchel and her suit
case.
Il think Tom will meet me-" said
ices, demurcly. "B7. yol ms cone
ell the samc--sool.'