The Daytona daily news., 1912-03-23
Across the
Aisle



tcscssishA nsEa. ~ AsaoeaAasA Eiasrary Rsssa1
That's Eagles Nest pass. nov. ."
said the man across the aisle. eager
". Mighty pretty IN this sunset
light, chr
Jess opened her eyes. she had
been drowslng for the last hour. The
view was gorgeous from the car win
0ows. She leaned forward. and looked
out 1t 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. Il seemed liks
enchantment that che should be out
here. skimming over the last ridge Of
the Rockies.
1T won't be ell easy work, yess. "
Tom had written. ''but rve got tha
upper hand OF things here nov, and
think you'll like Il"
The man across the alsle was talk
ing to his fellow passenger. q sleepy
old man. who had been dosing COM
fortably. and refused to warm up to
the slories Of the scenery.
II wouldn't give . hands breadth
OF this country up here for all Man.
haitian"
Where you from3" growied 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. TAN, strong
lmbed 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
there. Their eyes met He almost
smiled, and reached for q handbag In
the upper rack
Gould l leave this with you Just
while step into the smokerf" he
asked. Il won't be more than half an
hour"
Jess bowed her head assentingly
and he slipped the bag In beside her
own suitcase on the floor. It seemed
very heavy. After he had gone Jess
threw her fur scarf over 1t and won
dered who its owner was.
Not ten minutes later the train
slowed up. There was the sharp hiss
or air brakes. The wheels seemed
to 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 IL, 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.
bodyn 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
top OF the seat. white and death-like.
and 1t checked him. He glanced at
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.
"Plucky5 Well. rather. That's bet
ter. It's all right now. We're on
our way and the gang didn't get what
1t 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 satchel9"
"You didn't try to lift It, did you ?
It's full Of solid gold. / think you de-
serve to know, don't youf Do you
mind II I sit here? Well be into
Eagle View in 20 minutes, and leave
the train there"
$50 do t. 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 it1
I'm Raleigh Sayres, superintendent at
the Deerfoot works. Why, when first
spoke to you, and you looked at me. I
why, just felt as IL we must know
each other. Don't you know what I
mean?'
Jess long dark lashes dropped down
ward.
Il know" she said. I'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 of in gold up there. So, we'll
the gold is In that satchel, and back
yonder In the pass there's a band Of
train robbers wondering who gave the
wrong tip that the Deerfoot money
was to go through on this train. Do
you see now? 1t rested safely right
here under your blessed feet"
But I tainted. wasn't q bit
brave" protested Jess.
And made doubly sure thereby, !"
he laughed
The train was pulling around the
last mountain curve into Eagle View.
He helped to slip her long cloak
about her and fold the dark furs close
about her throat Then he reached