The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-13
CHAPTER XIII.
Throuoh q Tunnel.

tVroo0n y Iunnot.
Mrs. Jimmie Wellington, who had
travelled much abroad and learned In
England the habit of smoking In the
corridors Of expensive hotels, had ac-
Quired also the habit. as travellers do.
OF calling England freer than Amer
lea She determined TO do her share
toward the education OF her native
country. and chose. for her topic, to-
bacco az feminine accomplishment
She had grown Indifferent to stares
and audible comment and she could
night protesting head waiter to a
standstill. II monuments and tablets
are ever erected to the first woman
who smoked publicly In this place or
that. Mrs Jimmie Wellington will be
variously remembered and occupy a
large place In historical record.
The narrow confines OF the women's
room on the sleeping car soon pailed
on her. and she objected to smoking
there except when she felt the added
luxury of keeping some other woman
'outside-fuming. but not smoking.
And now MrB. Jimmie had staked out
claim on the observation platform.
She sat there. puflng like q 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 mile. yipping and bowling
their compliments
Feelins the smoke mood coming on.
Mrs. wellington Invited Mrs. Temple
70 smoke with he's. but Mira. Temple
reit reminiscent gualm at the very
thought. so Mrs. jimmie sauntered
out alone. to the great surprise OF
ira Lathrop, whose motto was, Two
heads are better than one" and who
was apparently willing to wait tin
Anne Gattle's head grew on his
shoulder.
II trust I don't intrude." Mrs. Well
ington said.
"oh. no. Oh. yes" Anne gasped in
merry confusion as she fled into the
car. followed oy the purple-faced Ira.
who slammed the door with a growI:
That Wellington woman would break
up anything"
Tne prim little missionary toppled
into the nearest chair: "Oh. Ira, what
Will she think?"
"She can't think" Ira grumblea
In 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 ulurmured with all the
ardor OF senIle Romeo: 81 supnose
SO. ducky darling I'll break I'll
mean I'll tell II to the men. and Won
tell the women"
All right, dear. I'll obey you," she
answered. meelxly.
obey mel" Ira laughed with how.
ish swsgger. And you a mission.
ary'" ''''"
Wen, I've converted one heathen
anyway" said Anne as she darted
down the corridor. followed by Ira
VINO announced his intention to "so
TO the baggage car and dig ND his old
Prince Albert"
In 'neir flight 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 prowl,np
toward the observation car. suspect.
Ing everybody &c 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
husoand-her here-and-there husband
-wearily counting the telegram
posts and summing them up into
miles. She tapped on the glass and
sisnalled to him. then passed ON.
lie answered with look. then pre-.
tended not TO have noticed. and wait.
ed few moments before he rose with
an elaborate air OF carelessness. lie
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. hsfo' long. We splounce into old
Utah"
Don't forget" said Fosdick. as he
sauntered out. Ashton perked up his
ears at the promise OF a tunnel and
kept his eye ON his watch.
Fosdick entered the observation
room with hungry look I'm his
luscious eyes. His now-and-then wife
put up warning finger TO Indicate
Mrs. Whitcombs presence at the
writing desk.