The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-10-10

isn't it?' Fosdick seated himself,
looked about cautiously. noted that
Mrs. Whitcomb was appasently alb
sorbed in her letter. then lowered his
voice confidentiallys 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. so 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 miserablel can't stand IL
much longer"
Fosdfcks face blazed with good
news: In just q little while we come
to the Utah line-then we're safe"
God bless UtahI"
The rapture died from her face as
she caught sight OF DR.. Temple, who
happened to stroll in and 20 to the
bookshelves, and taking out book
happened to glance near-sightedly her
way.
BE careful OF that man, dearie.-
Mrs. Fosdick Kissed out Of one side
OF her mouth. He's q very strange
character
Her husband was injected with her
own terror. He asked. huskily: what
do you think he is?"
"A detective! I'm sure he's watch
Ing us. He followed you right in
here
Wen be very cautious-tin we get
to Utah"
The old clergyman, little fuzzy In
brain from his debut in beer, contin-
ued innocently to confirm the appear
ance OF detective by drifting aim.
lessly about. He was looking for his
wife, but he kept glancing at the UNI
easy Fosdicks. He went to the door.
opened 1t, saw Mrs. Wellington finish.
Ing cigar, and retreated precipitate
~. Seeing Mrs. Temple wandering in
the corridor, he motioned her to q
chair near the Fosdicks and she sat
by his side. wondering at his hlmy
eyes.
The Fosdicks. glancing unoomfort-
ably at DR.. Temple, rose and selected
other chairs further away. Then
Roger Ashton sauntered In, his eyes
searching for proper companion
through the tunnel.
He saw Mrs. Wellington returning
from the platform, just tossing away
her cigar and blowing out the last OF
its grateful vapor.
With an effort at sarcasm, he went
to her and offered her one OF his own
cigars, smiling: Have another"
She took 1t, looked 1t over, and
parted his irony with a formula she
had heard men use when they hate
to refuse gift-cigar: Thanks. I'll
smoke It after dinner. If you don't
mind"
'Oh, don't mind" he laughed, then
bending closer he murmured: They
tell me we are coming to tunnel. .
nice, long. dark. dismal tunnel"
Mrs. Wellington would not take q
dare. She felt herself already eman.
cipated from Jimmie. So she answered
Ashton's hint with laughing chal-
lenge:
How nice OF the conductor to ar.
range it,
Ashton smacked his lips over the
prospect.
And now the porter, having noted
Ashton's Impotence to reach the tun-
mel, thought to curry favor and a
quarter by announcing its approach.
He hustled In and made straight for
Ashton just as the tunnel announced
itself with sudden swoop Of gloom.
a great increase of the train-noises
and far-otf clang OF the locomotive
bell.
Out of the Egyptian darkness came
the unmistakable sounds OF OSCILLATION
in various parts Of the room. Doubt
less, 1t was repeated in other parts OF
the train. There were numerous coo-
ing sounds, too. but nobody spoke Of.
cept Mrs Temple, who was heard to
murmur:
.Oh, Walter, dear, what makes ysur
breath so funny!"
Next came a little yowl OF pain In
Mrs. Fosdick's voice, and then day.
light flooded the car with rush. a.
Ii time had made an instant leap from
midnight to noon. There were inter.
esting disclosures.
Mrs. Temple was caught with her
arms round the doctors neck, and
she blushed like spoony girl. Mrs
Fosdick was trying to disengage he'll
hair from Mr.. Fosdick's scarf-pin. Mrs
| Whitcomb alone was deserted. ME-
Ashton was gazing devotion at Mrs
| Wellington and trying to tell heI
with his eyes how velvet he had
| found her cheek.
But she was looking reproachfully
at him from chair. and saying. no,
1 without regret:
IT heard everybody kissing every
| body, but was cruelty neglected"
Ashton's eyes widened with unbe
lief, he heard a smoker at his elbow
and whirled to find the porter PUB
bling his black velvet cheek and
writhing with pent-up laughter.
tTo BE CoNTINUED.l