Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-09-05
CHAPTER KIN.
THROUGH a Tunnel

England the habit Of smoking in the
corridors Of expensive hotels had &C
qulred 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-
b.cCo as a feminine accomplishment.
She had grown Indifferent TO stares
and audible comment and she could
hghf a protesting head waiter to a
stanasull 10 monuments and tablets
who smoked publicly in this place or
that, Mrs Jimmie Wellington viii be
yariously remembered and occupy
large place in historical record
The narrow confines Of the womens
room on the sleeping car soon palled
ON her. and she objected to smoking
there except when she felt the added
luxury Of keeping some other woman
outsidc-fuming but not smoking
And now Mrs Jimmie had staked out
a claim on the observation platform
She sat there. putting ike a major.
general and IN one portion OF Ne
braska two farmers fell of their agri-
cultural vehicles az 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, 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 fed 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.
In a 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 a senile Romeo: Il suppose
so. ducky darling. I'll break It'll
mean I'll tell It to the men, and you
tell the women"
answered, meekly.
obey mel" Ira laughed with boy
ish swagger. And you a mission
| aryi"
Well, 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 proving
| 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 hel
husband-her here-and.there HUSBAND
| a~ff hA f.1l -
p1sts and summing them up int
miles. She tapped on the glass anC
signalled TO him, then passed on.
He answered with a look, then pre-
tended not TO have noticed, and wait
ed a few moments before he rose will
an elaborate air OF carelessness II,
beckoned the porter and said
Let me know the moment we en-
ter Utah, will you?"
"Yassah. Wen be comm alonI
right soon now. We got to pas
through the big Aspen tunnel afte
that. befo long. We splounce into oil
Utah"
} Don't forget" said Fosdick, as b
sauntered out. Ashton perked up hi
ears OF TIC plbLAAinS VI q NAhhSl du
kept his eye on his watch.
Fosdick entered the observatio
. room with a hungry look in hi
luscious eyes. His now-and-then wifi
J put up a warning finger TO indicat
Mrs. Whitcomb's presence at tn
| writing desk
Fosdick's smile froze into a smir
! OF formality and he tried TO chill hi
r tone as II he were speaking TO tots
e stranger.
Good afternoon"
Mrs. Fosdick answered with equi
+ ice: Good afternoon. Won't you 81
down.
/. Thanks Very picturesque scel
t cry, isn't it?"
a Isn't it," Fosdick seated hlmsel
r looked about cautiously, noted the
s Mrs Whitcomb was apparently al
e sorbed in her letter, then lowered hi
S voice confdentially. His face kept u
a strained pretense OF indifference,
+ but his whisper was passionate wit
| longing:
: Has my poor little wiley MISE
r. | h,r r,oCr old HuIhy7"