Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-06-19
The TREASURE
TRUNK
BY GERALDINE CASE
Copyright, 1912, by Associated Literary
Press.)

got everything in the world except
the face of the girl beside him. 1t had
been years since he had even believed
such faces still existed. Now, all he
could do was stand like any other
beauty struck male. and stare at 1t
hungrily.
She was not over twenty, a slender
flower Of a girl, with satin waves OF
sunny hair framing in her tender,
wistful face She lifted her long
Iashes just once, and he caught
flash of eyes blue as June skies, blue
as the long-stemmed May-time vio-
let's he remembered picking along the
edge of woodland brooks when he was
a boy.
Then he remembered that he had
just exactly three minutes to beat
time down the concourse and catch
the Northwest express. He caught
up the check, and hesitated another
instant She was already tucking
her own check into little suede
handbag, and he realized, as she hur-
ried on ahead of hiEn, that she was
actually going on the same train.
He had checked his heavy leather
suitcase. That left him free to run,
but he waited for her, and they
passed through the gate together,
the last to take the train. Down the
long narrow platform they both hur-
ried, aud he helped her up the steps
as she chose a certain car. And after
that he lost her She found a seat,
he had to go on. hunting one for
himself. The train was crowded with
tourists, in the day coaches. 1t was
warm and sultry. He finally found
place to hang his hat, but when be
sat down under It, and looked back,
she was not there
The train had reached the Mon
tana boundary line before he deIib-
erately started in to make thor
-Ough search of the whole train, and
found her, very cool and happy, in.
the parlOr car.
There was an amply seat nearby,
and he got a check from the conduc-
tor for it. So far she had not noticed
his devotion. 50 far it was satisfy
ing to him simply to watch her pro-
file and the droop of her long lashes.
1t was desperate, but his only chance
to find out anything about her. He
slipped a dollar bill to the porter,
and put it up to him to make in
quiries
Through ticket to Moose Trail,
sab" came back the answer in due
time.
Lindsay scowled and nodded. He
was bound for Trent, three hours
journey past Moose Trail She would
step off into the embrace of these
everlasting mountains and he would
never see her again. If it had been
any other time, he would have taken
a chance. and left the train with her;
but he couldn't. The firm trusted
him. In the suitcase was over $10,
600 worth of gold watches. In the
small trunk he had checked at the
same time there were jewels and gold
chains, bracelets, trinkets of all kinds,
all due to arrive at Trent that day to
connect with the western salesman,
Bidford. He was intrusted with their
safe delivery. But yet, if he only
knew her name, could only throw out
some connecting line of interest so
that she would remember him, so that
he might find her again. A hundred
ways occurred and he put them away
from his mind.
She left the train at Moose Trail,
and not once had he held even her
gaze There was a boy waiting to
meet her. and he saw her bend her
head to kiss him. From the open
window, he even heard the boy say:
Hello, Lola!"
All the rest of the journey the sing
ing rails hummed the name to him,
Lola Before the week was up he
would be back there at Moose Tail,
turning the surrounding country up
side down until he had found Lola
and that freckled kid.
Bidford was at the hotel when ne
arrived. 1t was nearly dinner tiae,
and he was hungry, but the olaer
salesman insisted on getting the trunk
and suitcase up from the depot first.
Lindsay handed over his checks. and
plunged into bath. When the porter
brought up the baggage Bidford called
out to him to hand out his keys.
What sort of a fancy watch charm
do you call this trunk. anyhow. ALP"
he added carelessly.
It's all to the good" came back
Lindsay's voice, muffled in a Turkish
towel Got it in Chicago; stand any
thing. fireproof. burglar proof, bomb
proof"
A deep rumble of laughter from
old Bidford startled him. He slipped
into pajamas, and came out into the
room. On the bed lay the suitcase,
open On the floor was little yellow
steamer trunk, very new, very lightly
made, very feminine The lock was
simple one. Bidford had found a
key that opened it, and now he threw
back the cover of the till. A mass of
girlish belongings lay exposed to
view. Above all a delicate. imDalDa-