Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-08-23

Hiiies. Sne 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 few moments before he rose with
an elaborate air Of carelessness. He
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, befo' 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 a hungry look In his
luscious eyes. His now-and-then wife
put up warning finger to indicate
Mrs. Whitcomb's presence at the
writing desk.
FOsdick's smile froze into a smirk
of Formally and he tried to chill his
tone as II he we're speaking to a total
stranger.
Good afternoon"
Mrs. Fosdick answered with equal
ice: Good afternoon. Won't you sit
DOWN."
Thanks. Very picturesque seen.
cry, isn't it,"
isn't it," Fosdick seated himself,
looked about cautiously, noted that
Mrs. Whitcomb was apparently abb
sorbed in her letter. then lowered his
voice confidentially. His face kept up
a strained pretense of Indifference,
but his whisper was passionate with
longing:
HAS my poor little wiley 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 miserable! I can't stand it
much longer"
Fosdick's face blazed with good
news: "In just little while we come
TO the Utah lme-then we're safe"
God bless Utah!"
The rapture died from her face as
she caught sight of DR.. Temple, who
happened to stroll In and go 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. Hes very strange
character"
Her husband was infected 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"
We'll be very cautious-till we get
10 Utah."
The old clergyman, a little fuzzy in
brain from his debut in beer, contin-
led innocently to confirm the appear
ance OF a detective by drifting aim
essly about. He was looking for his
wife, but he kept glancing at the un-
easy Fosdicks. He went to the door,
opened it, 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 filmy
eyes.
The Fosdicks. glancing uncomfort-
ably at DR.. Temple, rose and selected
'ther chairs further away. Then
Roger Ashton sauntered in, his eyes
for a proper companion
through the tunnel
He saw Mrs. Wellington returning
rom the platform. just tossing away
Ter cigar and blowing out the last Of
is grateful vapor.
With an effort at sarcasm, he went
o her and offered her one of his own
.igars, smiling: "Have another"
She took it. looked it over, and
,arried his irony with formula she
lad heard men use when they hate
o refuse gift-cigar: Thanks. I'll
moke 1t after dinner. If you don't
mind"
"Oh. don't mind" he laughed, then
lending closer he murmured: They
ell me we are coming to tunnel, a
ice, long, dark, dismal tunnel"
Mrs. Wellington would not take q
ARE. She felt herself already eman.
ipated from Jimmie So she answered
Ashton's hint with laughing chal.
enge:
How nice of the conductor to ar.
ange it."
Ashton smacked his lips over the
respect.
And now the porter, having noted ,
lshton's Impotence to reach the tun.
eel, thought to curry favor and a
uarter by announcing It's approach.
lie hustled in and made straight for {
lshton just as the tunnel announced
self with a sudden swoop of gloom,
great increase of the train.noises
nd far-off clang of the locomotive
ell. =
Out of the Egyptian darkness came '
le unmistakable sounds of OSCILLATION l
l various parts of the room. Doubt
,ss. 1t was repeated in other parts OF .
le train. There were numerous COO
lg sounds, too. but nobody spoke ex-
ept Mrs. Temple, who was heard to
lurmur:
"Oh. Walter, dear, what makes your
reath so FUNNY"
Next came little yOwl of pain in
[rs. Fosdick's voice, and then day i
ght flooded the car with rush, as l
time had made an instant lean from a