The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-07-24
ON THE BOSTON
EXPRESS
An Assignment That Pro-
duced Unexpected Results.
BY EDITH J. HUBERT.

Wentworth paused in the doorway
and glanced carelessly over the car.
! Then he turned to the porter with an
involuntarily sigh of relief.
Either of these two vacant seats
will do" he said.
The porter consulted his book.
"No. - is engaged, sab. but you can
have 13."
"All right" said Wentworth, taking
possession.
After his belongings had been fin
gered for the conventional length OF
time and the dusky official had re-
treated Wentworth looked at his
watch.
give minutes to starting time" he
murmured. land no sign Of her yet, for
which fact the lady has my heartfelt
gratitude.
my. won't Collins be in deuce
of funk. though! He seems to be un
commonly keen over the affair. I'll
see what he says again" And. fun
bling In his pocket. he produced a crum.
pied slip of paper
Smoothing it out he read half audi
bly,: Look out for Annette Blain on
Boston express. She has wind of the
states intention to call her as wit
ness In the Brent murder trial and is
going to cross the border. Is about
twenty-five and slender, with brown
hoi nd nf,
ner, dresses well. but plainly. Get an
interview with her and find out all she
knows about the case. Don't let this
slip Should be beat. Other papers
not on"
"Nice thing to foist on man just
starting on Il vacation" grumbled
Wentworth Anyway I've been
through all the cars-theyre all jam
med-and there's no such person in
sight That lets me out, and-Jove"
The porter had come back, followed
by a heavily veiled yonng woman in
long dark blue travelling coat. AS she
sank Wearily into the seat opposite No,
13 warning shrek came from the
great engine, and the train puffed slow
ly out of the station.
Wentworth eyed her furtively, while
the porter punctiliously arranged her
luggage in the rack.
"NIy victim undoubtedly" he sOlilO-
quized. Poor child! | wonder II she
| thinks that covering her face with u
thick veil when the thermometer Is 80
Is a good way to escape notice. How
had | best open up the attack? Moral
certainty all's very well, but I'm afraid
mine would become shaky If she should
deny her identity. There's something
about the poise Of her head that indi-
Gates she'd have the nerve to do 1t, too,
and I've really nothing to go by. Con
| found that veil!'
At this point small leather hand
bag obligingly slid off the newcomers S
lap, and Wentworth promptly present,
ed it to her with his best bow.
"Thank you,' she murmured politely
but in tone that distinctly discourag,
ed any attempt at conversation on his
part. He felt instinctively that II
1
any suggestions concerning the win
dow or the chair He resumed his seat
and sulkily regarded the flying land
scape for several minutes.
When he turned again, his vis-a-vis
had thrown back her veil. AS he lOoB
ed at her Wentworth found it dittlcult
to suppress an exclamation of amaze
ment. She was 50 like and yet so un
like Collins terse description OF the
fugitive witness. Slender she certain
ly was, twenty-five she might be, al
though sixteen would seem nearer th'
truth. and her manner was undoubted
ly timid. But surely the phrase "browl
hair" conveyed no adequate conception
of those ripping, gold tecked chestnu
} waves that swept away from ne
broad white brow and were gathere
in q loose coil at the nape of her neck
Surely the man who had told Collin
about her -'gray or blue eyes" neve
had picked violets diamondcd with tn
dew Of an early May morning. Surel
E no one but a brute could endure tn
thought Of the delicate pink Of thos
\ softly rounded cheeks deepening [
scarlet and those eXquisitely curve
n lips Quivering under the pitiless fire
cross questioning from half doze
lawyers regarding the hideouS detail
of the Brent murder case.
Her testimony was not essentia
The case Of the state was sufficient
strong without it. Justice would lo'
,fI nothing by her absence. Her t1gI
was not only entirely honorable
j. was a sacred duty she owed herse
d and her family.
Fortunately she, was safe enout
~ now. Soon after passing the next st
1t ton they would cross the line into Co
10 uecticut, and there would be no que
ton Of further pursuit If only s.
III were a shade more approachable
k, was sure he could give her some val
= liable advice in the matter.
- At this point in his reflections
1t train came TO full stop. 'Why. we
Il. there already" he muttered, glanci
out Of the window, and then involr
~ tarily he smiled sympathetically at
| girl.
She, however, did not seem to be
all in a mood to receive congratu
n tions. She was very pale, her lips We
a twitching nervouSly, and when, just
the train started again. the porter
'h' tered the car, followed by the cond
DIV tor, an expression of utter terror ca
into her eyes.
Evidently her fears were not al
Kether groundless. The two men w