Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-08-07

ment of the Pullman I took q peek


entered, until every berth was full. l
chanced to take peek within the
stateroom-just an accidental opening
of the door, you know-and laughed to
myself as l saw that the porter had
done the work | had bribed him to
do. There was grin on his black
face when l passed him in the pas.
sageway and he bowed his head.
"'Ah's done got everything ar.
ranged. he said.
"'Shh-h-h!' l warned him hastily.
We were near the smoking compart.
ment.
For an hour nothing happened. My
seat was near the smoker end of the
car and my eyes were continually on
the passageway, for l was fearful that
he would tire Of his job Of staying
within the compartment But he
obeyed my orders.
"'Joliet!' called the porter and l
felt something creepy begin to spring
up within me. Now was to be the be-
ginning Of the working out of my plan.
| heard feminine voice outside and
then the voice Of the porter.
"'Ahll done bring de grip in min
ute; yo' state rooms right straight
down de aisle
II turned my head to the window
so that she would not notice me. Then,
when she had passed, hurriedly
turned and watched I saw her open
the door of the stateroom, start back
down the aisle and then jump back
again. She had caught sight of her
husband issuing from the passageway.
He had not seen her.
"He came straight on down the aisle,
neither looking to the right nor to the
left and headed for the stateroom
door. didn't tell you that had got
ten the tickets for the same state.
ROOM did II" Miss Clement asked
with that noncomparable, mischievous
little smile of hers. well, did. That
was a part OF my little game, and let
me tell you, as watched Mr.. Douglas
going down the aisle toward the door,
my heart was humping mighty hard.
and was wondering what he would
say when he got In there, found his
wife and everything else had ar
ranged for him. The temptation was
strong within me to follow him. and
| did. 1t was not second after he
had opened the door and closed 1t be-
hind him that l was standing by the.
little window in the passageway,
where by leaning close, I could hear
what went on within. The curtain
shielded me from the rest OF the car.
knew had no one to fear except the
porter, and | had paid him enough
money and told him enough Of the
situation to make him my ally.
For second there was a deep
silence from within the room. knew
Just what was happening. They were
standing there, staring at each other,
looking at the decorations on the
walls, at the signs | had arranged
there, wondering what it all meant
and what on earth had been up to.
At least, in my guilty little way, felt
that they were suspecting me. | was
hoping though, for the sake of the
scheme that had fostered, that they
were not. At last came voice.
"'Jeanrette.'
"'Well?' answered the voice Of the
woman. L don't see what right you
have in here.
"T might say the same thing in re-
gard to you. But l assure you l have
no desire to intrude. l shall 60 into
the smoker until we reach the next
town and then get off the train.
Every well,' answered Mrs. Douglas
in a matter Of fact way. Then came
the voice of the husband. could feel
piaue in it. He felt that In some way
he had blundered and that the best way
to do would be to stir up some kind OF
a quarrel that he might leave the
train. And Mrs. Douglas, In the light
Of the fact that she was there to find
evidence against her husband, felt the
same way. Yet neither OF them knew
exactly what to do. II the husband
left the train, Mrs. Douglas was sure
that the evidence she sought was lost.
On his side, Mr. Douglas believed In
some vague way that l had known
Mrs Douglas was to be on the train
and that had arranged some kind OF
a trap for her, which he had bungled.
And so he hesitated by the door.
might ask he demanded. what
you are doing in stateroom with
white ribbons hung all around, with
rice and old shoes on the floor and
with signs proclaiming the fact that
someone has just been married?
"'You said you had ticket for this
stateroom and so | can ask you the
same question: came the voice of the
wife. Perhaps you've turned bigam-
ist.'
II didn't like the sting In those
words and fear began to creep up
within me. was wondering whether
or not my little plan was going to fall.
There was silence moment and
then:
ut Is true I did have ticket for
this stateroom, but I assure you l
know nothing OF the newly-wed decora-
tions. 1t may be there has been some
mistake If you'll allow me, III find
out for you and see that you are put
In your proper stateroom before !
leave the train
"'That Is very kind Of you,' she
said somewhat coldly. / heard him
turn the key of the door and open 1t.
Then l pulled string that had paid
more good money to the porter to
conceal. An outpouring Of rice fell
upon the shoulders of Brent Douglas
as he walked from the stateroom door.
His wife was behind and she got 1t.
too. For moment, they stared In