The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-05-08
ON THE BOSTON
EXPRESS
An Assignment That Pro.
duced Unexpected Results.
BY EDITH ), 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. II is engaged. sab. but you can
have 13"
"An right" said Wentworth, taking
possession.
After his belongings had been fn-
gered for the conventional length Of
time and the dusliy official had re.
treated Wentworth looked at his
watch.
Five 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 a deuce
of funk, though. He seems to be un.
| commonly keen over the affair. III
see what he says again" And, fun
bling in his pocket. he produced a crum-
pleu SIP OF paper
Smoothing it ont, he read half audi
bly,: look out for Annette Blain on
Boston express. She has wind of the
states intention to call her as a wit
ness in the Brent murder trial and is
| going to cross the border. Is about
| twenty-five and slender. with brown
| hair and gray or blue eyes. timid man
ner, dresses we'll 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 q man just
starting on vacation" grumbIed
Wentworth. Anyway I've been
through all the cars rs-theyre all jam
med-and there's no such person in
sight. That let's me out. and-Jove!'
The porter had come back, followed
by heavily veiled young woman in a
long dark blue travelling coat. AS she
sank YEARLY 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.
my victim undoubtedly" he solilo-
quized. "Poor child, | wonder If she
thinks that covering her face with a
thick veil when the thermometer is so
is good way to escape notice. How
had best open up the attack? Moral
certainty all's very we'll, 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 veiI!'
At this point a small leather hand
bag obligingly slid off the newcomer
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
/
any suggestions concerning the win
dow or the chair. He resumed his seal
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 looR
ed at her Wentworth found it difficult
to suppress an exclamation of amaze
ment. She was so 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 tn
truth, and her manner was undoubted
ly timid. But surely the phrase "browl
hair" conveyed no adequate conception
of those ripping, gold tlecked chestnu'
waves that swept away from hel
broad white brow and were gathered
in q loose coil at the nape of her neck
Surely the man who had told Collin:
about her "'gray or blue eyes, never
had picked violets diamopded with thu
dew of an early May morning. Surely
no one but brute could endure tht
thought Of the delicate pink Of thos;
softly rounded cheeks deepening tt
scarlet and those exqusitely curved
lips quivering under the pitiless fire o
cross questioning from half dozel
lawyers regarding the hideous detail
of the Brent murder case
| Her testimony was not essential
The case Of the state was sufficient,
strong without it. Justice would los
nothing by her absence. Her figh
was not only entirely honorable
was a sacred duty she owed hersel
and her family.
II Fortunately she was safe enoug
now Soon after passing the next sta
ton they would cross the line into Cor
necticut, and there would be no ques
. ton of further pursuit. If only sh
were shade more approachable b
was sure he could give her some valr
| able advice in the matter.
AT this point in his reflections tn
) train came to full stop. why. we'r
there already he muttered, glancin
J out Of the window. and thenfinvoluI
tarily he smiled sympathetically at tn
: girl.
She, however, did not seem to be q
all in a mood to receive congratuli
! tions. She wasvery pale. her lips wei
twitching neryously. and when. just
the train started again. the porter el
tered the car, followed by the condu
tor. an expression Of utter terror can
into her eyes
Kvidently her fears were not alt
Eether groundless. The two men wei
IiTertiy to her. aud while the port