The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1913-06-06
THE SMART GIRL
ON THE TRAIN
An Amateur Detective Makes
a Poor Diagnosis.

My cousin, Betty Archibald, is scat
ter Drained. AS l was about to leave
on the $50 train to spend the week
end at her cottage by the sea she sent
me this telegram:
Vic will be at station at 515 Bring her
down.
/ knew no more who Vic was than
the contents Of a Hottentot newspaper
What should do-go to the station
and trust to luck? That WINS all
could do, and that did.
There was the usual rush to get
aboard that one finds on the last days
Of the week at trains going to seaside
resorts. There were dozen people
ahead Of me at the ticket office, among
them a pretty girl to whom the agent
gave ticket to Manasquan, which
was my station. OF course l took note
Of her and hoped she might turn out
to be Vic, but there was only the rea-
son Of her destination. / walked about
for ten minutes before the train start
eel, observing every one who seemed to
be looking for some one. All 1 could
see were youngster Of eighteen, who
waited at the gate till the starting bell
rang, and man with a dog.
AS the train rolled OF l entered
car. and there sat the girl with the
Manasquan ticket. l stared at her,
and after looking at me for a mo-
ment she dropped her eyes. Beside
her on the seat was suit case. which
1 noticed was marked V. T. That set
tied 1t. She must be Vic. Instead Of
approaching her and asking her II she
was the girl looked for I concluded
to gain the information on the detec-
tive plan. 1t would be interesting to
discover her identity by following the
clew given me on her suit case. 1t
would be more interesting to know her,
she not knowing me. 1t would be
downright fun to take her to my
hostess, char Bet for her failure to
give me proper information, then tell
them both that by my ingenuity / had,
after all, been enabled to do all that
had been required Of me. Raising my
hat, said to her.
Ing to the same station, and, arrived
there, we will be entertained at the
same house."
"Yes" she replied, with a smile.
"You are going to Manasquan, I be-
lieveY
II am"
And you will be the guest Of my
cousin?"
She put the suit case on the floor,
and ! sat down beside her.
who is your cousin?"
II have thought that it would be en-
tertaining to have you see If by ques-
tioning me you can find out who am
and certain orders have received re-
specting you"
THAT would serve to while away
the time we shall spend on the train"
"Will you begin?"
"Let me see. You are Harold Bliss p
"No."
mot Rose buttons fance?'
"No. wish I were any ones fiance."
II give it up"
Cant you guess my orders?"
EMO"
II am directed to be your escort"
"You don't mean it."
Yes; I was telegraphed to meet you
at the station to escort you to Manas-
guam and thence to-
"Where?" ~.
ITO tell you would spoil all the fun"
And" she said, after a little
thought, ito tell you where I'm going
would spoil oil the fun too"
1T certainly would. The person from
whom l received my orders is very
and gave no clew by which to
recognize you. Nevertheless l have
secured clew. Do you like to read
stories?'
II dote on them"
well, we are enacting a little de-
tective story. When we get to the end
Of our journey we shall have the de-
movement"
Il dare say 1t will all be very clever
"Manasquan!' shouted a trainman.
picked up her suit case and left
the car with her. I was about to hand
her down the step when a gentleman
put his own hand in ahead of me. He
stared at me ominously. The lady
said:
Mack, this gentleman has enter
tanned me delightfully."- on the train
He knows me, but I don't know him.
He says he was ordered to escort me
home"
didn't like this feature of the at
fair at ALL
Come, GIMME, the carriage is wait
ng,' said the young man, casting a
suspicious glance at me.
Heavens, Ginniew had blundered.
us not your first name Victorian"
oh, no; it's Virginia.
/ got very red in the face.
The denouement Is different" said
he girl, from what the story indi-
,ates. admire such endings."
She smiled back at me with dancing
yes as she left with the man whom
instinct told me was her fiance.
When l reached the Archibald cot
age the first thing Bet said to me
yQS.