The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
detail.

love. Jealousy of Rose.
detail.
Across the plain purple shadows were sweeping,
closeranked, like some vast dark army invading
the land, pouring over the rampant OF noun
tains in the east
Within the rim Of hills that ringed the plain like
the Clipped and broken hange OF titanic saucer,
silence brooded and solitude held sway-dwarfing
the town Of Detail that occupied the approximate
middle Of the sagebrush waste, to proportions even
less significant than might be inferred from the
candor Of its christening.
A platform a siding, water tank, WellsFargo
office and a telegraph and ticket ONCE, backed by
three rough frame buildings; that is Detail item
lied completely.
Shortly after nightfan freight train paused at
Detail. It's crew alighted and engaged in animated
argument. Detail gathered that the excitement
was due to the unaccountable disappearance of
the caboose: none seemed to have any notion
to how it could have broken loose; yet missing 1t
conspicuously was.
In the pause that followed, while q report was
telegraphed to headquarters and instructions
turned to proceed without delay, Of the train
men spbed bOyish figure lurking in the open door
Of an empty box car. Cunntngly boarding this car
from the opposite side, the trainman caught the
skuIker unawares and booted him vaingloriously
into the night.
As the figure s1fghted and took 10 its heels los
fng itself IN the darkness, It uttered cry Of panied
tontshment between the brows Of the trainman.
Sounded like q womans voice. he unused; then
dismissed the suggestion as obviously absurd.
shortly aster he freight train had gone on fits
&ay-0efore indeed, the gifmmer Of its rear lights
had been lost among the western hills-a second
headlight appeared IN the east swept swiftly across
the plain and IN turn stopped at Detail.
The second bfrdofpassage proved to be loco
motive drawing a single cara Pullman
Hardly had It run past the switch, however, when
She brakeman dropped down, ran quickly back to
the switch. threw # open and dropped the Pullman
on siding.
By the time inst the Pullman had come to full
stop on the siding, the locomotive was swinging
westward Hike scared taclrabbit-though no such
milkand-watery characterization Of the traitor
passed the lips Of any Of three men who pres
emily appeared on the Pullmans platform and
shook impotent fists in the direction taken by the
fugitive engine
When the last Of these had run temporarily out
Of breath and basphemy, brief silence fell pune
tuated by groans from each, and concluded by the
sound Of voice calling from the interior Of the
cara voice strangely sonorous Of tone as 1t
curiously querulous Of accent.
The three men Immediately ran back into the
car and presented themselves with countenances
varfously apoiogetic, TO one who occupied corner
of the drawing room: man wrapped in a steamer
rug and cloud Of fury.
Now when he had drained the muddy froth Of
profanity from his temper It left clear and ef
fervescent well Of virulent humor: the wrath Of
the valetudinarian began to vent itself upon the
hapless heads Of the trio who stood before him.
Now while this was IN process, the person of boy
ish appearance who had been keeping religiously
Gloof and inconspicuous in the background of De-
tail ever since that unhappy affair with the train
man, stole quietly up to the rear Of the stalled
Pullman, climbed aboard, and creeping down the
aisle unceremoniously interrupted the conference
Just the invalid was polishing OF rude but
honest opinion Of the intellectual caliber Of one Of
the three named Marrophat
~Amen to that!" the bcyish person calculated
with candid fervor, lounging gracelessly in the
doorway There's many a true word spoken in
wrath, Mr.. harrophst Father forgot only one
htng-yu1r mastery way with a revolver From
what fve seen Of that this day, III 90 bail that the
only safe place for man you pull q gun on is
right In front Of the muEZle. There's something
downright uncsnny IN the way you can hit any
thing but what you elm att"
~Judfth!" exclaimed the invalid Where did you
drop from?"
~From that freight" Judith explained carelessly
neglecting to elucidate the exact fashion of her
DROP Il judged you'd be- along presently, and
thought I'd like to learn the news. Well-what
luck?"
Her fsther shrugged with his one movable shoul
DER Mr.. Marrophat grunted Indignantly.
@None? Judith interpreted. You don't mean to
tell me that after l had taken all that trouble
cast the caDoose loose In the mlooe-oI that ueste
at the risk Of my lfe-you didn't have the nerve to
20 through with the businessi"
I'VE went through with It all right" replied Mar
rophat defensively; "but usual. they were too
quick for US. They jumped out and dropped OF
the trestle before our engine hit the caboose"
The girl started to speak, but merely dropped
limp hands at her sides and rolled her eyes help
Iessly.
I'VE do our best" observed Marrophat I'VE
can't be blamed If something-somehow-al always
happens to tip the others OF"
The girl swung to face him with blazing eyes.
"Just what does that mean?" she demanded in
dangerous voice.
MsrTophat lifted his shoulders Nothing