The Delta independent., 1914-10-16

we'll tHc uduueI Oh his apparent CdSt0
and color. "Ain't dat de troof?"
Take him away. then" Alan re-
Quested wearily-"if you please"
"Yas, suh!" Barcus replied. with
nimble alacrity seizing the back of the
wheeled chair and swinging it round
for spin up the length of the car.
Before Trine had recovered enough
to curse him properly, the door to his
drawing room was closed and Barcus
was ambling back down the aisle.
His grin of relish at this turning of
the tables on the monomaniac proved.
however, short-lived. 1t erased itself
in twinkling when Judith shouldered
roughly past him, wearing q sullen
and forbidding countenance, and flung
herself into the drawing room with
her father.
The cause of her temper was not
far to seek: at the far end of the car
Alan was bending solicitously over the
chair in which Rose was resting. One
Of his arms was around her shoulder.
Her face was lifted confidently to his.
Barcus unused morosely on his ap-
prehension of trouble a-brew, simmer
ing over the waxing fire of that strange
woman's jealousy. He didn't like the
prospect at all. II only Alan and Rose
hadn't been SO desperately in love
that they couldn't keep away from one
another! If only Alan had been SEN
sible enough to outwit the woman and
leave her behind when he started in
pursuit of the special! II only there
had not been that light engine in pur-
suit-as Barcus firmly believed II must
be-loaded to the guards with Trine's
INSCRIPTIONS hirelings!
No telling when they might catch
up!
The fear of this last catastrophe
worked together with his fears Of Ju-
dith to render that night q sleepless
one for Barcus. He spent II in a chair
whence he could watch both the door
to the compartment Judith had chosen
for her own (formerly Marrophat's
quarters) and the endless ribbons of
steel that swept beneath the tracks.
But nothing happened. He mapped
uneasily from time to time. waking
with a start OF fright, but always TO
find nothing amiss. Ever Judith
stopped behind that closed door. and
ever the track behind was innocent OF
the glare of pursuing headlight
Nor did anything untoward mark the
progress of the morning-unless. in
deed. Judith's protracted sessions
with her father behind the closed
door of the drawing room we're to be
counted ominous
Ever simon Iupob tf,,,o the ugrl hoA
been closeted with her father; Barcus
had been getting some well-earned and
sorely-needed rest in his quarters:
Alan standing his watch on the obser-
vation platform. in company with
Rose: and the train booming along
through an uncouth wilderness OF arid
mountains. barren mesas. and sun
smitten flats given over to the desolate
genius OF sagebrush.
Whatever had been the tenor OF the
communication between father and
daughter. Judith eventually emerged
from the drawing room In an ominous
temper. Barcus. coming drowsily
away from his compartment at the
same time, was Jared wide awake by
sight OF the foreboding countenance
she wore; and after a moment OF doubt
followed her back to the lounge at the
rear OF the car.
He got there In time to see her at
rigid standstill. staring steadfastly at
the two figures SO close together on
the observation platform. But on
his appearance Judith shook herself
together. snatched up a magazine. and
plunged wrathfuliy into an easy chair,
burying her nose between the pages OF
the publication with every Indication
Of deep interest In Its text
Mr.. Barcus. however, had learned
the lesson OF bitter experience to the
effect that the outward bearing Of
Miss Judith Trine was no sure index
to her inward humor-unless, that Is,
1t might be taken to indicate the d.
rect contrary OF its semblance;
though even this was no reliable rule.
Reminding himself OF this, he there
fore invented morbid interest in an
other magazine-round the edge of
which he kept wary eye upon the
young woman.
For all her evaporation, Judith con-
tanned herself longer than might have
been expected. Her continued show
Of placidity. indeed. lulled Barcus into
a dangerous feeling OF security. Per
suaded that she meant to behave, he
gradually ceased to watch her as mar
rowly as at first. and lost himself In a
morose reverie whose subject was the
seemingly permanent mourning into
which he had plunped hia faca md