Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-04-08

hSlOCIOuS COuSIu lEOIu AS
their replies were not rendered into
English, he was left stranded. He
knew that his whole salvation lay in
properly impressing his auditors, so
he began again and fiOundered through
a painful mOnologue.
The night suddenly turned off swell
teringly hot, perspiratiOn began to
trickle down his brow, his collar be
came a tourniquet, and he cast APP
pealing glances at the silent figure hid
den demurely behind the RUSTY old
lady in the black harness. The look
of mingled pity and understanding she
gave him somewhat revived his faint
ing spirit, and he determined to stick
it out until the family were ready to
retire and allow him a word with her
alone But idle hope. Gradually it
dawned upon him that they had no
such intention.
By now his collar had given up the
struggle and lain Imply down 90 rest
The whole experience was hideous
yet he understood quite well that these
people were not making sport of him.
All this was only part Of their for
eign customs. They were gentlefolk,
reared to a different code from his
that was all-and since he had elected
to come among them he could only suf-
fer and be strong.
What he ever talked about during
that evening he never quite remem-
bered. When it came time to leave
he expected at least to be allowed
farewell word or two with Gertrudis,
but instead he was bowed out as cere-
mOniously as he had been bowed in
and, finding himself at last in the
open, sighed with relief He felt like
paroled prisoner, but he thought of
the girls glance of sympathy and was
| instantly cOnsoled. He crossed slowly
to the plaza, pausing moment for
! good night look at the house, then, as
he turned, he caught a glimpse of a
figure Sinking into the shadows of the
side street and smiled indulgently.
Evidently Allan had been unable to re-
sist the temptation to follow him. But
when he had reached his quarters he
was surprised to find the boy there
ahead of him.
"How did you beat me homer he in
quired.
81 have been waiting h'impatiently
ever since you went out. To be sure,
have had one little dream
Didn't you follow me to the Cara
vels'?
ooh, boss! Never would l do SUCH"
Seeing that the negro was honest,
Kirk decided that somebody had been
spying upon him, but the matter was
of SO little consequence that he dis
missed it from his mind.
Although Runnels had spoken with
confidence of the coming shakeup in
the railroad organization, it was not
without a certain surprise that he
awoke one morning to find himself ac-
lively in charge of the entire system.
He lost no time in sending for Kirk.
who took the news of their joint adj
vancement with characteristic equa-
nimity.
''Now, there is nothing cinched yet.
understand" the acting superintend-
ent cautioned him. 'We're all on pro-
baton, but if we make good / think
We'll stick
''I'll do my best to fill your shoes
"And l have the inside track on
Blakeley, in spite of Colonel JolsOn, SO
Pm not alarmed The break came
sooner than 1 expected. and now that
we chaps are in control it's the chance
of our lifetimes."
Kirk nodded. you're entitled to all
you get, but I've never quite under
stood how l managed to forge ahead
so fast. I've been mighty lucky''
"You don't really call it luck, do
your Runnels looked at him curl
ously.
"I'm not cOnceited enough to think
I'm a downright genius.''
''Why, the COrtlandts engineered ev-
erything. 1t was they who arranged
your promotion to the Office in the first
place, and they're behind this last af-
fair They have stood back of you at
every step and, incidentally, back of
me and the other boys
'When you say they you of course
mean She"
"Of course. One has to recognize
him, though, as the head of the family.
And he really did have part in it
too. At least if he had been against
us we never would have Won"
I'D like to show the COrtlandts that
we appreciate what they've done, but
we can't openly thank her without hui
initiating him. I'd like to give him
something"
Suppose we give him a quiet little
supper some night and tell him frank
ly how grateful we are. He's the sort
to appreciate a thing like that, and it
would be delicate way of thanking
his wife too"
Good! I'll speak to the other fel-
lows, and now the acting master OF
transportation is going to shake with
the new acting superintendent and
wish him every success"
Runnels grasped the outstretched
hand.