The Ordway new era., 1914-12-04

mountains, DATron Hesas, ana sun.
smitten fats 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 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 wrathfully 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 Ia.
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 a morbid interest In an
other magazine-round the edge of
which he kept a 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
q 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
porose reverie whose subject was the
seemingly permanent mourning into
which he had plunged his face and
hands for the purposes Of his mas
Misunderstanding them a shade Of
ebony upon which soap and water and
scrubbing had no effect whatever. And
he had invented a mcst excruciating
method OF revenging himself upon the
druggist who had taken advantage OF
his confidence and sold him the in
eradiable dye-when he was reused by
the sudden flight OF a magazine across
the car. missing his head by a bare
two inches. and, the bang Of chair
overturned by Judith as she jumped
up and flung herself furiously toward
the door.
Just what had happened on the OBJ
servation platform Barcus didn't know.
but he could readily believe that the
lovers had just INDUCED in some espe-
cially provoking and long-drawn-out
caress.
He overkauled Judith none too soon.
In another moment she would have
had her sister by the throat-if her
purpose had not been to throw Rose
bodily overheard. as Barcus suspected.
Happily, he was as quick on his feet
as Judith on hers: and almost before
he had grasped the situation. he had
grasped her-had seized her arms and
drawn them forcibly behind her back,
at the same time swinging her round
and endeavoring to propel her back
through the doorway.
1t was a man-size job. For the ensu-
ing five minutes he had his hands full
OF violently resentful and superbly
able-bodied young woman. Only with
the greatest difficulty did he succeed
in wrestling her up the aisle and to
the door Of her compartment, where
an even more furious resistance for
some additional minutes prefaced the
ultimate closing of the door upon the
maddened Judith. Even then he might
not draw a free breath: there was no
way Of locking that door from the out
side; and he dared not leave go the
handle. lest the girl again ny out and
renew the battle. H.f.
Waving aside Alan's profYer of as
sistance, he acidly advised that gen.
tleman to return to his post of duty
and not let his infatuation blind him
to what might at any moment loom
up on the track behind them, Barcus
stoutly held the door against the girls
attempt to pull It open and through
another period when she occupied her
self with kicking its panels As II hope
full Of breaking q way out. A long
pause followed. He heard no sounds
from within. And wearying. he won
dered what the devil she was up to.
Then her voice penetrated the barrier.
Its accents calm and not unamiable:
"Mr. Barcus!" 'HE
"Hello!" he replied. startled. What
10 II, Miss Judith"
please let me out"
mot much"
"Oh-please!"
Struck BY the fact that she hadn't
lost her temper on hearing his refusal,
he hesitated. It was very true that he
couldn't stay there forever. holding on
70 that knob.