The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-12-09
CHAPTER ~.
The Deck Hand.

Charlotte Farnham's f~riends-their
number was the number OF those who
had seen her grow from childhood
to maiden-and womanhood-com.
monty identified her for inquiring
strangers as good old Doctor Berries
only" adding, men and women alike,
that she was as well.balanced and sen.
sible as she was good 10 look upon.
She had been spending the winter
at Pass Christian with her aunt. who
was an invalid; and It was Cor the
invalid's sake that she had decided
to make the return Journey by river.
So II had come about that their
staterooms had been taken on the
Belle Julie: and On the morning Of
the second day out from New or.
leans. Miss Gilman was 80 far from
being travel sick that she was able to
sit with Charlotte In the shade OF the
hurricane deck aft, and TO enjoy. with
what q%uavering enthusiasm there was
In her, the matchless scenery OF the
lower Mississippi.
At Baton Rouge the New Orleans
papers came aboard. and Miss Farm.
ham bought q copy OF the Louisianian.
AS a matter Of course. the FIRST page
leader was a circumstantial
Of the daring robbery Of the Bayou
state Security. %garnished with star.
Ting headlines. Charlotte read Il,
half.absently at first. and a second
time with interest awakened and a
quickening OF the pulse when she real.
ICED that she had actually been a wit.
ness OF the final act In the near.trag.
edy. Her little gasp OF belated horror
brought a query from the invalid.
What is II. Charlie, dear?"
For answer. Charlotte read the news
paper story OF the robbery. headlines
and all.
For PHYS sake! In broad daylight!
How shockingly bold!" commented
Miss Gilman.
Yes: but that wasn't what made
me gasp. Tie paper @ys' A young
lady was at the teller's window when
the robber came up with Mr.. Gal.
braith-' Aunt Fanny. was the
young LADY,"
Your horrors!" CALCULATED che IN.
valid, holding up wasted hands OF Dep
recation.
Charlotte the Unbalanced, smiled
at the purely personal limitations OF
her aunt's point Of view.
1T 70 very dreadful. OF course; but
II Is no worse Just because | happened
to be there. Yet II seems ridicu.ousjy
Incredible. ! can hardly believe IL.
even now
incredible? How"
why. there wasn't anything about
II 10 suggest a robbery. Now that I
know. remember that the old gentle.
man did seem anxious or worried, or
at least. not quite comfortable some
way; but the young mar was smiling
pleasantly, and he looked like anything
rather than a desperate criminal"
Miss Gilman's New England conserv.
atism. unweakened by her long resi-.
dence In the West. TOOK the alarm at
once.
but no one In the bank knew you.
They couldn't trace you by your ia
theirs draft and letter OF identified.
ton. could they?"
Charlotte was mystiied. II should
suppose they could. II they wanted to.
But why? What II they could?"
"My dear child: don't you see? They
are sure to catch the robber, sooner
or later. and II they know how to find
you. you might be dragged into court
as a witness!"
Miss Farnham was NOT less averse
TO publicity than the conventionalities
demanded. but she had. or believed she
had, very clear and w~ell.denned ideas
of her W touching her duty In any
matter involving a plain question OF
right and wrong.
IL shouldn't wait to be dragged"
she asserted quietly. 1T would be a
simple duty to go willingly. Tho first
thing l thought OF was that ! ought
to write at once to Mr.. Galbraith, Civ.
ing him my address"
Thereupon issued discussion. At