Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-12-07
It II he only dared. He was looking
back over the track and his face was

back over the rack and his face was
not good to see.
He turned wildly upon the porter.
Il want o to stop this train and
let me Off" he shouted. I've lost
something valuable back there on the
track. Stop the train quick. I tell you.
or I'll u the railroad"
What was 1t o lost?" asked the
porter respectfully. He wasn't sure but
the man was half asleep yet.
1T was a-my-why, 1t was a very
valuable paper. 1t means a fortune to
me n several other people and !
must go back and get it. Stop the
train. tell you. at once or I'll jump
out"
Il can't stop de train, sab, you'll hev
to see de ~conductah, sab, bout dat.
But l specks there's mighty little pros
pee O gettin' dis train stopped fob it
gifts to 1t destinashun, a h Yves one
hour -ah1nd time now, sab, an he's
gotta make up fob we gifts to Bufflo."
n excited passenger rallied and
stormed until several sleepers were
awakened and stuck uriou sleepy
countenances out from the curtains of
their berths, but the porter was OBJ
durate. and would not take any meas
ures to stop the train, nor even call
the conductor until the passenger
promised to return quietly to his berth.
The thick set man was not used to
obeying, but he saw that he was only
hlndering himself and finally hurried
back to his berth, where he hastily
parted the curtains, Naning his neck
to see back along the track and over
the green valley growing smaller and
smaller now in the distance. He could
Just make out two moving specs on the
white winding ribbon of the road. He
felt sure he new the direction they
We're taking. Ii he only could get off
n a train he could easily catch them,
for they would AVE no idea he was
coming and would AXE no precautions.
Ii ne had only Weakened a few seconds
sooner he would have been following
them even now. ).
Fully 10 minutes he argued with the
conductor. showing a wide %incongru-
ity between his language and his gem
tiemanly attire. but the conductor
would do nothing but promise that
he would set him down at a water
tower 10 miles ahead where they had
TO SLOW up for water. He said sue or no
sue he had his orders. and the thick
set man did not inspire him either to
sympathy or confidence. The conductor
mad been many years on the road and
generally knew when to stop his train
and when to let 1t go on.
Sullenly the thick-set man accented
the conductors decision and prepared
10 leave the train at the water tower,
his Y out for the landmarks along.
the way as he completed his hasty
toilet.
He was in no pleasant frame of mind.
having missed a goodly amount Of his
accustomed stimulants the night before.
and seeing little prospect of either
stimulants or breakfast before him. He
was not built for a 1O-mile walk over
the cinders and his flabby muscles
already ached at the prospect. But then,
OF course, he would not have to go be-
fore be found an automobile or some
kind of conveyance to help him on his
way. He looked eagerly from the win
dow for indications Of garages or
stables, but the river wound its silver
way among the gray green willow
fringes, and the new grass shone a
placid emerald plain with nothing more
human than a few cows grazing here
and there. Not even a horse that might
be borrowed without his owners
knowledge. 1t was a strange. forsaken
spot, 10 whole miles and no sign Of
any public livery! Off to the right
and left he could see villages. but they
were most Of them too far away from
the track to help him any. 1t began
to look as If he must just foot 1t all the
way. Now and then a small shanty or
tiny dwelling whizzed by near at hand,
but nothing that would relieve his
situation.
If occurred to him to go into the
dining a for breakfast, but even as he
thought of it the conductor told him
the train would stop in two minutes
and he must be ready to get off, for
they did not stop long.
He certainly looked a harmless
creature, that thick-set man as he stood
alone upon the cinder elevation and
surveyed the landscays DER. Ten miles
from his quarry. alone on a stretch Of
endless ties and rails with a cleaning
river knocking him down in the valley,
and a laughing sky jeering overhead.
He started down the shining rack his
temper a wreck, his mind in chaos, his
soul at war with the world. The worst
OF it all. vas that the whole fault was
his for going to sleep. He began to
fear that he had lost his chance. Then
he set his ugly jaw and strobe ahead.
The morning sun poured down upon
the thick-set man and his pilgrimage,
and waxed hotter until noon. Trains
whizzed mercilessly by and gave him
no succor. Weary, faint, and ~fiercely
thirsty he came at last to the spot
where he was satisfied his quarry had
escaped. He could see the maks Of their
rough descent in the steep cinder bank,
and assaying the same himself came a
shredtof purple silk caught on a BRAN
BILE at the foot.
Putting and painting, bruised and
foot-sore, he sat down at the very place
where Celia had stopped to have her
shoes fastened, and mopped his purple
brow, but there was triumph In his
ugly ye, and after a few moments rest
he trudged onward. That town over
there ought to yield both conveyance
and food as we'll as information con-
corning those he sought. He would
catch them. They could never get away
from him. He was on their track again.
though hours behind. He would get
them yet and no man should take his
reward from him.
Almost spent he, came at last to the
village, and ate a surprisingly large
dish of beef and vegetable stew at the
quaint little house where Celia and
Gordon had breakfasted, but the old
lady who served 1t to them was shy
about talking. and though admitting
that a couple of people had been there
that morning h a non-committal
about their appearance. They might
have been young and good Hooking and
Worn feathers in their hats, and they
might not. She wasn't one for noticing
peoples appearance il they treated her
Icivilly and paid their bills. Would
he have another cup Of coffee? He
would, n also two more pieces of pie,
but he got very little further informa-
ton.
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