Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-11-23
CHAPTER VII (Continued).

Is there q doctor on board, or have
(ou any r~estoratiyes? There is a
lady He hesitated and the color
rolled freshly into his anxious face.
THAT is-my WIFE," He spoke the word
unwillingly, having at the instant OF
speaking realized that he must say this
to protect her good name. 1t seemed
like uttering u falsehood, or stealing
another mans property; and yet, tech
ntcaily, II was true, and for her sake
1T least he must acknowledge 1t.
my wife," he began again more con-
Nectedly, lis ill-unconscious."
The conductor looked at him sharp
ty. He q sized them up as a we'd
ding party when they came down the
platform toward the train. The young
mans blush confirmed his supposition.
. "Ill sect" he said briefly. Go back
70 her and I'll bring sone one"
It was just as Gordon turned back
that the thickset man entered the car
from the other end aid met him face
"a. face, but Gordon was too ~distraught
1t that moment to notice him. for his
mind was at rest 400 his pursuer as
soon as the train started.
Not SO with the pursuer, however.
His keen little eyes took In the white,
anxious face, the smear of sticking
plaster about the mouth and eyebrows,
and instantly knew his man. His in
0tincts hac not failed him after all.
He put out a pair Of brawny fists to
catch at him, butt O. lurch of the train
and Gordon's swift stride out purposed
him. and by the time the little man had
iEighted his foOtlag Gordon was disap-
poaring into the stateroom, and the
conductor with another man was In the
aisle behind him waiting to pass. He
stepped back and watched. At least he
had driven his prey to quarry and there
was no possible escape now until the
train afnnnn0S Fla Wn111d NAfNh that
door as q cat watches o mouse, and
perhaps be able to send q telegram for
help before he made any nov at all.
It was as wei: that his impulse to take
the man then and there had come to
naught. What would the other passen-
gers have thought OF him? He must
OF course move cautiously. What a
blunder he had almost made. 1t was
no part CT his purpose to make public
his errand. The men who were behind
him did not wish to be known, nor to
.havA their business known.
With narrowing eyes he watched the
door Of the stateroom as the conductor
and doctor came and went He gath
cred from q few questions asked by
one Of the passengers that there was
some one sick, probably the lady he had
see faint as the train started. 1t oc-
curred to him that this might he his
opportunity, and when the conductor
c3IH0 OUT OIL the uTdWlHS room Inc Sec
3ond time he inquired II any assistance
was needed. and implied that doctoring
WA his profession, though it would be
q sorry patient that had only his atten-
ton. However, IL he had one accom-
plishment 1t was bluffing. and he never
stopped at any profession that suited
nils needs.
The conductor was annoyed at the
Interruptions that had already occurred
and he answered him brusquely hat
they had all the help necessary and
there wasn't anything the matter any
way.
There. was nothing left for the man
90 do but wait.
He subsidized with his eye on the
stateroom door, and later secured Il
berth In plain sight Of that door. but
gave no order to have 1t made up until
every other passenger in the car was
gone to what rest q sleeping car pros
Vides. He kept his vigil well. but was
rewarded with no sight of his prey that
might. and at last. with q sense of duty
well done and the comfortable promise
from the conductor that his deftly
Worded telegraphic message to Mr.. Hol-
mani should be sem from a station they
3R1sed q little after midnight, he crept
to. his well earned rest. He was not
1t home In q dress shirt and collar, be-
lng Of the walks of life where a collar
-. AAAV0SAy 0NSOAkAS0a 6ARSL lkuOuSp dkl0 Il6
glad to be relieved OF 1t for q few
hourg, It bad nots:yet occurred to him
t11&ttshls appearance In that evening
eult would be q trifle out of place when
morning came. It is doubtful IL he had
eA er considered matters of dress. His
~ cfesBion was that OF q human ferret
Oh the lower order. and there were
many things he did not know. 1t might
have been the way he held HIS fork at
dinner that had made Gordon decide
that he was but q henchman Of the
Others.
Having put his mind and his body at
rest. he proceeded to sleep, and the train
khundered on Its way INTO the night.
Gordon meanwhile had hurried
from his appeal to the con-
and stood looking helpless
~ down at the delicate girl as
she lay there 10 white and seemingly
lifeloss, y Her pretty travelling gown
ut on the exquisite face finely; her
glorious hair seemed to crown her. AL
~ sAo0r. and lay rolling back and forth
l6Sfhe aisle with the motion Of the
krSln.SHe picked II up r~everently, as
thoughsit had been q part Of her. His
I'm the few minutes mad gone
The conductor hurried In presently
egllosycd by e grave elderly man with
g6&pfegsionai air. He touched a prac-
Lied tfI1ger I the limp wrist, looked
pioGeiy into the face. and then taking
lissltttle bottle o a case he carried |
paalod Tor h glass.
liquid was poured between the
1961eA lips. thesw white throat reluctantly
lVA1Jowedaft II, the eyelids presently flut-
eeSeds.aA long breath that was scarcely
1a0r0sthnnA sigh lowered between the
6pN.ands thensthe blue eyes opened.
sIE 1colr.