Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-11-22
CHAPTER VII (Continued).

lady" He hesitatcd and the color
rolled freshly into his anxious face.
THAT is-my WIFE He spoke the word
unwiilingly. having at the instant of
speaking realized that he must say this
TO protect her good name. 1t seemed
like uttering IA falsehood, or stealing
another mans property; and yet. tech
nically. 1t was true, and for her sake
at least he must acknowledge 1t.
My wife" he began again more con-
n~ectedly. is ill-unconscious."
The conductor looked at him sharp
iy. He had sized them up as a we'd
ding party when they came down the
platform towar the train. The u
mans blush confirmed his supposition.
IN sect" he said briefly. Go back
to her and I'll bring some one"
1t was just as Gordon turned back
that the thickSet man entered the car
from the other end and met him face
to face. but Gordon was too d~istraught
at that to notice him, for his
mind was at rest about his pursuer as
soon rs the train started.
Not so with the pursuer. however.
His keen little eyes took in the white.
anxious face. h smear Of sticking
plaster about the mouth and eyebrows.
n instantly knew his man. His in
stincts had not failed him after all.
He put out q pair Of brawny fists to
catch at him. but a lurch Of he train
Aklu SOluOH y SWlll StTluc Oul PulpoSeO
him. by the time the little man had
righted his footing Gordon was disap-
pearing 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 n there
was no possible escape now until the
train stopped. He would watch that
door as a cat watches a mouse, and
perhaps be able to send a telegram for
help before he made any move at all.
It was as well 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 ne 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
have their business known.
With narrowing eyes he watched the
door OF the stateroom as the conductor
n doctor came n went. He gath
r from a few questions asked by
one OF the passengers that there was
some n sick. probably the lady he had
seen faint as the train started. 1t &C.
Cured to him that this might be his
opportunity. and when the conductor
came out Of the drawing room the sec
ond 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-
tiop. However. ii he had one accom-
plishment it was bluffing. and he never
stopped at any profession that suited
his needs.
The conductor was annoyed at the
Interruptions that had already occurred
and he answered him brusquely that
they had all the help necessary and
there wasn't anything the matter any
way.
There was nothing left for the man
to do but wait.
He subsidized with his eye on the
statcroom door. and later secured a
gave no order to have 1t made up until
every other passenger In the car was
gone to what rest a sleeping car pro-
vfdes. He kept his vigil well. but was
rewarded with no sight of his prey that
night. and at last. with q sense OF duty
well done and the comfortable promise
from h conductor that his deity
worded telegraphic message to Mr.. Hol-
man shOuld be sent from q station they
passed a little after midnight. he crept
TO his we'll earned rest. He was not
at home In a dress shirt and collar. be-
ing Of the walks of life where q collar
Is mostly accounted superfluous. and he
wa glad to be relieved OF 1t for q few
hours. It q not yet occurred to him
that his appearance In that evening
s.sit would be a trifle out of place when
wcrnins came. IL 10 doubtful II he had
c:9r considered matters Of dress. His
profession was that Of q human ferret
o. the lower order. and there were
many things he did not know. It might
have 9 the way he held his fork at
dinner that had made Gordon decide
that he wa but . henchman Of the
others.
Having put his mind and his body at
rest he proceeded to sleep. and the train
Numbered on its way into the night.
Gordon meanwhile had hurried
back from his appeal to the con-
dnctcr and stood looking helpless
she lay there so white and seemingly
aifeless. Her pretty travelling gown
set or the exquisite face finely: her
glorious hair seemed to crown her. a
handsome hat had fallen UNDECIDED to1
the floor. and lay rolling back ana forth
r. aisle with b motion Of the
s4raan. He picked 1t up r~everently, as
though It had been q part OF her. His
slAlqo N the few minutes had gone
10 conductor hurried in presently.
1nll0Wed by . grave elderly man with
iG1CoGeestonal air. He touched q prac-
|l11eds6nser e the limp wrist. looked
;Nf00o1Yg into the tac0, and then taking
asllkkto hottte from q case he Carried
2<3l66i6e for = g1Asas
sNaaid Waa poured between the
4 l41SssAth Whltesthroat reluctanfiv|
9IS fS0WodaGSth0 eyetlds presently mt.
si "a E0nG breath that VA scarcely
3NhSna eigh hoyered bssveen tie
: ~. si bswild.ese. -.
FEGGgGtsa4 00e0oG. No. closed her
$50 - g sho WishsA they had
"a ~ &f hor back, and lay still.-
Syfa016a SIN hm0lt beside her,