Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-12-15
CHAPTER ~.
The Deck Hand.


Charlotte Farnham's friends-their
number was the number of those who
had seen her grow from childhood
to maiden-and womanhood-com-
monty identified her for inquiriug
strangers as good old Doctor Bertie's
only" adding, men and women alike.
that she was as well-balanced and SEN
sible as she was good to look upon.
She had been spending the winter
at Pass Christian with her aunt. who
was an invalid; and 1t was for the
invalid's sake that she had decided
to make the return journey by river.
So 1t had come about that their
staierooms had been taken on the
Belle Julie; and on the morning Of
the second day out from New Or
leans, Miss Gilman was so 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 Quavering enthusiasm there was
In her. the matchless scenery of the
lower Mississippi.
At Baton Rouge the New Orleans
papers came aboard, and Miss Farm
hau bought a copy of the Loulsianian.
AS a matter Of course, the first page
leader was q circumstantial account
OF the daring robbery of the Bayou
State Security. garnished with star
Ting headlines. Charlotte read It,
half-absently At first, and a second
time with interest awakened and Q
qu'ckening Of the pulse when she real,
ized that she had actually been q Wit.
ness Of the final act in the neartras.
edy. Her little gasp of belated horror
brought query from the invalid.
What is It. 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. The paper says: A young
lady was at the teller's window when
the robber came up with Mr.. Gal
braith-' Aunt Fanny. I was the
young lady'!"
You? horrors!" calculated the in
valid. holding up wasted hands Of dep
recation.
Charlotte the well.baIanced, smiled
at the purely personal limitations of
her aunt's point of view.
TT ia very dreadful, of course; but
It is no worse just because happened
to be there. Yet 1t seems ridiculously
incredible. | can hardly believe 1t.
even now"
ssJncradtbIop uovs"
why, there wasn't anything about
it to suggest a robbery. Now that I
know, I remember that the old gentle
man did seem anxious or worried, or
at least, not quite comfortable some
way; but the young man 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
TIERS draft and letter of identifies
tion. could they?"
Charlotte was mystified. Il should
suppose they could. II they wanted to.
bul WHY "udt IL tucy Souio!
my dear child; don't you see? They
are sure to catch the robber, sooner
or later, and IL 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
haG. very clear and well-defined ideas
of her own touching her duty in any
matter involving a plain question Of
right and wrong.
Il shouldn't wait to ,e dragged"
she asserted quietly. 1T would be
simple duty to go willingly. The first
thing ] thought of was that / ought
to write at once TO Mr.. Galhraith. CIV
ing him my address"
Thsreupon issued discussion. At