Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-07-04
CHAPTER vi.
A Notice to Quit.


Once started and given its push. the
gray roadster drifted backward from
the railroad crossing and kept on until
It came TO rest in the sag at the turn
in the road. Running TO overtake it,
Smith found that the young woman
was still trying Intellectually to free
herself. In releasing the clutch her
dress had been caught, and Smith was
glad enough To let the extricating Of
the caught skirt and the cranking Of
the engine serve for breath-catchng
recovery.
When he stepped back to tune" the
spark the young woman had subsidized
into the mechanician's seat and was
relying her veil with fingers that We're
not any too steady. She was small
but well-knlt; her hair was golden
brown and there was a good deal of
it: her eyes We're set well apart. and
in the bright morning sunlight they
were a slaty gray--of the exact shade
Of the motor veil she was rearranging.
Smith had a sudden conviction that he
had seen the wide-set eyes before; also
the straight little nose and the half
boyish mouth and chin. though where
he had seen them the conviction could
give no present hint
Il sup-pup-suppose / ought to say
something appropriate" she was be-
ginning, half breathlessly, while Smith
stood at the fender and grinned.
"You don't have to say anything. It's
been a long time since I've had
chance to make such a bully grand
stand play as this" And then;
You're Colonel Baldwin's daughter
aren't your"
She nodded, saying;
"How did you know"
81 know the car. And you have your
fathers eyes"
She did not seem to take 1t amiss
that he was making her eyes a basis
for comparisons. She was her fathers
only son, as well as his only daughter
and she divided her time pretty evenly
in trying to live up to both sets Of re-
quirements
you have introduced me ; wO-wOn't
you introduce yOurself?" she said
when a second crash of the shifting
freight train spent itself and gave her
an opening
I'm Smith, he told her; adding:
"It'S my real name"
Her laugh was an instant easing
of tensions.
"Oh, yes; you're Mr.. Williams as
sistant. I've heard colonel-da-my
father, speak of you"
No" he denied in blunt honesty
Tin not Williams assistant; at least
the pay roll doesn't say so. Up at the
camp they call me the Hobo"
The young woman had apparently
regained whatever small fraction &c
self-posscSsion the narrow escape Lad
shocked aside.
Are they never going to take that
miserable train out Of the way?" she
exclaimed. I've got 10 see Mr.. VIII
liams. and there isn't minute to
spare COlouel-da--I mean my father.
has gone up TO Red Butte and a little
while ago they telephOned over TO the
ranch from the Brewster Office TO say
thai there was going TO be some more
trouble at the dam"
you won't find Williams 81 the
camp. He started out early this morn
ing beyond Little creek, and said he
wouldn't be back until some time to-
morrow. viii you tell me what you're
needing?'
ooh :" she exclaimed. with a little
gasp Of disappointment, I've simply
got to find Mr. Williamson some
body! Do you happen to know any
thing about the lawsuit troublesT p
u know all about them; Williams
has told me"
"Then III tell you what Mr.. Martin
telephoned. He said that three men
were going to pretend to relocate
mining claim in the hills back Of the
dam, somewhere near the upper end
Of the reservoir ake-thatls-to-be.
They're doing it so that they can get
out an injunction or whatever you
! call #. and then wei have 10 buy them
OF. as the others have been bought
on"