The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-04-15

ism newly tuned to health; and Lev.
ington fell asleep.
lie took his disadvantages walk
along the swaying aisleS. from coach
to coach. He abandoned caution. and
felt again a sense of well-being. The
breakfast coffee had been good. Tie
train was long and fast. He liked to
stretch his legs. His spirit rose.
While awaiting his turn in the bar
ber's chair, he saw q familiar figure
swing into the smoking compartment.
Con felt the subconsciousness jerk at
his nerves. The man was short and
stocky. with a very large cigar dis
figuring his mouth, in q b~rown-check-
ed suit of clothes that gave youth to
his appearance despite the gray bris-
ties that We're cropped above his ears,
beneath the rim of q brown derby.
"Jee, if it amt Con Lexington :"
said the tlashy person. throwing out a
stubby but newly manicurcd right
hand.
"LIow are you, Stuh?"
"Nevcr finer, SOL It's great to see
you. Where you been keepin' your
self? They tell ME you are hittin' the
strait and narrow; how about it?"
WHO told you that?" returned Lew
inston, with a laugh.
Don't we all know it?" exclaimed
Siubby T'asyart. ".Ain't saw you at
the club since Christmas"
WAS down Cincinnati way" said
Con. aware of another backward rub
on his nerves. "I'm no good in cold
weather."
"But you sure do eat up them
nights in sprins-ain't l saw you do it,
Connie when the weather is woody
and soft. and the winter linin' goes
off your faster. and you feel a drought
comm on thatll last you till snow
files again."
Stubby cackled with head thrown
back until the derby was in danger.
The other men in the compartment
found it difficult to be as bored as they
wished to appear.
II guess they had a spell Of hot
weather down in Cincinnati, didn't
thcyy" and Stub set himself off in
another fit of laughter. Lexington
nodded. %grinning. Then Tagyart
lowered his voice d%iscreetly and
whispered in his young friends ear:
ION the level. now, how the - did
you keep from gettin' a ride in the
blue buggy? They tell me you had
everything your own way, with a gat
in both mits."
81 don't remember the Details" ans
wcred Con, as he shifted the conversa-
ton. "What have you been doing,
Stubby? You look prosperous. Don't
tell ME you've gone to work"
A hurt expression covered the red,
puffy face, but a smile was in it..
"Work? Work? Amt l always been
the little hummin' bee for work?'
II thought perhaps you had a tree
full by this time"
mot at the present price o. liquor.
And say, we're goin' through a dry
state in a few minutes. I'm in one
already. You don't happen to have a
drink anywheres on you:"
So they chatted, and the past was
shifting before the young man. lurid
and restless as a lava lake by night.
They talked of the club members-of
Spike Taylor and Jim and Posy Mason
those high-strung, Maynard children
who keep Mother Law awake of
nights, and perhaps never come home
to her at all.
At Vancouver he found there was
not sailing that day. At four the
following afternoon Lexington went
down to his ship, the Ensurta Queen,
not Of a regular line to the Orient.
He remained in the cabin while she
cleared.
At dinner the next day there was
animated conversation, but Con was
not listening. He was watching the
steward choose a chair for Cecil Wed.
gers Chinese cook, Chez Ming.
The wrinKled Celestial looked blank.
ly around the dining-room. allowed his
narrow eyes to rest on Lexington a
moment, looked ut him and through
him and then on to finish the survey,
without the least flicker of recogni.
ton.