The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-24

Wen find out something in the
town" he assured her. Don't
until you have to. By
the way" he added, something
just occurred to me. I've been
wondering why the fellow who did
the murder left his knife for identi-
fication. I'll bet you ten to one
that Dominguez was clever enough
to use. somebody else's knife. 1t
will clear him OF suspicion and
some other poor devil will swing
for it,
Diana caught her breath.
Another one! Another man to
suffer because of her!
on Mt Last.
When they reached the railroad
station. Diana looked around eagerly.
There was no sign Of Dale or his
car.
Either he was deliberately keeping
out of sight. or he was off some
where investigating Dominguez's
story Of Johnston's departure. In
view of what they had just seen
the dead man back on the road
Diana was convinced that the lat
ter theory was probably correct.
While Cynthia sat in the buck
board and DIR. Borden was of see
ing about their scahty luggage. Di-
ana sauntered into the station as
carelessly and unobtrusively as she
could.
The agent, tall. freckled youth
with a dropping under-jaw. was bend
ing over the ticking telegraph in
strument.
He jumped and swung around
nervously when she addressed him.
1t was easy to guess that he was
still afraid OF this desert country.
where a stealthy step might mean
the scoring flame of a knife in the
back
do you know the new man with
the motor car who came here re-
cently?" she asked. 81 think he's
living somewhere about town"
The agent grinned.
Say, do you call this jumping
off place town."
Diana smiled sympathe tically.
1T is rather awful. isn't it?" she
agreed. "But-you know the man
mean. don't you-Mr. Dale?''
The agent nodded.
He's living in his car. Got a
regular camp attachment. Say" Gu
riously. whats his game. anyway"
Diana hesitated. She didn't want
to injure Dale's chances to find out
about Johnston by telling a gossip
ing station agent; neither did she
wish to link Dale's name with her
own.
So she said vaguely:
II think he's getting local color
writer, you know"
The agents expression was one
of hopeless incomprehension. He
seemed to be meditating on the
fact that one ran across a new
type of boob every day one lived.
IF I leave a note for Mr.. Dale.
will you see that he gets it?" Diana
asked.
Sure" replied the agent, and
turned away to attend his insistent
telegraph instrument
Where Was Johnstonf
Diana scrawled a line to Dale on
a telegraph blank with dirty stub
of pencil. Fully aware that 1t
would be read and it's contents
spread broadcast as soon as her
back was turned, she was as brief
and impersonal as possible. She
wished she dared tell him about the
man who had tried to climb into
her window the night before and
also about the dead man in the
road. but she thought it wisest to
reserve such information.
She folded IL, addressed 1t, and
held 1t out to the agent.
IF you please"
With acute embarrassment, she
realized that she had no money to
offer as a tip.
'1-I- she stammered.
But apparently he expected no
recompense, for he took the note
and stuck 1t into a rack already
filled with railroad notices.
"Give to the Teller this evening"
he remarked over his shoulder.
Thank you" murmured Diana
gratefully.
He turned around and stared a..
her suddenly.
Say are you the girl that was
lost off the train one day weeks
ago?"
She nodded.
Certainly have been a lot of
people trying to get wind of you
and that guy that was with you.
Doc says you been at his place.
What become of the young feller?'
"why-I thought-didn't he leave
several days ago?"
The agent shook his head
Didn't get on any train here"
Diana went out onto the plat
form. decidedly worried.
That meant that Dominique had
lied about Johnston's receiving his
freedom. unless of course, he had
taken a train from another station.
But that would have meant a long
drive and a pointless one.
The Limited was laundering in!
Cynthia had got down from the
blackboard and was standing on the
platform. watching a Mexican lead
away the doctors fat little pony.
She clutched Diana's hand.
I'm almost afraid-now that the
time I've longed for has really
come. Do 1 look very queer and
out-of- date?"
You look lovely" replied Diana
sincerely.
She meant It. with her flushed
cheeks and shining eyes. Cynthia
was very close 10 the beauty with
which rumor had credited her when
she had dropped out Of the world
many years before.
The doctor came up Just as the
train drew to a stop alongside the
station like a long painting serpent
tired from its thirsty trail through