The Holly chieftain., 1922-12-28


circumspect, the chauffeur also plain
ly was accustomed to be in the en-
ploy Of one who required reticence
Connery looked from the note to the
bearer more keenly. There was some
thing familiar In the chauffeur's face
just enough to have made Connery
believe, at first, that probably he had
seen the man meeting some passenger
at the station.
"You are" Connery ventured
casually.
"In private employ; yes. sir" the
man cut OF quickly. Then Connery
knew him; 1t was when Gabriel War
den travelled on Connery's train that
the conductor had seen this chauf-
feur; this was Patrick Corboy. who
had driven Warden the night he was
killed. But Connery, having won his
point, knew better than to show 1t.
''Waiting for q receipt from mel" he
asked as II he had abandoned his
curiosity.
The chauffeur nodded. Connery
took q sheet Of paper, wrote on 1t,
sealed 1t in an envelope and handed 1t
over; the chauffeur hastened back to
his car and drove OF. Connery whis-
tied softly to himself. Evidently his
passenger was to be one Of the great
men in eastern finance who had been
brought west by Warden's death. As
the car disappeared, Connery gazed
OF to the sound.
The March morning was windy and
wet, with storm blowing In from the
Pacific. From Eliot bay reverberated
the roar Of the steam-whistle of some
large ship signaling Its intention to
pass another to the left. The incom-
| ing vessel doomed in sight and showed
the graceful lines. the single funnel
and the white and red-barred flag Of
the Japanese line, the Nippon Yusen
Kaisha. Connery saw that 1t was, as
he anticipated. the Tamba Maru, due
two days before, having been delayed
by bad weather over the Pacific. 1t
would dock, Connery estimated, just
In time to permit passenger to catch
the Eastern Express II that were held
till nine o'clock. So, as he hastened
to the car line, Connery smiled at him
self for taking the trouble to make
his earlier surmises.
Old Sammy Seaton, the gateman,
stood in his iron coop twirling punch
about his finger. Old Sammy's scheme
Of sudden wealth-everyone has
plan by which at any moment wealth
may arrive-was to recognize and up
prehend some wrongdoer, or some lost
or kidnapped person for whom a great
reward would be given. His position
at the gate through which must pass
great Coast city, or wishing to depart
from 1t. certainly was excellent; and
by constant and careful reading Of
the papers. classifying and memoriz-
ing faces, he prepared himself to take
advantage of any opportunity. Sammy
still awaited his great strike"
"Any one of on Number Five, Sam
myY Connery questioned carelessly
as he approached.
Old Sammy shook his head. "What
are we holding for?' he whispered.
"Ah-for themY
A couple Of station-boys, overloaded
with hand-baggage. scurried In from
the street; someone shouted for a
trunk-truck, and baggagemen ran. A
group of people, who evidently had
come to the station In covered cars,
crowded out to the gate and lined up
to pass old Sammy. The gateman
Strengthened Importantly and scruti-
nized each person presenting q ticket
Connery inspected with attention the
file at the gate and watched old Sam.
my also as each passed him.
The first In line was a girl-a girl
about twenty-five or three, Connery
guessed. She had the easy, interested
air of person of assured position
When Connery first saw her. she
seemed to be accompanying the man
who now was behind her; but she Of
fered her own ticket for perusal at
the gate, and as soon as she was
through, she hurried on ahead alone.
Connery was certain he did not
know her. He noticed that old Sam
my had held her at the gate as long
as possible, as IL hoping to recollect
who she might be; but now that she
was gone, the gateman gave his atten
tion more closely to the first mana
tall, strongly built man, neither heavy
nor light, and with a powerful, pa.
trician face. His eyes were hidden
by smoked glasses such as one wear
against glare Of snow.
Connery found his gaze following
this man; the conductor did not know
him, nor had old Sammy recognized
him; but both were trying to place
him. He, unquestionably, was mar
to be known, though not more SO than
many who Travelled in the transconti.
mental trains.
A trim, self-assured man Of thirty
his open overcoat showed a cutaway
underneath-came past next, proffer.
ing the plain Seattle-Chicago ticket.
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