Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-02-01
By
WilliamM
Edwin Balmer

III - Antta Gl III
solid bank of sno beside the car
when the door at the farther end O
the coach opened and Conductor Con
merry entered, calling a name.
mfr. HilIwardi Mr.. Lawrence Hill
wardi Telegram for Mr.. HilIward =
Eaton started at the first call OF thu
name he sat up and faced about.
The conductor vas opposite Section
Three; Eaton now waited tenseiy anc
delayed until the conductor was past
then putting his head out OF his cur
talns he hailed as the conductor was
going through the door.
"What name? Who lis that tele-
gram for?'
mfr. Lawrence .Hillward."
"Oh. thank you; then that's mine"
Connery held back. 81 thought your
name was Eaton"
ut Is. Mr.. acknowledgements
Hiifward-is an associate Of mine who
expected to make this trip with me
but could not. SO | should have teIe-
grams or other communications adj
dressed to him. is there anything to
signY'
mo. sir-train delivery"
Eaton drew his curtains close againl
md rnnEdt the enxs1npenpen hut he
fore reading the message he observed
with alarm that his pajama jacket
had opened across the chest. and a
small round scar, such as that left by
a hi~gh-powered bullet penetrating.
was exposed. He gasped almost au-
dibly, realizing this, and elapped his
hand to his chest and buttoned his
jacket. The messege-nine words
without signature-lay before him:
"Thicket knot youngster omniscient
issue foliage lecture tragic instiga-
tion,"
1t was some code which Eaton rec
ognized but could not decipher at
once. The conductor was still stand
Ing In the aisle.
when did you get thisY' Eaton
asked. looking out.
Just now. That message came
through yesterday some time and was
waiting for you at Simons when we
got them this morning they sent IL
on"
II see; thanks" Eaton, assured that
II the conductor had seen anything he
suspected no significance In what he
saw, closed his curtains and buttoned
them carefully. The conductor moved
on. Eaton took a small English-C Chi
nese pocket dictionary from his vest
pocket and opened 1t under cover Of
the blanket; counting five words up
from "thicket" he found they; five
down from 'knot" CAV him know"
six up from "youngster'' was you"
six down from "omniscient" was
lone; :" seven up from tissue" was
us :" and so continuing. he translated
the words to:
"They know you. One is following.
Leave train Instantly"
Eaton. nervous and jerky, as he
completed the first six words. laughed
he compiled the final three. leave
train instantly !" The humor Of
that advice In his present situation.
as he looked u the window at the
solid bank of snow, appealed to him
A waiter from the dining car came
back. announcing the first call for
breakfast, and spurred him into ac-
ton. Passengers from the Pullman
at the rear passed Eaton's section for
the diner. He heard Harriet Dorne's
voice In some quiet conventional re
mark to the man who followed her.
started at 1t: then he dressed
swiftly and hurried into the now de-
washroom and then OF to
/
Harriet Dorne was sitting facing
the door at the second Of the larger
opposite her. and with his
back to Eaton, sat Donald Avery. A
third place was laid beside the girl,
rs though they expected Dorne TO
Join them: but they had begun their
'ruit without waiting. The girl
up as Eaton halted In the
doorway; her blue eyes frightened
a look part friendliness. part
.Oh, Mr.. Eaton" she smiled,
wouldn't you like to sit with usf !
ion't think Father Is coming to break.
asst now: and II he does, OF course
here's still room"
She pulled back the chair beside her
,nticingly and Eaton accepted II.
"Good morning. Mr.. Avery" he said
O Miss Dorne's companion formally
"a he sat down, and the man across
he table murmured something per-
Az Eaton ordered his breakfast, he
appreciated for the irst time that his
.oming had interrupted q converse.
rather q sort OF monologue
Il complaint on the part OF Standlsh I
addressed impersonally to Avery.
They engaged In conversation as
hey breskfasted-a conversation In I
which Avery took almost no part.
hough Miss Dome tried openly to I
him in then the sudden en- T.
rance Of Connery. followed closely by
stout. brusque man who belonged
the rear Pullman, took Eaton,s at |
ention and hera- n
(which Ia himY" the man with Con- | =
Iery demanded loudly.