The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-03-09
BY
WilliamM acHarg
Edwin Balmer

49, o'''h 'ANH 49, S ~
while he stared, unseelngly, at the
solid bank of snow beside the ear,
when the door at the farther end of
the coach opened and Conductor Con-
merry entered, calling a name.
"Mr. Hillward! Mr.. Lawrence Hill
ward! Telegram for Mr.. Hillward!"
Eaton started at the first call Of the
name; he sat up and faced about.
The conductor was opposite Section
Three; Eaton now waited tenSely and
delayed until the conductor was past
then putting his head out Of his cur
tains he hailed as the conductor was
going through the door.
"What name? Who Is that tele-
gram for?"
"Mr. Lawrence Hillward."
ooh, thank you; then that's NINE"
Connery held back. Il thought your
name was Eaton"
1T is. Mr.. Observation-Disclosures
Hillward-is an associate of mine who
expected to make this trip with me
but could not. SO | should have tele-
grams or other communications ad-
dressed to him. Is there anything to
sign?"
mo, sir-train delivery"
Eaton drew his curtains close again
and ripped the envelope open but be
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 "high-powered bullet penetrating,
was exposed. He gasped almost au-
dibly, realizing this, and clapped his
hand to his chest and buttoned his
jacket. The message-nine words
without signature-lay before him:
"Thicket knot youngster omnisclent
issue foliage lecture tragic instiga-
ton"
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 this?" 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 it
on"
II see thanks" Eaton, assured that
If 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-Chi-
neSe pocket dictionary from his vest
pocket and opened it under cover Of
the blanket; counting five words up
from "thicket" he found they; five
down from knot" gave him know;
six up from ~"yOungster' was "you";
six down from "omniscient" was
"one;" seven up from tissue" was
sis - 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
as he compiled the final three. Leave
train instantly - The humor of
that advice in his present situation,
rs he looked out 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
ut the rear passed Eaton's section for
the diner. He heard Harriet Dorne's
voice I'm some quiet conventional re-
mark TO the man who followed her.
Eaton started ut 1t; then he dressed
swiftly and hurried into the now de-
serted Mushroom and then on to
breakfast.
Harriet Dorne was sitting facing
the door at the second OF the larger
tables; opposite her. and with his
back to Eaton. sat Donald Avery. A
third place was laid beside the girl,
as though they expected Dorne to
join them: but they had begun their
fruit without waiting. The girl
glanced up as Eaton halted in the
doorway; her blue eyes frightened
with a look part friendliness, part
purpose. "Oh. Mr.. Eaton" she smiled
%"wouldn't you like to sit with us?
don't think Father Is coming to break
fast now; and IL he does, Of course
there's still room"
She pulled back the chair beside her
| enticingly and Eaton accepted 1t.
Good morning. Mr.. Avery" he said
to Miss Dorne's companion formally
as he sat down, and the man across
the table murmured something per
force.
AS Eaton ordered his breakfast. he
| appreciated for the first time that his
coming had interrupted a conversa
| tion-or rather a sort Of monologue
Of complaint on the part OF Standish
addressed impersonally TO Avery.
They engaged in conversation as
they breakfasted-a conversation In
which Avery took almost no part.
though Miss Dorne tried openly To
draw him in; then the sudden en-.
trance OF Connery. followed closely by
a stout. brusque man who belonged