The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-25
CHAPTER VII
Suspicion Fasten. on Eaton.

Suspicion Fastens on Eaton.
Eaton found his car better filed
than 1t had been before, for the people
shifted from the car behind had been
scattered through the train. Keeping
himself to his section, he watched the
car and outside the windows for
signs Of what investigation Connery
and Avery were making. Whoever
had attacked Santoine must still be
upon the train, for no one could have
escaped through the snow No one
could now escape. Avery and Connery
and whoever else was making investi.
gatioon with them evidently were not
letting anyone know that an investi-
CATION was being made. Eaton went
to lunch; on his way back from the
diner, he saw the conductors with pa
pers In their hands questioning pas
senger. They evidently were starting
Systematically through the cars, exam
lining each person; they were making
the plea of necessity of report to
the railroad offices of names and ad-
dresses Of all held up by the stoppage
of the train.
Eaton started on toward the rear
of the train.
"a moment, sir!" Connery called.
Eaton halted. The conductor con-
fronted him.
your name, sir?" Connery asked.
phillip D. Eaton"
Connery wrote down the answer
'sYour address?"
T-have no address. I was going
to a hotel in Chicago-which one 1
hadn't decided yet"
"Where are you coming from?"
"From Asia"
"That's hardly an address, Mr. Ea-
ton -
81 can give you no address abroad
l had no fixed address there. was
travelling most Of the time. I arrived
In Seattle by the Asiatic steamer and
took this train"
"Ah! you came on the Tamba
Maru."
Connery made note of this, as he
had made note of all the other ques-
tions and answers. Then he said
something to the Pullman conductor,
who replied in the same low tone:
what they said was not audible to
Eaton.
"You can tell us at least where
your family is, Mr.. Eaton" Connery
suggested.
81 have no family"
"Friends, them"
I'll have no friends"
"NowhereT'
Nowhere"
Connery pondered for several mo-
ments. ''The Mr.. Hlllward-Law-
renee Hillward, to whom the telegram
was addressed which you claimed
this morning, your associate who was
to have taken this train with YOU
will you give me his address?"
II don't know Hillward's address,"
"Give me the address, then, of the
man who sent the telegram
81 am unable to do that, either"
Connery spoke again to the Pullman
conductor, and they conversed inau-
dibly for minute. "That is all,
them" Connery said finally.
He signed his name to the sheet
on which he had written Eaton's an
swers, and handed 1t to the Pullman
conductor, who also signed 1t and re-
turned it to him; then they went on
to the passenger now occupying Sec
ton -Four, without making any fur
ther comment.
Eaton told himself that there should
be no danger to himself from this in
quiry, directed against no one, but
Including comprehensively everyone
on the train. When the conductors
had left the car, he put his magazine
away and went into the mems com
purtment TO smoke and calm his
nerves. His return to America had
passed the bounds of recklessness
and what situation he would now be
in II his actions brought even serious
suspicious against him, He finished
his first cigar and was debating
| whether to light another, when he
heard voices outside the car, and
opening the window and looking out,
he saw Connery and the brakeman
struggling through the snow and max
Ing, apparently, some search Pres
emily Connery passed the door Of the
compartment carrying something
loosely wrapped In newspaper In
his hands. Eaton finished his cigar
and went back to his seat In the car.
AS he glanced at the seat where
he had left his locked travelling bag,