Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-01-25
III


DVihc motiohcu avery 10 tDe aisle
where already some of the passengers
having settled their belongings Fl
: their sections, were beginning to wan
der through the cars seeking nc
qualntances or players to make up 8
card game. Eaton took from a baa
a handful Of cigars with which he
nled a plain, unlnitialed cigar case
and went toward the club and obser.
Walton cur in the rear. AS ne passed
through the sleeper next TO hIm-the
last one-Harriet Dorne glanced up
at him and spoke to her father: Dorne
nodded but did not look up.
The observation room was nearly
empty. The only occupants were a
young woman who was reading a mag
aEtne=afz@an-rthor, A
chose a seat as far from these two as
possible.
He had been there only a few min
utes, however. when, looking up. he
saw Harriet Dorne and Avery enter
the room. They passed him, Engages
In conversation. and stood by the rear
door looking out into the storm. II
was evident to Eaton, although he did
not watch them. that they were arg
Ing something the girl seemed insist
ent, Avery irritated and unwilling.
Her manner showed that she won her
| point finally. She seated herself in
one of the chairs, and Avery left her.
He wandered, as II aimlessly, TO the
reading table, turning over the maya
zines there; abandoning them, he
gazed about as II bored; then, with a
wholly casual manner, he came
toward Eaton and took the seat be-
side him.
Rotten weather, isn't It'll" Avery
observed somewhat ungraclously.
Eaton could not well avoid a reply.
ITS been getting worse" he com |
mented, ever since we left Seattle"
Were running into IT, apparently"
Again Avery looked toward Eaton and
waited.
"Yes-lucky II we get through"
The conversation on Avery's part
was patiently forced; and II was
equally forced on Eaton's; neverthe-
less II continued. Avery introduced
the war and other subjects upon which
men, thrown together for a time, are
accustomed to exchange opinions. But
Avery did not do 1t easily or natu-
rally; he plainly was of the caste
whose pose 1t is to repel, not seek,
oyertures toward q chance acqualnt-
ance. His lack Of practice was per-
fectly obvious when at last he asked
directly: beg pardon. but / don't
think l know your name"
Eaton was obliged to give II.
Mines Avery" the other offered :
perhaps you heard 1t when we were
getting our berths assigned"
And again the conversation, enjoyed
by neither OF them. went on. Finally
the girl at the end of the car rose and
passed them, as though leaving the
car. Avery looked up.
Where are you going, HarryY'
81 think someone ought to be with
an go In just a minute"
She had halted almost IN front Of
them. Avery, hesftating as though he
did not know what he ought to do,
dnally arose and as Eaton observed
that Avery. having introduced him
self. appeared now to consider II his
iuty to present Eaton to Harriet
.orne, Eaton also arose. Avery MUIR
nured the m Harriet Dorne.
her hand on the back of
chair. Joined In the CONVEX :
AS he replied easily and In :
erestedly to a comment of Eaton's,
Avery suddenly reminded her of her .
ather. After . minute. when Avery b
ungracious and still irritated
yer something which Eaton could not b
abruptly left them, she
ook Avery's seat: and Eaton dropped q
nto his chair beside her. l.
Now. this whole proceeding-though '
githin the convention which, forbid y
ing q girl to make Z mans acquaint- q
nee directly. says nothing against q
making Il through the medium Of
man-had been so unnntu- y
ally done that Eaton understood that II
Dorne deliberately had ar
anged to make his acquaintance, and 4
hat Avery, angry and objecting, had a
cen overruled.
She seemed to Eaton less alertiy =
eyish now than abe had looked an :,
eur before when they had boarded 5,
10 train. Her cheeks were smoothly =
her lips rather fun, her
lshes very long He could not look 4
p without looking directly at her. for
er chair. which had not been moved r
lnce Avery ieft II. was at an angle
tth hts M VII
TO avoid the appearance Of study
Y her too openly. he turned slightly.
> that BIZ gass went past her to the
hits tussAotl outsdde the w4ndowsL
-1tr wonderful" sh< aid s1~r ur~ a,