The Raymer enterprise., 1923-01-25
BY
William MacHarg
Edwin Balmer

the coach opened and Conductor Con
merry entered. calling name.
"Mr. Hillward. Mr.. Lawrence Hill
ward! Telegram for Mr.. Hlllward!"
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
talns he hailed as the conductor was
! going through the door.
"What name? Who Is that tele-
gram for?"
mfr. Lawrence Hillward."
"Oh, thank you; then that's mlne."
Connery held back. 81 thought your
name was Eaton"
at Is. Mr.. Hillward-Lawrence
| Iilllward-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;"
"No, slr-traln 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
small round scar, such as that left by
a hlgh-powered bullet penetrating.
was exposed. He gasped almost au-
dibly. realizing this, and clapped his
hand to his chest and buttoned his
jacket The messege-nine words
without signature-lay before him:
"T'hlcket knot youngster omnlscient
issue foliage lecture tragic instlga.
ton"
II was some code which Eaton rec
ognlzed 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"
Il 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 small Engllsh-Chi
nese pocket dictionary from his vest
pocket and opened 1t under cover OF
the blanket; counting five words up
from "thlcket" he found they; Ave
down from "knot" gave him "know"; !;
six up from "youngster" was you" !;
six down from "onnlscient" was
"one;;" seven up from tissue" was
"ls;" 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
as he looked out the window ut the
solid bank Of snow, appealed to him.
waiter from the dining car came
back, announcing the first call for
breakfast, and spurred him into ac-
tion. 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
Eaton started at 1t; then he dressed
swiftly and hurried into the now de-
serted washrOom 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
us 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 look part frlendliness, 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 II 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 conversa-
tiOn-Or rather 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 D0rne tried openly to
draw him in; then the sudden en-
trance Of Connery, followed closely by
Il stout, brusque man who belonged
to the rear Pullman, took Eaton's at.
tention and hers.
(which Is himf the man with Con-