Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-02-07
By
WilliamMacHarg
Edwin Balmer

while he stared, unseelngly, at the
solid bank OF snow beside the car.
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 manner Who Is that tele-
gram for2"
"Mr. Lawrence Hillward."
"0h, thank you; then that's mine"
Connery held back. II thought your
name was Eaton"
"It is. Mr.. Hillward-Lawrence
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 adj
dressed 10 him. Is there anything to
slgng
mo. sir-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 a
small round scar. such as that left by
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 messege-nine words
without signature-lay before him:
"Thlcket knot youngster omniscient
issue foliage lecture tragic instiga-
ton"
II 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 thlsT" 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 II
on"
II see; thanks" Eaton, assured that
n 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-Chl-
nese pocket dictionary from his vest
pocket and opened IL 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
"is;" 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 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 hm into &C
ton. Passengers from the Pullman
AZ the rear passed Eaton's section for
the diner. He heard Harriet Dorne's
voice IN some quiet conventional re
mark 10 the man who followed her.
Eaton started at f.; then he dressed
swiftly and hurried into the now de
serted Mushroom and then or TO
breakfast.
Harriet Dorne was sitting facing
the door at the second Of the larger
tables; opposite her, and with his
back 10 Eaton. sat Donald Avery. A
third place was laid beside the girl,
as though they expected Dorne TO
ioin 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 10 break
fast now; and II he does, Of course
there's still room"
She pulled back the chair beside her
entlclngly; and Eaton accepted IL.
"Good morning. Mr.. Avery" he SAID
70 Miss Dorne's companion formally
as he sat down. and the man across
the table murmured something per
force.
Az Eaton ordered his breakfast, he
anpreclated for the first time that his
coming had interrupted a CONVERSE
tion-or rather a sort Of monologue
OF complaint on the part OF Standish
addressed lmpersonally TO Avery.
They engaged In conversation as
they breakfasted-a conversation In
which Avery took almost no part.
though Miss Dorne tried openly 10
draw him in; then the sudden en-
trance OF Connery, followed closely by
a stout. brusque man who belonged
70 the rear Pullman. took Eaton's at