The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-02-02
By
WilliamMacHarg
Edwin Balmer

dCCoult III HIS pans. lie JerKed MN
self up in his berth and began pulling
his clothes down from the hooks; then
as abruptly, he stopped dressing and
sat absorbed in thought. He had lei
himself sink back against the pillows
while he stared, unseeingly, 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 name? Who is that teIe-
gram for?"
MIR. Lawrence Hillward"
on, thank you; then that's mine"
Connery held back. Il thought your
name was Eaton"
1T is. Mr.. acknowledgements
Hillward-is an associate of mine who
expected to make this trip with me
but could not. SO l should have tele-
grams or other communications adj
dressed to him. Is there anything to
sign?"
NO, sir-train delivery"
Eaton drew his curtains close again
and ripped the envelope open; but be-
lore 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
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 sfgnature-lay before him:
"Thicket knot youngster omniscient
issue foliage lecture tragic instiga-
tion.''
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"
81 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 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 your;
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 |
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 him into ac-
ton. 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 it; 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,
IS though they expected Dorne to
Join them; but they had begun their
'ruit 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 as? l
lon't think Father is COMING to break
asst now; and if he does, of course
here's still ROOM"
She pulled back the chair beside her
and Eaton accepted it.
"Good morning, Mr. Avery" he said
o Miss Dorne's companion formally
Is he sat down, and the man across
he table murmured something per-
orce.
AS Eaton ordered his breakfast. he
81 -, -. L. L. q