The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-13
CHAPTER Iv-Continued
10

mo, she ueciueu, IOT lie Is Icdliy
fastidious and Nettie's a hopelessly
common little thing And yet, If he
can stand me and the dope hand
out to him"
She did not know, however, that st.
Croix, to his own wonder, never felt
that she was common" or vulgar;
not even when she manifested the i'm
telligence of sheep or twisted the
English language until his nerves
were rasped; not even when she sat
sprawling ungracefully with her feet
far apart, nor when, after tasting an
apple, she drew the back OF her hand
across. her mouth.
She was a good actress, but there
was that something inherent that moth
ing could Disguise
It was just when, relieved Of Aunt
Rosy's espionage, Nicely was begin
ming to feel, in spite Of the dangerous
proximity of Marvin Creighton, more
at her ease, less insecure in her equiv
ocal position, that, on that very eve
ming when she sat in the warm, bright
kitchen, peacefully writing letters, she
was to find the complexity and preca-
robustness of her situation greaaY in
creased by the outcome Of an episode
which was, at that same hour, In its
lncipiency on Sunbury street corner.
eight miles distant.
Mr.. Sam Schwenckton, having fin
ished the business which had taken
him to town, was about to enter his
car parked on the edge of the town,
and start for home, when a man stand
ing on the corner, apparently waiting
for trolley car, approached him.
pardon me-how often do these
cars rum" the man inquired in a tone
Of extreme irritation. 'Tve been wait
ing here twenty minutes y
at don't run no cars on this line
after seven O'Clock, Mister. This here
trolley line amt dom much business
anyhow, so it stops till seven already.
You must be a stranger here-aint?I
or you'd o. knowed that"
"No-but / seldom use the trolley.
Today, however, had to leave my au-
tomobile at the repair shop. Are You,
by any chance, driving out this 5road?Y
Eyes, eight mile out"
"Will you, then, for a consideration,
fet me go with your"
Now as the night was raw and wet,
It would, Mr.. Schwenckton felt, be
only a Christian act to offer this
stranger a seat in his car. Also, he
liked company, some one to talk to
on an eight-mile drive. But the news
papers were so full of holdup stories
and he was carrying good deal Of
money wouldn't he be taking
chances?
The man looked so decent, however
(what could be seen of him in the dim
ness) and Mr.. SchwenclSton had, as
always when he Travelled at night.
brought his revolver with him
He felt in his pocket and surrep-
titiously moved his pistol from his
right-hand pocket to his left.
II wouldn't want no SIGH 'consid-
Grafton Mister. Just SOS you amt
one of these here thugs you can read
about in the papers"
The man laughed. "You're twice
my size. If can trust you not to hold
me up, l guess you're safe!"
Eyes, guess that's so too. All
right. Come on, them
Mr.. Schwenckton felt rather cheat
ed when he found that the stranger.
though sociable and agreeable enough,
was not going to repay his hospitality
by satisfying his curiosity as to who
he was. All the leading questions
with which the farmer piled him re-
ceived evasive answers. This seemed
to Mr.. Schwenckton so suspicious that
he frequently felt in his left-hand
pocket to be ready In case Of need.
However, he tried to put his appre-
tensions aside and to beguile the ride
with friendly talk.
$50 your car had to go to the shop,
heh?"
"Yes, worse luck r.
.When I first got my car I drove
her and drove Ter TIL I got the cold