A Romance in Transit Read online

  XIV

  WITH DENVER IN SIGHT

  There was the usual early morning confusion in the aisle of the Ariadnewhen Brockway picked his way forward to section three over a litter ofopened hand-bags, lately polished shoes, and unshod feet. He found theBurton section empty, with the porter putting the finishing touches tohis morning's work of scene-shifting.

  "Yes, sah; de gemman's in de washroom, an' de lady----"

  "Is right here," said a voice at Brockway's elbow. "Good-morning, Mr.Frederick; how do you find yourself--or aren't you lost?"

  The forty-minute lock-out had left scant time for preliminaries, andBrockway left off the preamble.

  "I'm not lost, but I'm going to be if you and John don't help me out.Will you do it?"

  "Sight unseen." The little lady was eying her shoes wistfully and hopingthat Brockway would be brief.

  "I thought I could count on you. What is your programme for to-day?"

  "For John, business, I suppose; for myself, a carriage, a handycard-case, and any number of 'how do you dos' and 'good-byes.' Why?"

  "I want you both to give me the day, out and out. Listen, and don't sayno till you've heard me through."

  "Go on, but don't let it lap over into Denver; we're 'most there."

  Brockway stated his case briefly. "It's probably the last chance I'llever have to see her," he concluded.

  "Why should you want to see her when there is nothing to be done, as yousay?"

  "I don't know that--but I do, and you must help me. Will you?"

  "Help you carry on a brazen flirtation with that poor, innocent girl?Never! But if John says he'll go, I suppose I can't helpmyself"--resignedly.

  "Thank you; I knew you wouldn't be cruel. And if John should happen tobalk a little----"

  "Why, I'll talk him over, of course; is that what you want?"

  "That's it exactly. Thank you some more."

  "Don't mention it. Is that all?"

  "Y--yes, all but one little trifle of detail. Have you told John aboutmy--my lunacy?"

  "No."

  "Then don't; it's bad enough to be an idiot and know it myself."

  "I sha'n't--perhaps. Is _that_ all?"

  "Yes, I believe so."

  "Then for mercy's sake do go and talk to John, and let me put on myshoes," said Mrs. Burton, impatiently. "I can't go to breakfast in myslippers."

  Brockway vanished obediently, and presently found Burton struggling intohis outer garments in the smoking-room.

  "Hello, Fred; how are the invalids this morning? Get you out bright andearly?"

  "One of them did--that old fellow with the bad case of ticket-limits.I'm in trouble up to my neck, and you've got to help me out."

  "Say the word and I'll do it if it costs me something," said Burton, whowas nothing if not helpful to his friends.

  "It's going to cost you something--a whole day, in fact. I promised to'personally conduct' the crowd up to Silver Plume to-day, and thearrangements are all made. Now this old fellow says he isn't going; saysI've got to stay in Denver with him and telegraph another thirty days tohis ticket, or the heavens will fall. I'm going to do it, and I want youto take my place with the party."

  "Same old maker of hard-and-fast promises, aren't you, Fred," said thegeneral agent, smiling. "I suppose I can do it, if you can square itwith Emily."

  "I've done that already; she's awfully good about it--says she'll goalong and help you out. What's this place? Overton? By Jove! I'll haveto be getting back to my car; we're only fifteen miles out. Thank youmuch, old man--see you later"--and the passenger agent pushed throughthe group in the wash-room and dropped off to once more make the circuitof car Naught-fifty.