A Romance in Transit Page 3

  III

  THE PRIVATE CAR

  "Yes, sah; mighty sorry, sah; but we cayn't cook you-all's dinner,no-how, sah. Wateh-pipe's done bu'sted in de range."

  President Vennor turned and regarded the big-bodied cook of theNaught-fifty with the eye-sweep of appraisal which Mrs. Burton had foundso annoying.

  "No dinner, you say? That's bad. Why did you burst the pipe?"

  "I--I didn't bu'sted it, sah; hit des bu'sted hitse'f--'deed it did,sah!"

  "Well, can't you serve us a cold lunch?"

  "Might do dat--yes, sah; ef dat'll do."

  "What is that, papa; no luncheon to-day?" asked a young woman, comingdown the compartment to stand beside the President's chair.

  There was a family resemblance, but in the daughter the magic offemineity had softened the severer characteristics until they becamewinsome and good to look upon. The cool gray eyes of the father wereGertrude's inheritance, also; but in the eyes of the daughter thecalculating stare became the steady gaze of clean-hearted guilelessness;and in her even-tinted complexion there was only a suggestion of thesallow olive of the father's clean-shaven face. For face and figure,Gertrude owed much to birth and breeding, and it was small wonder thatFrederick Brockway had lost his heart to her in time-honored andromantic fashion.

  The President answered his daughter's query without taking his eyes fromthe big-bodied cook.

  "No; there is something the matter with the range. Ask the others ifthey would prefer a cold luncheon in the car to the _table d'hote_ atthe dinner station."

  Gertrude went to the other end of the compartment and stated the case toMrs. Dunham, the chaperon of the party; to Priscilla and HannahBeaswicke, two young women of the Annex; to Chester Fleetwell, A.B.,Harvard, by the skin of his teeth, but the ablest oarsman of his classby a very safe majority; and to Mr. Harold Quatremain, the President'ssecretary.

  The dinner station carried it unanimously, and Gertrude announced thevote.

  "We're all agreed upon the _table d'hote_," she said; and theFalstaffian negro shook himself free and backed into the vestibule."What is its name? and when do we arrive?"

  "I'll have to inquire," Mr. Vennor replied. "I'll go forward and havethe conductor wire ahead for a separate table."

  But Gertrude said: "Please don't; let's go with the crowd for once. I'mso tired of being always specialized."

  The President's smile was suggestive of the metallic smirk on the faceof a George-the-Fourth penny. "Just as you please," he rejoined; "butI'll go and find out when and where."

  Now it chanced that at this precise moment Brockway had laid his hand onthe Tadmor's door-knob preparatory to taking the plunge; and when heopened the door he found himself face to face with the President.Whereupon he fell back and lost the power of speech, while the incomerappraised him with his eyes and tried to remember where he had seen himbefore. Recognition brought with it a small frown of annoyance.

  "Your name is Brockway, I believe," the President said.

  "Ye-yes," Brockway stammered, being by no means so sure of it at themoment.

  "H-m; and, if I remember correctly, you are an employee of this line?"

  "I am." The passenger agent was beginning a little to recover hisscattered store of self-possession.

  "Very good. Possibly you can tell me what I want to know. What is thedinner station, and when do we reach it?"

  "Moreno--twelve-ten. Shall I wire ahead for a private table?" Brockwayasked, eager to preface his unwelcome purpose with some small token ofservice.

  "By no means; we are no better than the patrons of your company. What isgood enough for them ought to suffice for us."

  "Of course, if you don't wish it," Brockway began; and then the plunge:"I am in charge of the excursionists in this car, and they want itplaced behind yours. If you will kindly consent to humor their whim----"He stopped in deference to the frown of displeasure which was graduallyoverspreading the President's brow.

  "And so make our private car a thoroughfare for everybody," said he,indignantly; then, with a sudden turn which confused Brockway until hesaw its drift, "But you are quite right; the patrons of your companyshould always be considered first. We are only guests. By all means,make the change at the first opportunity."

  "Please don't misunderstand me," Brockway said, courageously. "I didn'tpropose it. If you object, just say so, and I'll see them all hangedfirst."

  The President shook his head reprovingly, and Brockway fancied he couldfeel the cold gray eyes pinning him against the partition.

  "Certainly not; I am afraid you don't sufficiently consider your duty toyour employers. I not only authorize the change--I desire it. I shallrequest it if you do not."

  Brockway winced under the patronizing tone, but he was determined not tolet pride stand in the way of better things. So he said, "Thank you forhelping me out. I'll have the change made at the dinner station, andwe'll try not to annoy you any more than we can help."

  That ended it, and he was no nearer the penetralia of car Naught-fiftythan before. Mr. Vennor turned to go, but at the door he bethought himof the crippled range.

  "A water-pipe has burst in our kitchen range," said he. "Can we get itrepaired this side of Denver?"

  Brockway considered it for a moment. Back of his passenger departmentservice there was an apprenticeship in mechanics, and he was weighingthe scanty furnishings of the engineer's tool-box against the probableaskings of the undertaking. It was a chance to show his good-will, andhe concluded to risk it.

  "Hardly. We don't stop long enough at the division station. Is it a verybad break?"

  "Indeed, I know nothing about it. The cook tells me he can't use therange."

  "May I go in and look at it?" Brockway asked.

  Now President Vennor, upon recognizing Gertrude's acquaintance of theprevious summer, had determined to prevent a renewal of the intimacy atwhatever cost; but he abhorred _tables d'hote_ and railwayeating-stations, and was willing to make some concessions to avoid them.So he gave the coveted permission, and a minute later they were in thekitchen of the private car, inspecting the disabled range.

  "It isn't as bad as it might be," Brockway announced, finally. "I thinkI can stop the leak with what tools I can find in the engineer's box."

  "You?"

  "Yes; I'm a machinist by trade, you know. I earned my living at itawhile, before I went into the passenger department." Brockway found acertain measure of satisfaction in running counter to the presumedanti-craftsman prejudice of the man of inherited wealth.

  "I'm sure it is very good of you to offer, but I couldn't think oftroubling you," the President said, sparring to gain time in which toperfect a little plan which had just suggested itself.

  "Oh, it's no trouble; I shall be glad enough to help you out."

  "Very well, then--if you wish to try. I will make it worth your while."

  Brockway straightened up and met the appraising eyes unflinchingly.

  "Excuse me, Mr. Vennor, but you've mistaken your man this time," hesaid, steadily. "I'll gladly do it as a kindness--not otherwise."

  The President smiled. "I beg your pardon, Mr. Brockway," he apologized,with the faintest possible emphasis on the prefix; "we shall be mostgrateful if you will come to our rescue upon your own terms. I presumeyou won't have time before noon?"

  "N--no," said Brockway, glancing at his watch and generously burying hispique with the provocation; "but I'll attack it as soon as we leaveMoreno. It won't take long."

  Mr. Vennor bowed, and saw his newly pledged servitor safely out upon thehamper-laden platform. He cherished a little theory of his ownrespecting the discouraging of youthful and sentimental intimacies, andit was based upon conditions which Brockway's proposed undertaking mighteasily fulfil. Gertrude had been distinctly pleased with the young manthe preceding summer. Other things had happened since, and, fortunately,Fleetwell was along to look after his own interests. None the less, itmight be well for them to meet under conditions which would make itimpossible for the passeng
er agent to pose as Gertrude's social equal.Accordingly, the President sought out the porter and gave him hisinstructions.

  "William, that young man will come in this afternoon to repair therange. When he is well at work, I want you to come and tell me."