An Unexpected Departure
: Dorothy On A RanchDorothy looked after the fleeing little figure as it disappeared behind
a clump of shrubbery in the direction of the laundry.
"A child of one of the workmen, I suppose, but such an odd, quaint
looking child," she thought, and rejoined her mates. They were still
standing beside the cloistered walk, talking, planning the wonderful
trips which would be open to them now that they owned horses; comparing
notes
learned, while Mr. Ford declared:
"This really is the most wonderful affair! Not that you have the horses,
but that you show no jealousy about them. So far as I can see each of
you is perfectly satisfied with his own choice and sure it was the
wisest. I only hope our good James Barlow will like his Azul as well.
Heigho, Dolly Doodles! What a quaint little basket! An Indian one and
fine. Where did you get that?"
"A little boy gave it to me. I suppose it is for Lady Gray, and here she
comes."
The lady had walked across from the Barracks, slowly, sauntering over
the beautiful grounds, so fully in accord with them and the glorious
day hat she was humming an aria from pure lightness of heart. She had
not forgotten the missing lad for whom she had chosen the best horse in
the herd, but it did not seem now that anything could be really amiss.
He would surely soon be back, safe and well, and oh! how good life
was! How dear the world, and how gracious that tender Providence which
had crowned her life with joy! In this mood she came up to the group
awaiting her and Dorothy put the basket into her hands.
She hadn't expected anything of weight and nearly dropped it.
"Why, dearie, what an exquisite basket! But how heavy it is!
What--here--why? See how oddly it's fastened with rushes or something
like them. I'll sit right here while one of you open it."
She seated herself upon a carved bench beside a sun-dial and Leslie cut
the rushes which were bound tightly about the basket. As he did so a
plaintive little wail issued from it, and Lady Gray and he both jumped.
"A baby! A foundling!" laughed Mr. Ford, pretending to be greatly
frightened.
"Open it, open it quick, please! I can't wait!" cried Molly.
At the slightest touch now the lid fell off and there, lying on a mat of
softest grass, was a tiny, new-born lamb. Ohs! and Ahs! and laughter
greeted it, to which the small creature answered by another feeble
"Ma-a-a!" then curled itself to sleep.
"What a pretty present! Who could have sent it?" wondered Lady Gray.
"One of the shepherds, likely; sheep herders they call them here. And
it's the first time I ever saw a lamb 'snow white.' The comparison,
'white as a lamb' is generally wrong, for they're a dirty gray. This one
has been washed within an inch of its life--literally. Some of you girls
better take it to the dairy and give it some milk," said Mr. Ford.
"Maybe there somebody will know about it or we'll find the little boy
again. He was so cute! Like a small Indian, he looked."
"He might easily be one, Dorothy. There are still many bands of them
roaming the mountains. Quite often, the 'boys' say, some come to San
Leon. A peaceable lot, though, mostly, unless they get hold of liquor.
But liquor turns even cultivated white men into brutes. Not likely we
shall see any of them at this time of year, when life in the forest is
pleasant."
"Oh! Daniel, don't talk of Indians at all! I don't like them," protested
Mrs. Ford, with a little shudder. "I hope that child wasn't one."
"Well, we don't know that he was. There are many people belonging to San
Leon and other neighboring ranches and a child more or less isn't enough
to set us worrying. Hmm. Here comes the operator with a telegram. I was
in hopes that I might escape them for a few weeks. News, Mr. Robson?"
The clerk's face was grave and the young folks walked away; Dorothy
carrying the basket with the lamb, the others following--with
mischievous Molly prodding the little creature with her forefinger "to
make it talk."
But the boys were not interested in "young mutton" as Monty called it,
and sought the ranchmen at their quarters to learn when they could go
fishing, or what was better, hunting.
"I don't see what you want to kill things for!" pouted Molly, while
Helena answered:
"Because they are--just boys! I only hope they won't be allowed to
handle firearms, except for rifle practice under the trainer's care. So
this is the dairy! What a fine one and away up here, where Milliken said
there was 'no civilization!' Do you know, Papa is getting quite anxious
for a stock farm? We think it's so queer for a man who knows nothing but
banking, but some doctor told him it would be fine for his health. If he
has cattle, I suppose we'll have a dairy. I mean now to find out all I
can about such things because I know whatever Mr. Ford does will be the
best possible. Odd! up here the dairymaids are dairymen! How spotlessly
clean that one yonder looks, in his white uniform! I'm going to ask what
he is doing now."
She left the other girls to do so and from another worker in this
up-to-date, sweet-smelling place, Dorothy begged a basin of milk for
their new pet. It still remained in the basket, which was so soft and of
such exquisite fineness that it could be folded like a cloth.
Alfaretta still held the soft cover, which had slipped off when Leslie
cut the rushes binding it on, turning it idly in her hands. Suddenly she
stopped and stared at its inner side, then excitedly stooped where
Dorothy was feeding the lamb and pointed, exclaiming:
"For the land sakes, Dolly Doodles, look at that!"
"Take care, Alfy! You're scaring this timid little thing so it won't
drink. It hardly knows how, anyway. What? What do you say?"
"I say look a there! Jim! Jim!"
Dorothy snatched the cover from Alfy's hand and there, surely enough,
was the letter D done in the curious handwriting which James Barlow had
acquired; quite different both girls knew from that of any other they
had ever seen. Then they stared at one another, not knowing whether to
be glad or sorry.
"What does it mean?" cried Dorothy at last, while Molly drew near to
learn what had happened to surprise them. For answer Alfaretta handed
her the cover and fairly gasped out:
"Jim--our Jim--wrote that--or painted it--or--or--It's Jim, true as
preachin'!"
"Huh! then all I can say is that this paragon of a Jim has a mighty
poor style of writing. Looks more as if that lamb had bumped its
itsy--witsy--heady--and made it bleed. That's some Indian 'mark' that
the maker of the basket put on it. Don't try to get up any excitement
over that."
Alfy shook her head but Dorothy did not look up. She was searching the
soft, wilted grass that lined the basket; and, in the bottom, tied to a
bunch of faded flowers was a little glistening stone. The pebble was
marked by another D, traced in the red juice of some plant.
The basket went one way, the lamb another as Dorothy sprang to her feet
and danced for very joy.
"Yes, it's from Jim--it's from Jim! And he's alive--somewhere he is
alive! Oh! I am so glad, so glad!"
Alfy was glad, too, of this reminder of the lad's existence, but she was
also ashamed of him.
"Huh! I don't see what there's to be so tickled over, for my part! Jim
Barlow's actin' like a regular simpleton. And he's mean, too. He's
meaner 'n pussley, makin' everybody such a lot of trouble. Folks riding
night and day to hunt for him--some out scourin' round this very
minute--and him just stayin' away 'cause--'cause--"
"'Cause what, Alfaretta Babcock?" demanded Molly sternly. As always she
was loyal to her beloved Dorothy whose joy Alfy was rapidly spoiling by
her contempt for the truant.
"'Cause, I s'pose he hasn't any decent clothes to come home in. He
didn't take his with him and clothes don't grow on trees, even in
Colorado. But--if I knew where he was I'd take 'em to him and give him a
piece o' my mind along with 'em."
"Give it to me, instead, missy. I'm kind of sort of hungry for it!" said
a familiar voice behind them, and there was Captain Lem leaning on the
sill of the dairy window and looking at them with that amused expression
of his. He seemed to find a lot of young folks the most entertaining
company in the world. He had hated their coming and had instantly veered
around to be thankful for it. Already his mates were teasing him about
it and prophesying that Lem had done his last job on the ranch.
Hereafter, if he was missed, all the "boys" would have to do would be to
hunt up Dorothy, or her chums, and find him.
"What's a doin', younkers? Hope your ridin' round didn't tire ye none.
Hello! Gone to raisin' sheep, have ye? Mighty pretty little creatur',
that one is. Where'd you find it?"
Even Helena left off learning dairy work and hurried with the others to
the window to learn his opinion.
He took the cover and the stone and carefully studied the inscriptions
on them. Cocked his head sidewise, put on his spectacles, screwed up
his eyebrows and his lips, and ejaculated:
"That's a poor fist--whoever done it!"
"Maybe it is; but both Alfaretta and I recognized it at once. You see
poor Jim almost taught himself to write. He'd begun that even before I
first saw him and it's hard to unlearn things, you know. Else, Jim's so
smart he'd have written better than any of us by this time. Yes, indeed!
Poor Jim is very, very clever!" said Dolly warmly.
Captain Lemuel shook his head, and remarked:
"I 'low you call him that by way o' compliment. But back home when we
called a feller 'clever' it meant he hadn't much sense. I've seen that
sort, 'clever' souls 't scurcely knew enough to come in out the rain.
This here one 'peared the same to me. Course, I hadn't been acquainted
with him longer 'n next to no time but if he was so smart, as I s'pose
you're meanin' to state, he hid it amazin' well. Hmm. But--but--if this
is a handwrite o' his 'n, our business is to take it straight to the
'Boss.' What you goin' to name your lamb, Little One?"
Dorothy lifted the little animal and gave it to him through the window.
He caressed it tenderly enough in his strong hands, for he loved all
animals, though horses best.
"Why, I hadn't thought. I mean we hadn't. And it isn't ours, anyway, if
it was sent to the Gray Lady."
"Your Gray Lady's name don't begin with a D. It's plain as the nose on
your face who it's meant for," he answered, promptly.
"Then if it is really mine--how lovely!--I'll just call it Snowball."
"Pshaw, Dolly Doodles! If I had a lamb sent to me by a poor lost feller
like Jim, I'd name it after him and not so silly like that. Do call it
Jim, junior," argued Alfy.
"Yes, sissy, but--but it ain't that kind of a lamb," observed the
Captain, siding with his favorite at once.
Molly giggled and even Helena smiled, but Alfy simply pouted.
"Huh! Well, then if Jim won't do, call her Jiminetta--that'd be after me
and him, too, same's I'm Alfaretta."
Dorothy laughed, too, now, and stopped studying the rude letters traced
on the cover and the stone. They but deepened the mystery of Jim's
disappearance and present whereabouts. She remarked:
"We don't often enough take time to say your whole name, child. It's
generally 'Alfy.' Let's compromise and call our lamb Netty."
"Good enough! And if the little creatur' takes after most Colorady folks
or flocks, she won't care a mite what name she has so she ain't called
late to dinner. Haw, haw, haw!"
Laughing at his own ancient witticism, Captain Lem started houseward
with "Netty" in his arms, the little thing nestling down in them as if
it knew it had found a friend. But his face was troubled. He didn't
like this secret signal from the missing James and he liked less the
fact that the lad's messenger had been a small Indian. However, this
seemed a small matter to what was awaiting him, as Mr. Ford came toward
him, walking rapidly, and, apparently, in deep thought.
"Lem, do you think you can run San Leon without me for a few days?"
Captain saluted his "chief" and replied, a trifle testily: "That's what
I have been doin' for a purty consid'able spell, ain't it, Boss?"
"Yes, but you hadn't eight youngsters on your hands then, to keep happy
and out of mischief. Boys you know, Lem--"
"I know. I've been one. Wish 't I was again. What's up, Boss?"
The girls had followed the Captain, slowly, and eagerly discussing Jim's
message--if it was such--and its probable meaning; but they paused at a
little distance, not wishing to interrupt the men's interview which,
from the expression of their faces, was a serious one.
But Mr. Ford saw them and beckoned them to come up; and then explained
to them as well as to the old ranchman:
"We have had telegrams that call us east. Away east, as far as New York.
I feel that we must leave you young folks--for a few days--as few as we
can possibly make them. It isn't business or I'd depute somebody else
to act for me. It's this: A wireless dispatch has been received that a
very old lady, an aunt of Erminie's, will arrive in that city on the
steamer which is due in just three days. She has lived abroad for many
years and is now very feeble, helpless, in fact, from paralysis or
something of that nature. She brought Erminie up and has been the best
and truest friend my wife ever had. We owe her everything, and feel that
we cannot leave her to land in a strange city, broken in mind and body,
without her 'daughter' to care for her. We must go, for I don't want
Lady Gray to take the trip and responsibility without me. If all goes
well, we should be back in less than a fortnight--could be much sooner
except that Lady Gray wants to bring Aunt Rachel to San Leon; and we
will have to make the return journey by very easy stages, as her
strength will allow. It is trying, too, that, having learned of our trip
east, Miss Milliken insists upon returning with us. She hasn't been
happy here and I find she's worrying about her heart. The altitude of
San Leon is bad for her, she thinks, and since she puts it on that
ground neither Erminie nor I can urge her to remain. But--"
"'But,' don't you worry a minute, dear Uncle Dan!" cried Dorothy,
clasping her hands around his arm and using the title he had asked for
many times, though she had rarely done so before. All along, despite his
great generosity and kindness, she had stood just a little in awe of the
"Railroad Boss," and he had been simply "Mr. Ford" to her as well as to
all his other young guests. But it needed only one look of anxiety on
his noble face to rouse all her loving sympathy. She repeated: "Don't
you, nor sweet Lady Gray, worry one single minute about us or things up
here at San Leon. We'll be as good as good! Helena, here, is a better
caretaker than poor Miss Milly. Between ourselves, we're glad she's
going. She's been a burden to Nell, all the time, instead of a help. I'm
sorry about her heart but--I'm glad she's going. Now--when do you start?
Isn't there something I--we--can do to help you off? Do let us help!"
The gentleman's face had lightened. His girl guests had accepted the
situation beautifully, and he could but hope as much for the lads. In
any case he must go; and, indeed, at once. He was so pressed for time
that they disliked to trouble him with the message the lamb had brought,
and watched him walk swiftly away without a further word.
"Huh! He needn't be afraid we'll do anything we oughtn't! And I don't
see as we're going to be so much alone, after all. There's the trained
nurse, and though the doctor's gone to Denver he'll come back."
"She's sick herself, this last day or so, Alfy. We mustn't count on her
nor on Dr. Jones. But there's Mr. Robson, Captain Lem, Anita, Wun
Sing--and lots of ranchmen left. Oh! we'll be all right!" said Dorothy.
"But the Captain has walked off with 'Netty'--forgotten all about her, I
guess."
"Well, I must go to poor Milly. She never can keep her head when
anything happens suddenly, like this. She has complained, incessantly,
that she could hardly breathe up here and I'm glad she has the chance to
go now. But I can fancy my dear mother's face, when Milly walks into the
Towers without me!" said Helena, hurrying away.
A half-hour of activity followed, the girls taking Lady Gray's simple
packing out of her hands, although that much-travelled prima donna was
never disturbed by sudden changes from place to place. Indeed, she was
happy over this coming trip, under her husband's escort, and to meet her
dearly loved Aunt Rachel.
Jedediah had his master's suit-case ready in even shorter time and it
was only Miss Milliken who delayed matters by her fussiness.
However, the buckboard came around, Silent Pete holding the reins over
the four-in-hand, and Captain Lem rather jealously regarding him; until
his eye fell upon his "awkward squad" and he remembered the greater
responsibility placed upon himself. Then he was reconciled to see
another man drive his horses, reflecting:
"Well, I needn't grumble, I'm the one Boss trusted most. Seven
youngsters in hand and one in the bush--land knows where!--is a bigger
job 'n just drivin' a four-footed team. I ain't no call to feel lonesome
but just to feel sot up. Funny, ain't it, Lem! You a regular,
dyed-in-the-wool old bach to find yourself suddenly playin' daddy to
seven strappin' boys an' gals! Seven an' there'd ought to be eight.
Ought to be--must be--that's what it spells to Captain Lemuel Hunt.
For if--if--as I reasonably suspicion--that there Jim Barlow, poor
writer, has fell into the hands of a passel of Injuns, his cake's dough,
lessen I can rake it out their oven into mine."
The departure of the buckboard, with solemn Silent Pete in charge, had a
depressing effect upon the group left watching it. Everything would go
on just as usual, of course. Why should there be any difference?
But--how lonesome it was! How they would miss Lady Gray's sweet voice
and presence, and the "Boss's" jokes and laughter!
The thought was too much for tender-hearted Alfy, and after a
spluttering, and sniffling to stem her own grief, she burst into an
audible boo-hoo, that promptly started Molly's tears, though she shed
them silently. All, indeed, were very sober and Leslie's face was pale.
He hadn't realized till now how necessary his mother had become to his
happiness, and he felt sorely inclined to follow the example of the
weeping girls though rather indignant against them. It wasn't their
Lady Gray who had left, nor their beloved Dad. He exclaimed, testily:
"Girls, quit that! I'm your host now and I say--no crying! What I
propose is--do something. Let's ride to Bald Eagle Peak--or Rock. You'll
need clear eyes to follow that trail, but there'll be just time enough
to do it before bedtime. Hurray for 'Boots and Saddles!'"
Captain Lem answered quickly:
"Lad, you can't do that! You mustn't take that road till you know more
about ridin' 'n you do now, nor unless you start by daybreak. I wouldn't
try it myself, old mountaineer as I am, at this hour, lessen it was a
case of life and death. No, you can't go."
Leslie's temper rose and he retorted:
"I'm 'Boss' here now and don't you dare say 'mustn't' to me!"
The sharpshooter laughed ironically; and this enraged the boy still
further. His riding whip was in his hand and, with a furious look at the
Captain, he lifted it and brought it down upon the old man's head--who
staggered backward, then fell to the ground as if he were dead.
"Leslie! Leslie!" shrieked the onlookers, "what have you done?"
"Killed him--I--guess!" he gasped and threw himself beside the prostrate
ranchman.
More
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A day of shattered hopes is a desolate thing, but the night of such a day is desolate indeed. In all his life Poleon Doret had never sunk to such depths of despondency, for his optimistic philosophy and his buoyant faith in the goodness of life fo... And Bud Never Guessed
That night, when he had been given a bath in the little zinc tub they used for washing clothes, and had been carefully buttoned inside a clean undershirt of Bud's, for want of better raiment, Lovin Child missed something out of his sleepytime cudding. ... And Rides Again In Vain
Rosalind's reflections as she rode toward the Bar B convinced her that there had been much truth in Corrigan's arraignment of Trevison. Out of her own knowledge of him, and from his own admission to her on the day they had ridden to Blakeley's the... And The Villain Pursued Her
The young man called Gil,--to avoid wasting time in saying Gilbert James Huntley,--mounted in haste and rode warily up the coulee some distance behind Jean. At that time and in that locality he was quite anxious that she should not discover him. G... Andy Green's New Acquaintance
Andy Green, chief prevaricator of the Happy Family of the Flying U--and not ashamed of either title or connection--pushed his new Stetson back off his untanned forehead, attempted to negotiate the narrow passage into a Pullman sleeper with his suitc... Andy Takes A Hand In The Game
Andy Green was a day late in arriving at the Flying U. First he lost time by leaving the train thirty miles short of the destination marked on his ticket, and when he did resume his journey on the next train, he traveled eighty-four miles beyond Dry... Annie's Boy
When Bruce was left alone in the gloomy canyon, where the winter sun at its best did not shine more than three hours in the twenty-four, he had wondered whether the days or nights would be the hardest to endure. It was now well into December, and ... Annie-many-ponies Waits
In the magic light of many unnamable soft shades which the sun leaves in New Mexico as a love token for his dark mistress night, Annie-Many-Ponies sat with her back against a high, flat rock at the place where Ramon had said she must wait for him, a... Anonymous Letters
Sheriff Bolt, though a politician, was an honest man. It troubled him that Cullison's friends believed him to be a partisan in a matter of this sort. For which reason he met more than half way Curly's overtures. Young Flandrau was in the office of... Another Landslide
It was another landslide, crashing and roaring down the side of the mountain, carrying rocks, dirt, and brushwood before it. The earth roared and shook, and it was said afterwards that the slide could be heard many miles away. Down in the mine ... Another Letter
That afternoon, Corrigan rode to the Bar B. The ranchhouse was of the better class, big, imposing, well-kept, with a wide, roofed porch running across the front and partly around both sides. It stood in a grove of fir-balsam and cottonwood, on a s... Another Portent
The saloon of the Excelsior was spacious for the size of the vessel, and was furnished in a style superior to most passenger-ships of that epoch. The sun was shining through the sliding windows upon the fresh and neatly arranged breakfast-table, b... Another Surprise
The boys had listened to all that was said, and now they lost no time in filing into Mr. Fordham's bedroom. Job Haskers stared at them in amazement, and his face dropped in consternation. "Porter!" he gasped. "And Morr and Lawrence! Wha--what... Another Woman Lies
Shortly before midnight Aunt Agatha Benham laid her book down, took off her glasses, wiped her eyes and yawned. She sat for a time stretched out in her chair, her hands folded in her lap, meditatively looking at the flicker of the kerosene lamp, t... Another Woman Rides
Trevison rode in to town the next morning. On his way he went to the edge of the butte overlooking the level, and looked down upon the wreck and ruin he had caused. Masses of twisted steel and iron met his gaze; the level was littered with debris,... Apache Knives Dig Deep!
At five o'clock of this cloudless October morning Colonel Montgomery Byrne, "of the old Army, sir," was reviling the fates that had set him the task of unraveling such a skein as he found at Sandy. At six he was blessing the stars that sent him. A... Apaches
In the half light of the early morning, a stagecoach was rattling down a steep hill near the New Mexico-Arizona boundary line. The team of six bronchos fought against the weight of the lumbering vehicle behind, with stiff front legs threw themselve... Applehead Shows The Stuff He Is Made Of
Lite Avery, turning to look back as they galloped up a long slope so gradual in its rise that it seemed almost level, counted just fourteen Indians spreading out fanwise in pursuit. He turned to Applehead with the quiet deference in his manner that ... As It Turned Out
They found H. J. Owens the next forenoon wandering hopelessly lost in the hills. Since killing him was barred, they tied his arms behind him and turned him toward the Flying U. He was sullen, like an animal that is trapped and will do nothing but li... At Abe Blower's Home
The boys saw at once that something was wrong. Mrs. Carmody was completely bewildered, and being old, had no easy time of it to collect her wits. "Do you feel faint?" asked Dave, kindly. "Can I get you a glass of water?" "No, I'll be all rig... At Don Floristo's
In the moonlight, behind the El Chihuahense Saloon, Kid Wolf and the gambler met. The latter found The Kid leaning silently against a ruined adobe wall in the deserted alleyway. The sound of the music from within the gambling hall could be heard f... At Dunbarton
For their first bridal camp he chose an island. Long weeks beforehand he had thought of this place, and set his heart upon it. Once established in his mind, the thought became a picture that he saw waking and sleeping. He had stopped at the island... At Home At Cross L
In two days Rowdy was quite at home with the Cross L. In a month he found himself transplanted from the smoke-laden air of the bunk-house, and set off from the world in a line camp, with nothing to do but patrol the boggy banks of Milk River, where ... At Sheriff's Creek
The sun had nearly set when we galloped into Bob Quirk's camp. Halting only long enough to advise my brother of the escape of Tolleston and his joining the common enemy, I asked him to throw any pursuit off our trail, as I proposed breaking camp tha... At Silver Switch
Like that of other railroad officials, whose duties constrain them to spend much time in transit, Lidgerwood's desk-work went with him up and down and around and about on the two divisions, and before leaving his office in the Crow's Nest to go do... At The Big Mallard
The sun rose the next morning upon an eventful day in Bruce's life. He was backing his judgment--or was it only his mulish obstinacy?--against the conviction of the community. He knew that if it had not been for their personal friendship for himse... At The End Of The Road
Madeline saw that the car was surrounded by armed Mexicans. They presented a contrast to the others she had seen that day; she wondered a little at their silence, at their respectful front. Suddenly a sharp spoken order opened up the ranks next to... At The End Of The Road
Curly's wooden face told nothing of what he was thinking. The first article of the creed of the frontier is to be game. Good or bad, the last test of a man is the way he takes his medicine. So now young Flandrau ate his dinner with a hearty appeti... At The Lazy D Ranch
Helen Messiter was a young woman very much alive, which implies that she was given to emotions; and as her machine skimmed over the ground to the Lazy D she had them to spare. For from the first this young man had taken her eye, and it had come upon... At The Rio Gloria
The matter to be taken up with McCloskey, master of trains and chief of the telegraph department, was not altogether disciplinary. In the summarizing conference at Copah, Vice-President Ford had spoken favorably of the trainmaster, recommending hi... At The Round Up Club
A big game had been in progress all night at the Round Up Club. Now the garish light of day streamed through the windows, but the electric cluster still flung down its yellow glare upon the table. Behind the players were other smaller tables litte... At The Watts Ranch
It was with a decided feeling of depression that Patty Sinclair approached the Watts ranch. Long before she reached the buildings an air of shiftless dilapidation was manifest in the ill-lined barbed wire fences whose rotting posts sagged drunkenl... Aunt Janet Braved
Nightfall of a weary day had come. Camp Sandy, startled from sleep in the dark hour before the dawn, had found topic for much exciting talk, and was getting tired as the twilight waned. No word had come from the party sent in search of Downs, now ... Back From Arcadia
The president of the Mesa Ore-producing Company stepped from the parlor-car of the Limited at the hour when all wise people are taking life easy after a good dinner. He did not, however, drive to his club, but took a cab straight for his rooms, wher...