Part 10 (1/2)

But not knowing this, Erma has a very stern look on her face a few minutes after, when she sees Harry enter the car. He makes a movement as if to approach and address her, but the young lady turns her head away with a sudden shudder.

Noting this, the Westerner leaves the car and commences to walk about the platform, chewing nervously the end of a cigar he has forgotten to light. Then, curiously enough, the girl peeps after him, and stands aghast, for there is indignation in his look as he strides about, his athletic figure well displayed by a loose shooting coat, and he tosses his brown locks back from his forehead, as if he were facing an enemy, and his dark eyes are gleaming so potently that Erma gasps, ”Why, he looks like a Vigilante _now_!”

Soon the train is crowded once more, and they begin to run over the Laramie Plains, where Ferdie excites them all by seeing a buffalo, and would get his gun to shoot at it, did not Mr. Kruger remark: ”The critter is nigh onto three miles off, and you will throw away your lead, sonny.”

As for Captain Lawrence, he has not entered their car, and is now in a forward smoker, puffing away desperately, and thinking with some regrets of the early days of the building of the Union Pacific Railway, those times which tried men's souls; but after turning over the matter in his mind he exclaims to himself: ”By Heaven! I am glad I did my duty, even if it loses me--” Here he clenches his teeth, and a little spot of blood comes upon his lip, where he has bitten it.

CHAPTER VII.

WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS?

In the rear car, Miss Travenion, anxious to throw from her mind a subject that is distressing, wanders to the organ,--for this Pullman was supplied with one, as were many Western sleepers in those days,--and seating herself at the instrument, runs her hands over the keys and begins to sing. Softly at first, but afterwards made enthusiastic by melody, this young lady, who has been very well taught and has a brilliant mezzo voice, forgets all else, and warbles the beauties of Balfe, Bellini, and Donizetti in a way that draws the attention of her fellow-pa.s.sengers.

Among them is the Western Lot, who, getting near to her, watches the lithe movements and graceful poses of the girl's charming figure, and seeing her soul beaming from her glorious eyes, mutters to himself, ”What an addition to our tabernacle choir after I have made her one of the elect.” For this young lady's loveliness has, of late, been putting some very wild ideas into the head of this friend of her father.

She leaves the organ, and noting that Miss Travenion is somewhat alone, for the interview of the afternoon seems to have produced a slight coolness between Mr. Livingston and Erma, and perchance also Mrs.

Livingston, this Western product thinks he will devote himself to the young lady's edification during the remainder of the evening, opening his remarks by, ”You're comin' to a great country, Miss Ermie.”

”Ah, what is that?” asks the girl nonchalantly but politely.

”Utah,” replies the enthusiastic Lot, ”whar the people of Zion have made the wilderness to blossom as a rose of Sharon.”

”Oh yes, where my father is!” cries Miss Travenion, her eyes growing bright. ”To-morrow we will be there.”

”Yes, in the evening,” a.s.sents Kruger, an indefinite something coming in his eyes that makes the young lady restless.

A moment after she suddenly asks: ”Where is my father now?”

”How can I tell? I ain't seen your dad for nigh onto a month,” returns Lot, apparently somewhat discomposed by this point-blank question.

”But you can surely make a guess,” suggests Erma, ”where a telegram will most probably reach him? I have concluded to wire him. Then he will meet me at the station. I wish I had done so before.”

”Wall, Salt Lake is the most likely p'int, I reckon,” mutters Kruger, who does not seem over pleased at the girl's idea. A second after he suddenly says: ”You write the message and I'll make inquiries along the line. I reckon I'll find where he is and send it for you.”

”Thank you,” says Erma warmly. ”I'll go and prepare it at once.”

Then leaving Lot still pondering, she steps lightly away, and in a few minutes returns with the following:

”U. P. TRAIN, _Oct. 3, 1871_.

”Arrive at Ogden, to-morrow, at five P.M. Will come through to Salt Lake same night. Meet me at depot.

”Your loving daughter,

”ERMA TRAVENION.”

”You'll add the right address to this when you find it, Mr. Kruger,”

says the girl, handing him the message.