XXV
WESTWARD HO!
When Brockway boarded the Tadmor, most of the thirty-odd had gone tobed; but a committee of three was waiting in the smoking-room on thechance that the passenger agent would put in an appearance before thedeparture of the night train for the west. The little gentleman in thegrass-cloth duster and velvet skull-cap was chairman of this committee,and he stated its object.
"We've been trying to make you more trouble, Mr. Brockway," he said,pleasantly. "Before the others went to bed, we discussed theadvisability of leaving Denver to-night, instead of in the morning. Itwould give us an extra day in Salt Lake City, and that is what most ofus would like. Can it be done?"
Brockway glanced at his watch and answered promptly. "It'll take sharpwork; the train leaves in ten minutes. I'll try it, but if I make it, Ican't go with you. My hand-baggage is at the hotel, and there's no timeto send for it."
Ordinarily, the amendment would have killed the original proposition;but Mr. Somers saw that in Brockway's eyes which made him hasten toforestall argument.
"I was afraid of that," he said; "but it can't be helped. Of course,we'd like to have you with us, but I believe the extra day is of greaterimportance."
Brockway made a dumb show expressive of his gratitude. "All right; thenI'll bid you all good-by, and get you out to-night, if I can."
"But I ah--protest!" came with shrill emphasis from the vestibule, andthe night-capped head of the gadfly was thrust around the door-jamb. "Iah--stipulated----"
Brockway snatched the ticket-extending telegram from his pocket, thrustit into Mr. Somers's hand, and fled without another word. One minutelater he was pleading eloquently with the train-despatcher.
"Oh, say, Fred, let up!" protested the man of orders. "It's too late, Itell you. The train'll pull out in two minutes, and I couldn't raise theyard in that time."
But the passenger agent would not be denied. He carried his point, as heusually did, and was shortly racing out across the platform, clothedwith authority to hold the train until the Tadmor could be coupledthereto. Graffo, the conductor, was found just as he was about to givethe signal, but he waited while the switching-engine whipped the Tadmoraround and coupled it to the rear of the train, grumbling meanwhile, aswas his time-honored prerogative.
"Like to know how the blazes I'm going to make time to-night, with themtwo extras hooked on at the last minute!" he growled; but Brockwaycorrected him.
"There's only one," he began; and when Graffo would have contradictedhim, two belated passengers came in sight, hurrying across the platformto catch the waiting train. Brockway considerately ran back to help themaboard. It was the general agent and his wife; and Mrs. Burton madebreathless explanations.
"Changed our minds at the last minute," she gasped. "John was afraid thePresident might not find him with his nose in his desk when he getsthere." Then, with truly feminine irrelevance: "I've been dying to get achance to ask you how you made out--to-day--with Gertrude; quick--thetrain's going!"
Brockway grinned. "You're the best chaperon in the world, Mrs.Burton--after the fact."
"Oh, I'm _so_ glad. Can't you come along and visit with us in SaltLake?"
"Not for a king's ransom," retorted Brockway, laughing. "You may be verysure I sha'n't leave Denver while the Naught-fifty stays over thereon----" He turned to point out the President's car and went speechlessin the midst of his declaration at sight of the empty spur-track. Theglare of the masthead arc-lights left no room for uncertainty. Theprivate car was gone.
"Why, Fred! what is the matter?" queried Mrs. Burton anxiously from thestep of the sleeping-car; but at that moment Graffo swung his lanternand the train began to move.
Brockway stood staring across at the empty spur in witless amazement,but he sprang back out of the way when the step of the car next to theregular sleeper brushed him in passing. The touch broke the spell. As hestarted back, the sheen of the nearest electric lamp fell fairly uponthe oval medallion on the side of the moving car, and he saw the giltfigures "050" flash for a half-second before his eyes.
In a twinkling he knew what had been done, and what he should do. Whenthe Tadmor came up, he caught the hand-rail and boarded the trainwithout so much as a thought for his belongings left behind at theup-town hotel. The Tadmor's smoking-room was deserted, and he went in toburn a reflective cigar, and to ponder over the probable outcome of thislatest proof of the President's resentment.
Having failed to get speech with Gertrude, he could only guess at theresult of her interview with her father, but the sudden change in theitinerary spoke for itself, and thus far the guess was twin brother tothe truth. But two hours had intervened between Mr. Vennor's hastydecision and the departure of Train Number 103, and many things maybefall in two hours.