III

MISS GUGGENSLOCKER


He laughed, looking down into her serious upturned face. A brief
smile of understanding flitted across her lips as she broke away
from him and threw herself into the arms of tall, excited Uncle
Caspar. The conductor, several trainmen and a few eager
passengers came up, the former crusty and snappish.

"Well, get aboard!" he growled. "We can't wait all night."

The young lady looked up quickly, her sensitive face cringing
beneath the rough command. Lorry stepped instantly to the
conductor's side, shook his finger vigorously under his nose, and
exclaimed in no uncertain tones:

"Now, that's enough from you! If I hear another word out of you,
I'll make you sweat blood before tomorrow morning. Understand,
my friend."

"Aw, who are you?" demanded the conductor, belligerently.

"You'll learn that soon enough. After this you'll have sense
enough to find out whom you are talking to before you open that
mouth of yours. Not another word!" Mr. Grenfall Lorry was not
president of the road, nor was he in any way connected with it,
but his well assumed air of authority caused the trainman's ire
to dissolve at once.