The railroad man laughed again, shaking his head. “I should say so. You ought to see the specimen I've got in the smoker. I picked him up back there at Gardner. Perhaps you have heard of him—Jap Taylor. He is about the worst in the whole country, I reckon.”
“I have heard of him,” she returned. “I do hope he won't come into this coach.”
“Oh, he won't start anything on my train,” laughed the man in blue reassuringly. “He would never come in here, anyhow. Them kind always stay in the smoker. Seems like they know where they belong. He is half-scared to death himself, anyway; he is going to Chicago, too, and I'll bet it's the first time in his life he has ever been farther from these hills than Springfield.”
CHAPTER XX.
BRIAN AND BETTY JO KEEP HOUSE.
When Brian went to the barn the next morning he found “Old Prince” standing at the gate. While he was still trying to find some plausible explanation of the strange incident, after unharnessing the horse and giving him his morning feed, an excited call from Betty Jo drew his attention. With an answering shout, he started for the house. The excited girl met him halfway, and gave him Auntie Sue's note.
When Brian had read the brief and wholly inadequate message, they stood looking at each other, too mystified for speech. Brian read the note, again, aloud, speaking every word with slow distinctness. “Well, I'll be hanged!” he ejaculated, at the close of the remarkable communication, staring at Betty Jo.
“It wouldn't in the least surprise me if we were both hanged before night,” returned Betty Jo. “After this from Auntie Sue, I am prepared for anything. What on earth DO you suppose has happened?”
Brian shook his head: “It is too much for me!”