“Yes, sir; I was very much frightened, especially when he demanded my money.”
“What! Did he do that? Why the scamp! This is worse than I thought. I’ll get the conductor after him.”
“Oh, let him go,” pleaded Jeanne, who was quite a little upset by the episode. “Please stay with me.”
“Very well.” The old man saw her nervousness and acquiesced willingly. “He can’t get off the train so long as this rate of speed is kept up, and I’ll see about getting him later. Now tell me all about it.”
Jeanne gave him a succinct account of what the man had said and done. “And I was so glad when you came up as you did,” she said in finishing. “But I did not expect to see you here, sir, and I thank you so much for your assistance.”
“Tut, tut! It is every American’s duty to look after women folks when they travel alone. I had just come from the smoker and saw as I entered the door that something was wrong. As the ruffian had my seat I came up at once and demanded it of him. But you are not more surprised to see me than I was to recognize the little patriot of the handkerchiefs. Aren’t you a long way from home?”
“Yes, sir; I am, but I am going to visit my Uncle Ben in New Orleans.”
“Rather a troublesome time for a visit,” remarked the other musingly. Then as a deep flush suffused the girl’s cheek, he added keenly, “I know that there are sometimes reasons why visits should be made even though the times be perilous. There! I am not going to ask any questions, so don’t look at me like that. My name is Emanuel Huntsworth, and I live near Corinth, Mississippi. I was formerly a New Englander but settled in the South a number of years ago. My Union sentiments having made me obnoxious to my neighbors I feared for the safety of my family and am returning from moving them North. I am going back now to wind up my business, when I shall go North once more to do what I can for the government. If you have no friends with you, perhaps you have no objections to my company as far as our ways lie together.”
“I should be pleased to be with you,” said Jeanne sweetly. “I am all alone, Mr. Huntsworth. My name is Jeanne Vance, and I live in New York City. I was all right until I got on this train, but now I can’t help but be a little uneasy since that man acted so.”
“The rascal! I had forgotten him. Conductor,” as that individual came by. “I think there is a man on this train that will bear watching.” Thereupon he related the incident to the official.