He looked more flabby
and loose-lipped than ever, and his leering eyes were streaked
plainly with the red veins which told of heavy drinking. She
gave him a nod cool enough to lower the thermometer several
degrees, and scribbled away upon the yellow pad under her hand
as if Baumberger had sunk into the oblivion her temper wished for
him. She looked up immediately, however, and leaned forward so
that she could see Peaceful just turning to go down the steps.
"Oh, Mr. Hart! Will you wait a minute?" she called clearly above
the puffing of the engine. "I've something for you here. Soon
as I get this train out--" She saw him stop and turn back to the
office, and let it go at that for the present.
"I sure have got my nerve," she observed mentally when the
conductor had signaled the engineer and swung up the steps of the
smoker, and the wheels were beginning to clank. All she had for
Peaceful Hart in that office was anxiety over his troubles.
"Just held him up to pry into his private affairs," she put it
bluntly to herself.
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