"That's just about what I expected he'd do, and it's a straight bluff," he muttered. "All the same, she's not going back. And I've got to block it without getting Burton into trouble."
There was no time for anything but the simplest expedient. He jumped off again and ran back to the telegraph office.
"Say, Jim, that message to Miss Vennor is bulled. Ask Denver to repeat it to Beaver Brook, will you?" he said, interrupting the operator as he was repeating the train order.
The man of dots and dashes finished the order. "Can't do it, Fred; get me into hot water up to my neck. Think of something else."
"Sure; any way that won't cost me my job."
The conductor and engineer had signed the order, but Brockway begged for a respite. "Just a minute, Halsey, while I write a message," he said, snatching a pad of blanks and writing hastily, while the conductor waited.
"TO FRANCIS VENNOR, "Private Car 050, Denver.
"Can't you reconsider and leave Denver to-morrow morning, as previously arranged? Am quite sure Miss Vennor prefers to go on. Answer at Beaver Brook.
"There you are, Jim; don't break your neck to make a 'rush' of it; and when you hear the answer coming do what you can to make it limp a little--anything to change the sense a bit."
"I'll do it," quoth the operator; and then the conductor gave the signal, and Brockway boarded the train and rejoined Gertrude.
"Did you think I had deserted you?" he asked.
"Oh, no; and Mr. Burton's been in to keep me company. He came to ask if I didn't want to go back to Denver."
"Did he?" said Brockway, wondering if Burton had also had a message. "And you told him no?"
"Of course I did. Haven't we made a compact?"
"You said you were going to be irresponsible, you know, and I didn't know just where it might crop out."
"Not in that direction, you may be sure. You said we were to do as we pleased, and I don't please to go back to Denver. But Mr. Burton seemed to be quite anxious about it, for some reason. I wonder why?"
"So do I," rejoined Brockway, innocently.
Gertrude stole a glance at him, and he tried to look inscrutable, and failed. Then they both laughed.
"You are keeping something back; tell me all about it," Gertrude commanded.
"I am afraid you will be very angry if I do."