ng and chatting gayly, and when they entered the car, Brockway
gave up his vigil. It was too late to hope for a private interview with
Mr. Vennor, and he concluded to go over to the Tadmor to see if his
people were settled for the night.

Passing the telegraph office, he asked if there were any messages. There
was one; the much requested extension of the gadfly's ticket; and
thrusting it into his pocket, the passenger agent hurried across to the
special sleeper.

Two minutes afterward, a switching-engine ran around on the spur-track,
bumped gently against the Naught-fifty, and presently backed out into
the yard with the private car in tow.

XXV

WESTWARD HO!

When Brockway boarded the Tadmor, most of the thirty-odd had gone to
bed; but a committee of three was waiting in the smoking-room on the
chance that the passenger agent would put in an appearance before the
departure of the night train for the west. The little gentleman in the
grass-cloth duster and velvet skull-cap was chairman of this committee,
and he stated its object.

"We've been trying to make you more trouble, Mr. Brockway," he said,
pleasantly. "Before the others went to bed, we discussed the
advisability of leaving Denver to-night, instead of in the morning. It
would give us an extra day in Salt Lake City, and that is what most of
us would like. Can it be done?"

Brockway glanced at his watch and answered promptly. "It'll take sharp
work; the train leaves in ten minutes. I'll try it, but if I make it, I
can't go with you. My hand-baggage is at the hotel, and there's no time
to send for it."

Ordinarily, the amendment would have killed the original proposition;
but Mr. Somers saw that in Brockway's eyes which made him hasten to
forestall argument.

"I was afraid of that," he said; "but it can't be helped. Of course,
we'd like to have you with us, but I believe the extra day is of greater
importance."

Brockway made a dumb show expressive of his gratitude. "All right; then
I'll bid you all good-by, and get you out to-night, if I can."

"But I ah--protest!" came with shrill emphasis from the vestibule, and
the night-capped head of the gadfly was thrust around the door-jamb. "I
ah--stipulated----"

Brockway snatched the ticket-extending telegram from his pocket, thrust
it into Mr. Somers's hand, and fled without another word. One minute
later he was pleading eloquently with the train-despatcher.

"Oh, say, Fred, let up!" protested t