nt's special,
that was the last car on the train, and introduced myself to Mr.
Cullen, whom, though an official of my road, I had never met. He
seemed surprised at my presence, but greeted me very pleasantly
as soon as I explained that the Missouri Western office had asked
me to do what I could for him, and that I was there for that
purpose. His party were about to sit down to breakfast, and he
asked me to join them: so we passed into the dining-room at the
forward end of the car, where I was introduced to "My son," "Lord
Ralles," and "Captain Ackland." The son was a junior copy of his
father, tall and fine-looking, but, in place of the frank and
easy manner of his sire, he was so very English that most people
would have sworn falsely as to his native land. Lord Ralles was a
little, well-built chap, not half so English as Albert Cullen,
quick in manner and thought, being in this the opposite of his
brother Captain Ackland, who was heavy enough to rock-ballast a
road-bed. Both brothers gave me the impression of being
gentlemen, and both were decidedly good-looking.

After the introductions, Mr. Cullen said we would not wait, and
his remark called my attention to the fact that there was one
more place at the table than there were people assembled. I had
barely noted this, when my host said, "Here's the truant," and,
turning, I faced a lady who had just entered. Mr. Cullen said,
"Madge, let me introduce Mr. Gordon to you." My bow was made to a
girl of about twenty, with light brown hair, the bluest of eyes,
a fresh skin, and a fine figure, dressed so nattily as to be to
me, after my four years of Western life, a sight for tired eyes.
She greeted me pleasantly, made a neat little apology for having
kept us waiting, and then we all sat down.

It was a very jolly breakfast-table, Mr. Cullen and his son being
capital talkers, and Lord Ralles a good third, while Miss Cullen
was quick and clever enough to match the three. Before the meal
was over I came to the conclusion that Lord Ralles was in love
with Miss Cullen, for he kept making low asides to her; and from
the fact that she allowed them, and indeed responded, I drew the
conclusion that he was a lucky beggar, feeling, I confess, a
little pang that a title was going to win such a nice American
girl.

One of the first subjects spoken of was train-robbery, and Miss
Cullen, like most Easterners, seemed to take a great interest in
it, and had any quantity of questions to