This time, one of the pa.s.sengers in our car was a man name of Elmont Briggs.

The trouble was ready to start.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX.

Briggs At just about the same time the conductor yelled "All aboooard," Elmont Briggs came striding up the aisle. He appeared to be heading for the seats behind us, but stopped quick when he spotted Sarah.

She raised her face to see who was standing there.

For a spell, they stared at each other.

The fellow looked perplexed, but awful glad to see her. He was probably about Sarah's age, and had a face so pretty it looked downright girlish. It was clean-shaven, with reddish lips, a pert little nose, big blue eyes and pale brows. His wavy golden hair hung clear to his shoulders. I wondered if he might be a gal after all, even though he was dressed like a man. He was all decked out in shiny boots, black trousers and coat, and had a string tie around the neck of his shirt. A woman wasn't likely to dress in such a fashion. Besides, his chest looked flat. Then he spoke, and his low voice removed my doubts.

"Libby Gordon!" he proclaimed. "I don't believe my eyes."

"Pardon me?" Sarah said.

"It's me. me. Elmont Briggs." Elmont Briggs."

"I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Briggs," she told him, sounding a bit amused. "But I'm afraid..."

"You don't remember me? Yale? Cla.s.s of '84. You accompanied James Bellows to the..."

"My name is Sarah Forrest," she explained. "I've never even been been in Connecticut, much less accompanied a James Bellows to in Connecticut, much less accompanied a James Bellows to any anything. Obviously, you've mistaken me for this Libby person."

"You're not Libby Gordon?" he asked, tilting his head to one side.

"No, indeed."

"But...the resemblance is uncanny. Remarkable. I'm dumbfounded." Frowning, shaking his curly locks, he said, "Please accept my apologies for intruding in such a bold fashion."

"It's quite all right."

I figured he would move on, now. But he stayed put.

The train started moving, though. As usual, it took off with a sudden lurch. Elmont staggered sideways. Even though he didn't seem to be in much danger of falling, he caught hold of Sarah's shoulder.

"Woops," he said. Then he let go of it and grabbed the corner of her seat back. "I only met Libby once," he explained. "I've never forgotten her, however. One does not forget such a vision of beauty. When I spied you sitting here...Such a shock. Such a delightful shock. But an error."

Sarah's face was turned away, so I couldn't see how she was taking all this.

Elmont's eyes shifted over to me. He curled his lips. It was suppose to be a smile, I reckon, but it looked a mite sour. "And would this fine young man be your brother?"

"My servant, Trevor."

"You're traveling alone, then?"

"With Trevor."

"I should very much like to join you. Perhaps we might sit together."

"Perhaps you should shove off," I told him.

Well, his pretty blue eyes bugged out and his face got scarlet. Sarah's head swung around. She looked as out of sorts as Elmont.

"Trevor!" she whispered.

"He's after my seat," I snapped. He's after you He's after you, is what went through my mind.

"Is your boy always this impertinent?" Elmont asked.

"b.u.g.g.e.r off," I told him.

And Sarah slapped me across the face.

"What's the matter matter with you!" she snapped. with you!" she snapped.

I just sat there, my cheek hot where she'd smacked it. The cheek didn't hurt much, but I felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach.

I felt a whole lot worse when Sarah stood up without saying another word and followed Elmont up the aisle.

She'd never struck me before. She'd never even spoken harshly to me. I doubt there were ever two people who got along any better together than me and Sarah.

Now, she'd not only struck me but gone off with Elmont.

She stayed with him, too. For a long, long time. Leaving me there alone and miserable. Couldn't she see that Elmont was a cad? What was wrong with her? How could she fall for his flattery like that? How could she abandon me? What if she doesn't come back at all, and takes up with him?

I almost got up to go looking for her. But I didn't relish the notion of seeing them together. They might be laughing. They might be holding hands. Or worse.

It sickened me to think about such things.

I couldn't stop it, though. I pictured his lips on her mouth, his hands exploring her body and sneaking under her clothes. In my mind, she didn't simply allow him such liberties, but led him along. And touched him in return.

I told myself they wouldn't dare. People would see. But the car wasn't particularly crowded. If the seats across the aisle from them were empty...

Well, she finally came back. She gave me a sharp look, then sat down.

"How could you speak to him that way, Trevor?"

"How could you go off with him?"

"He's a very nice man. You had no call to abuse him. You were awful."

"I doubt there ever was was a Libby Gordon. The cur took a fancy to you, that's all. He's a b.l.o.o.d.y liar." a Libby Gordon. The cur took a fancy to you, that's all. He's a b.l.o.o.d.y liar."

"You're acting like a child."

Well, her slap hadn't stung me any more than those words did. I couldn't speak at all for a spell. Then I said, "I'm a child and he's a man, is that it?"

"Don't be ridiculous."

"He looks like a woman."

"Stop it! For heaven's sake, Trevor."

"Why did you go off with him?"

"I had little choice after your atrocious behavior. I can't believe believe you spoke to him that way. I've never been so embarra.s.sed. What in the world possessed you?" you spoke to him that way. I've never been so embarra.s.sed. What in the world possessed you?"

"I don't like him. Not one whit. He's a smooth-talking philanderer, that's what he is."

"Ridiculous. You should be ashamed of yourself. Not only did you mistreat him, but you've misjudged him as well. The poor man lost his wife and child to smallpox last year."

"I doubt it."

"You're being impossible."

"I shouldn't trust a word he breathes. He would quite obviously tell you anything anything in order to win your sympathies. Can't you see his intentions?" in order to win your sympathies. Can't you see his intentions?"

When I said that, Sarah quit scowling. She gazed into my eyes, and pretty soon she smiled. Leaning against me, she whispered, "Why, Trevor, you're jealous."

"Not in the least."

"You are!" She patted my leg. "Oh, dear. What am I to do with you? Elmont's nothing to me. I've no feelings at all for him except as a friend."

"He's after more than your friendship."

"How can you say such a thing?" she asked, still talking soft. "You don't know the man."

"I know he intends to have you."

"I hardly think so. If that is his intention, however, he'll be disappointed."

Well, I wasn't feeling quite so down any more. Though it disturbed me that Sarah considered Elmont a "friend," it seemed clear I hadn't lost her affections to him.

After a while, she said, "I'm so sorry that I struck you, darling."

"It didn't hurt."

"Will you forgive me?"

"Of course."

Then she whispered, "You won't stay away from my bed tonight?"

"Why, I hardly think so."

With my mind eased considerable on the score of Elmont Briggs, I took to watching out the window. In the early evening, however, came the chime of the dinner bell. "Now don't get yourself into a tizzy again," Sarah said. "I asked Elmont to join us at our table."

"Splendid," I muttered.

"Please be nice to him."

"I'll have a go at it."

"Remember, you're supposed to be my servant. We can't have him suspecting the truth."

We waited until most of the other pa.s.sengers had cleared out of the aisle, then left our seats. Elmont was a few rows behind us, alone. When he saw us approaching, he stood up and gave Sarah a warm smile. The smile cooled some as he turned it on me, but I bobbed my head and said, "I do hope you'll forgive my earlier rudeness, Mr. Briggs. You bore such a remarkable resemblance to a scoundrel I once knew..."

Sarah gave me a sharp glance, so I shut my mouth.

"I accept your apology," Elmont said.

He took the lead. The dining car was some distance back. At the end of each car along the way, Elmont would pull open the door for Sarah. Once she was outside in the noisy vestibule, he'd leave me holding the door, hurry around her, and get the next one. Which he always managed to shut while I was still between cars. He was mighty irritating.

The way Sarah let him get away with it, I got to feeling like she didn't care, one way or the other, if I was left behind. So I let it happen. When we finally came to the dining car and Elmont slammed the door in my face, I just stayed put. I stepped to the edge of the steel grille that covered the coupling, held on to the safety chain there to keep my balance, and stared off at the wooded hills. They were mighty pretty, what with the sun sinking low, but I was in no mood to enjoy the view.

I aimed to wait for Sarah to come along and fetch me.

But she didn't.

Having too fine a time with Elmont, no doubt.

It was windy and cold out there between the cars, so by and by I went on in.

Sarah and Elmont were seated across from each other at one of the dinner tables, Sarah talking away to him and looking happy. When she saw me, she waved me over to join them. "What kept you?" she asked.

"I stopped for some fresh air," I explained, feeling mighty let down.

"Where I come from," Elmont said to Sarah, "we don't eat with the help."

"You're certainly an endearing chap," I told him.

"Nor do we allow back talk."

"Behave yourself, Trevor, or I shall shall send you off." send you off."

"Yes ma'am."

After that, I kept mum. The waiter brought our meals along. I ate and watched Elmont, and listened to the conversation. He was just ever so charming. I reckon he and Sarah'd already found out plenty about each other, as they'd spent so much time together earlier. They didn't fill me in on what I'd missed, but I managed to figure out that Elmont was on his way to California, where he'd gone in with his brother to buy a fancy hotel on the beach at Santa Monica. To hear him talk, he was loaded down with money.

He invited Sarah to come and visit him there when she finished the visit with her father at Fort Huachuca. I had to smile at that, but Elmont didn't notice.