Aunt Janes Nieces and Uncle John | Page 8

Myrtle's face she quickly changed the subject, saying:
"You must come in to dinner with us, my dear, for you have had
nothing but cold truck to eat since you left Chicago. They say we shall
be in Denver in another hour, but I'm afraid to believe it. Anyhow,
there is plenty of time for dinner."
"Oh, I can't go, really!" cried the girl. "It's--it's so hard for me to walk
when the train is moving; and--and--I wouldn't feel happy in that gay,
luxurious dining car."
"Well, we must go, anyway, or the Major will be very disagreeable,"
said Patsy. "Good-bye, Myrtle; we shall see you again before we leave
the train."
As the two girls went forward to their coach Beth said to Patsy:
"I'm afraid that poor thing will be greatly disappointed when she gets to
Leadville. Imagine anyone sending a child on such a wild goose
chase--and an injured and almost helpless child, at that!"
"I shudder to think what would become of her, with no uncle to care for
her and only three dollars to her name," added Patsy. "I have never
heard of such an inhuman creature as that Aunt Martha, Beth. I hope
there are not many like her in the world."
At dinner they arranged with the head waiter of the dining car to send
in a substantial meal, smoking hot, to Myrtle Dean, and Patsy herself
inspected the tray before it went to make sure everything was there that
was ordered. They had to satisfy Uncle John's curiosity at this
proceeding by relating to him Myrtle Dean's story, and the kindly little
man became very thoughtful and agreed with them that it was a cruel
act to send the poor girl into a strange country in search of an uncle
who had not been heard of in two years.
When the train pulled into the station at Denver the first care of John
Merrick's party was to look after the welfare of the lame girl. They got
a porter to assist her into the depot waiting room and then Uncle John

inquired about the next train for Leadville, and found it would not start
until the following morning, the late overland train having missed that
day's connections. This was a serious discovery for poor Myrtle, but
she smiled bravely and said:
"I can pass the night in this seat very comfortably, so please don't
worry about me. It is warm here, you know, and I won't mind a bit the
sitting up. Thank you all very much for your kindness, and good-bye.
I'll be all right, never fear."
Uncle John stood looking down at her thoughtfully.
"Did you engage a carriage, Major?" he asked.
"Yes; there's one now waiting," was the reply.
"All right. Now, then, my dear, let's wrap this blanket around you tight
and snug."
"What are you going to do?" asked Myrtle with a startled look.
"Carry you outside. It's pretty cold and snowy, so we must wrap you up.
Now, Major, take hold on the other side. Here we go!"
Patsy smiled--rather pitifully--at the expression of bewilderment on
Myrtle's face. Uncle John and the Major carried her tenderly to a
carriage and put her in the back seat. Patsy sprang in next, with
Mumbles clasped tightly in her arms, the small dog having been forced
to make the journey thus far in the baggage car. Beth and the Major
entered the carriage next, while Uncle John mounted beside the driver
and directed him to the Crown Palace Hotel.
It was growing dark when they reached the dingy hostelry, which might
have been palatial when it was named but was now sadly faded and
tawdry. It proved to be fairly comfortable, however, and the first care
of the party was to see Myrtle Dean safely established in a cosy room,
with a grate fire to cheer her. Patsy and Beth had adjoining rooms and
kept running in for a word with their protégé, who was so astonished

and confused by her sudden good fortune that she was incapable of
speech and more inclined to cry than to laugh.
During the evening Uncle John was busy at the telegraph booth. He
sent several messages to Leadville, to Anson Jones, to the Chief of
Police and to the various hotels; but long before midnight, when the
last replies were received, he knew that Anson Jones had left Leadville
five months ago, and his present whereabouts were unknown. Having
learned these facts the little man went to bed and slept peacefully until
morning.
Myrtle had begged them to see that she was called at five o'clock, that
she might have ample time to get to the depot for her train, but no one
called her and the poor child was so weary and worn