Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-26


graph operator, on duty m his absence.
tie Il think" said he. Il must have
place OF all the world. What's to be
done. wonderg
He looked 80 cold. 80 youthful. 30 ut
terly desolate. that Eunice Barlow's heart
bled for him in bis solitude and peril
Even II he has gone wrong" she pom
dered. with ell young girls optimism,
''he may do better If he can only get q
chance After ell, am not the station
agent. How can they expect me. q
woman, to usurp the place of the officers
of the law7 l could detain him perfectly
well, but
Can you tell me-" pleaded the solitary
passenger, where | can get q night
lodging and something to eat? It is six
hours since we left the supper station,
and am just recovering from q siege Of
malarial fever. Surely there must be
some one around here who could act as
my guide.
There is no one here but me" said
Miss Barlow, locking the cash drawer and
preparing to exting1lish the one reflector
lamp that gfowed above the new arrivals
head But If you choose to go homo
with me dare say my mother will give
you some supper and bed. Our house
is the nearest to this place. And to-mor-
zow"-with somewhat significant pause
you can begin q new career"
I'm awfulIy obliged to you," said tho
gentleman. jumping up with aiacrity.
But how many careers per week do these
westeners count upons I've no objec-
ton, for my part, to the old one con-
dnued."
Miss Barlow's face remained fnexorably
grave. She considered it no part Of her
duty to coun.enance fippancy like this.
She locked the station. and hung the key
bn its hooked nail close within the lat
ticed easement outside. where winds could
hot hurl it away nor storms disturb it.
before she said, quietly: "This way, please.
The lantern will Light you sufficiently If
you are little careful; otherwise you
will find the way rather steep and narrow
down the hill. You are perhaps unaware
tina. telegram describing your personal
appearance has just como in from the
White Peak officer
"A telegram BY Jove the whole thing
is out, theni"
lie spoke quickly; there was genuine
disgust and dissatisfaction expressed in
every feature OF his face
Yes" responded the telegraph opera
tor, "the whole thing Is out. Your con-
lecture is quite correct"
t'Does-I beg your pardon, but really
this Is matter of some importance TO
n1e-does any one know it besides your
self"
No"
Il may depend on your" with iznplor-
ing emphasis
"Yes, you may depend on me-"
Thanks, awfullyl" declared the ssran-
ger, with fervor. "You see, it makes it
very unpleasant to have these things
talked about"
Il should think it nigh" -frigidly.
"And / had counted on remaining
strictly incognito."
$50 should imagine"
A brief silence ensued. Ernice was
wondering how her strange companion
could speak SO coolly of these things"
WAS he utterly dend to all shame2" she
thought. The strange companion. in the
meantime, was secretly marveling at the
ease and Gghtness with which this ex-
traordinary girl stepped out through the
snow drifts.
"a perfect Amazon" he said to him
she keep talking? l like the timbre of
her voice; it's regular contralto."
At length he broke the silence. Cant
/ carry that bag for your said he.
do you know what is in this bag?"
she counter questioned.
Haven't the least idea" he responded
1.-The money taken in over the ticket
desk today, and the keys Of the cash
drawers. am responsible for all of it
Indeed? But couldn't l carry it, just
the sameP You have enough to do to
the lantern"
Yes" assented Eunice, you may
carry it, If you please; it will certainly
give me better chance with the lantern.
You see that l trust YOU"
Much obliged. I'm sure. Have we
much farther to goY"
the valley now If your eyes were keen,
and if the snow didn't drive so fast"
1T seems to me-" observed the young
man, after another interval Of silence,
during which the crunching Of their feet
IN the snow and the persistent bowling Of
the wind was all that broke the spell,
that they put great deal Of RESPONSE
bility on young women in this part of tho
world"
"A good deal Of it is forced upon them,
md good deal they assume themselves"
said Eunice Barlow, composedly. Il am
willing to admit that have taken heavy
on myself tonight"
''EhY''
And I think" she added, turning her
,alm, gray eyes upon him with a light as
steady as that Of the lantern, that You
Know what 1t is.
The stranger looked surprised. Il Won
lor. no said to himself, If am all alone
1pon this midnight road with mad
woman. 1t begins to look unpleasantly
Ike it."
Understand" added Miss Barlow,
that if take you home tonight and
shelter you, l must have your prom
ses"-
The deuce you rlust" cried the young
nan, waxing more and more uneasy. /
oh, | say, now, this isn't fair4'' I
Never to repeat the ofensei'
Il won't if know myself"
ITO turn over q new leaf from this time
onward, she pursued, vigorously.
Tho new career question againi Tn
blessed If know what all this MEANS"
,asped the solitary passenger, breathing
lard, as he breasted all at once the flying
hrouds of snow, tho keen tooth of the
vest wind, and the perplexing problem
tut forth by the fair guide. For fair she
vas; he could see as much as that for
Iimself
"Equivocation is entirely useless" said
lunice, severely. You know perfectly
TeH what l mean. have given you q
hanco fo. f,,rcior,,. Cor rcb AZ ir s<;l1 l.oN .