Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-09-06


ter, :" but the train is going"
.! know it." gasped the girl, "and
my husband is over there"
The situation was grotesquely terrible
to her. With no satchel and no husband
it seemed simply absurd to stay on the
train. She would not stay on the train,
The wheels were already moving
when she eluded the porter and spranS
to the platform. As she ran across the
platform to where the station masters
light was glaring, her husband, who had
mounted the steps at the other
end of the car, was wandering in some
perplexity through the aisle. Could
he be in the wrong car =! No, here was
her little travelling ia.
The porter came over. odd YOU see
the lady, sir? She was afraid you would
get left, sir.'
Charley Merrill rushed for the plat
form. But the vestibulc doors were
locked and the train was under good
Roadway. At that moment life began
to seem like a melodrama to poor Merrill.
"When do we reach the next station!'
he asked of the porter.
Eat IL. SIR" was the answer.
Merrill dropped into seat in grotcsque
despair. The twenty-five minutes to
Silver Hill seemed longer than the wait
OF table dhote. Merrill occupied the
time with more or less torturing specula-
tions as to what the girl would do when
she found that he had not been left be-
hind, and that they had been separated
by another ridiculous mistake. He did
not blame her for her bunder, for this
had been the result of blunder of his
own in forgetting certain necessary ar
engagements at the station from which
they had started. He pictured her de-
spair at the separation, and then he tried
to think that the whole thing was comic,
but did not succeed very we'll in the
effort. He could come to nc conclusion
as to what she would do. She might
have taken the midnight train and fol-
lowed him if she had been supplied with
the money to buy tick t. As it was he
did not see that she could do anything
more than wait for him to come back for
her, as she must know that he would.
Merrill found that there was train
from Silver Hill back to the station of
the mishap a few minutes after IL. lie
could reach the girl, he calculated. soon
after halfpast IL. He splang off the
train ut Silver Hill in a fever OF impa-
thence. The northern train was due in q
quarter of an hour. Merrill hunted up
the station master, without thinking it
necessary to say anything about we'd
ding, yet he fancied that the station
master took degree Of interest in the
matter that might look as il he suspected
sentimental side of the case.
Presently the telegraph Instrument in
the station was ticking message. g.
think can find out whether she is still
there" said the station master. Merrill
said nothing. He did not wish to delay
for the space Of second the coming O
the reply, if there should be one.
The answer was now coming over tn,
wire. For moment the operators fac,
was inscrutable. Then he looked W
quickly.
The station master down there" h
said, fixed it up with the conductor o
the midnight, and put her on tina
train"
Good" gasped Merrill, with sens
of relief that was abruptly terminates
by something in the look of the static
master at his side.
"The midnight does not stop here,
said the station master.
Merrill was ready to faint. His brid
would be carried through to Pittsto
without him. "How soon can follow
that train," he choked, as if with som
expectation that the station maste
might have the deconcy to modify tn
The station master looked commiser
atingly a. him as he replied, "The mex
train stopping at Pittson is $50"
Merrill sat down on the nearest bench
He could not think. The situation ha
become absolutely Supplying. He woul
not be able to reach his wife for owe
six hours. What would become of he
in that dreadful interval? And ho'
could he live during such ghastl
period of waiting Merrill made up hi
mind that he simply could not stand til
torture of such protracted uncertaint!
He would have liked to hire speci'
train. People had done such thing
Perhaps I'll of his Honeymoon none
would hire an engine to carry him
Pittston. He fancied himself ridin
madly across the country in the cab {
"A snorting locomotive.
Pretty soon he abandoned his though
and began figuring on the distance t
Pittston. They told him it was thirty
one miles. He asked to be directed TO
public stable. They didn't know {
anybody but Gibbs. and were very III
certain about him at that hour. Aftt
fifteen minutes delay Gibbs was fOun
in barroom half mile from the station
At first Gibbs wouldn't drive anybod
anywhere for anything. Then he con
promised by saying that he wouldn
drive anybody to Pittston, at whic
Merrill took hope.
"The fact is, - said Gibbs, "that
haven't horse that'll stand it. Yo
will have to be driven like the devil"
II will give you dollar mile,' sal
Merrill.
Gibbs shook his head. Then he SAID
'"rll tell you what I'll do. I'll drive yo
to Mandy's, that's twenty miles, and 20
can get something at Mandy's for til
other ten miles. I'll do that for S25."
ats bargain" said Merrill, -"
o,,,u b,,un vourself and hmm tn,