The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-08-17

Tile C1OCh over blC OdA III thO hS-Nb
room. 1t was forty-fire minutes past
eight.
They began another game. Later he
looked again at the clock. A quarter
of nine. After another game he
looked up once more. Fifteen min
utes to nj. Say, Ned, what's the
matter with that clock?' Ned looked
at it, then at his watch. "Why, it's
stoppedw
You settle-see you later" and
Thomas was gone like shot.
This time he had the rare pleasure
of noting how the rear car of train
grows rapidly smaller as it recedes. In
a moment the train disappeared
around the curve before mentioned.
Say, Mr. Morley. you've time to
miss the next, easy" said the baggage
man, dryly.
Thomas was vexed, but he said,
pleasantly: when is it due?'
"Half-past two. Better wait here
and make sure of it."
'Oh, dry upl'' No; do the other
thing; it's on me-"
After this little duty had been per-
formed, Thomas, with an irrelevancy
of action that might have struck an
observer as amusing, made his way to
the Y. NJ C. A. rooms to read the mag
azines.
Lets see," said he. "I'll get to his
desk at seven. He'll be hard at work.
| and, if he engages me. he may send
me out on an assignment at once.
] Glad missed the other trains"
| Thus was Thomas wont to solilo-
| ouize. At one o'clock he went to Con-
Lewis inn, and sat down to one of those
| dinners that attract drummers to
hotel. Necessarily, then, it was
good dinner, and one over which he
fingered until nearly two. Then he
went into the office and sat down.
The room was warm, and his dinner
had made him drowsy. He decided to
! take little nap. He had the faculty
of waking when he pleased, and he
willed to do so at fifteen minutes
past two 1t would be weakness for
him to get to the station with too
much time to spare; but this would
, give him a quarter hour in which to
go half mile.
His awakening faculty would seem
to have been slightly out of order that
day. however, and he did not arouse
until twenty-nine minutes past two
by the hotel clock.
OF course, he did not make fool of
himself by trying to do half mile in
sixty seconds, but he walked leisurely
toward the station, intending to get
his ticket and have that off his mind
He laughed heartily at corpulent
fellow who darted by him, carrying q
grip.
His laughter ceased, however. when,
on turning the corner, he discerned
the aforesaid fat man in the act OF
being assisted on to the platform OF
the last car by the brakeman, the train
having acquired considerable momen
tum. Then he saw it disappear around
a curve which was part of the road al
that point. There were three explana
tions possible. Either the train wa'
behind time; or else his awakening
faculty was in good repair; or the no
tel clock was fourteen minutes fast
The latter proved to be the correct ex
planation of the somewhat vexing oc
currence.
s.Sav. that is a bad habit you have o
missing trains said his friend, thu
baggageman. Coin to miss another
or do anything else?"
No" said Thomas, shortly.
He knew that the next train at fiv'
was the last. This would make it pos
sible to reach Fitzgerald at half-pas
nine. Right in the heat of the work
He'll engage me 70 get rid of me,
laughed Thomas to himself. Then h
continued: II never heard of mai
missing every train in day. so IL
risk calling on Laura before the mex
one starts"
Miss Sedgwick. the one he calle
! Laura, lived out of town near the rail-
road track. and two miles nearer New
n York than Winsonia station.
i She was a captivating girl. an
S when Thomas was in her presence h
never took heed of time. He wa
4 lucky enough to find her at home
y She seemed glad to see him, and wa
!. much interested in his account of hoy
near he had come to catching som
e trains that day; and, as nothing is
e engaging as good listener, the mil
:, utes passed on pneumatic tires Whe
e at last he took note of the hour, 1t wa
d five o'clock.
e That clock isn't right, is it?''
Fl Eyes, sir. Father keeps it at raj
e road time. Mercy. you've lost you
train again, haven't you?"
,t Laura, this time it's bad. won
see him to-day, now, and to-morro'
n may not do. Let me go and kick m.
It SELF
is I'm awfully sorry, Tom hope Il
% morrow won't be too late"
!" Thomas squeezed her hand and lei
e lher, feeling rather blue.
q The railroad track was just bloc
k away. and he walked over to 1t, NJ
it with suicidal intent, but just that
might tantalize himself with view {
n the train as it sped by, which It shou,
% do in about minute.