Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-02-13

In any other circumstances such q
phrase would have been q mere piece OF
conversational politeness. At that criti-
cal moment, Elma knew it for Just what it
was-a simple expression Of his real feel
ing.
CHAPTER III.
CYRIL WARNINGS RoTHER
1t was nine o'clock that self-same night,
and two men sat together in .
comfortable sitting-room under the
gabled roofs of Staple Inn, Holborn.
1t was as coy q nook rs any to be
found within the four-mile radius, and
artistic withal in its furniture and decora-
tons.
In the biggest armchair by the empty
CRATE, . young man with a flute paused for
. moment, irresolute. He was q handsome
young man, with expressive eyes and q
neatly cut brown beard-for all the world
like Cyril Warnings. Indeed. if Elma
Clifford could that moment have been
transported from her gloomy prison in the
Lavington tunnel TO that cozy room at
Staple Inn, Holborn, she would have
started with surprise to find the
young man who sat In the arm
chair was to all outer appearance the
Just left at the scene of the accident; for
the two Warnings were truly ''as like as two
peas"-a photograph of n might almost
have done duty for the photograph ofthe
other.
The other occupant Of the room, who
leaned carelessly against the mantle-shelf,
was taller and older; though he, too, was
handsome. but with the somewhat cynical
and unprepossessing handsomeness of q
his lips were thin; his nose inclined toward
the Roman pattern; his black mnstache
Was carefully curled and twisted at the ex-
tremities. Moreover, he was musical; for
he held in one hand the bow ola violin,
having just laid down the nstrumen iself
on the SOFA after a plaintive duet with Guy
Waring.
Seer, this evenings paper, by the way
Guy?' he asked, after a pause, in a voice
that was all honeyed charm ind seductive
ness. II brought the st. James Gazette
Tor you. but forgot to give you it; ! was SO
fuil of this new piece of mine. Been all ac-
cidelt this morning, l see, on the Great
Southern line. Somewhere down Cyril's
way, too; he's painting near C~iietwood;
wonder whether he could possibly, by any
chance. have been in it?'
He drew the paper carelessly from his
pocket as he spoke, and handed it with
a graceful air of Unborn courtesy to his
younger companion. Everything that
Montague hewitt did, indeed. was natural
ly graceful and courteous.
Guy Warning took the printed sheet from
his hands without attaching much import
ancc to his words, and glanced over it
lightly.
AT ten O'Clock this morning. the tele-
gram said, "a singular catastrophe occurred
in o portion of the Lavington tunnel
on the Great Southern Railway.
As the 9:l5 way-train from Tilgate
Junction to Guildford was passing
through, q segment OF the roof OF the
tunnel collapsed, u:lder pressure of the dis
located rock on top, and bore down with
enormous weight upon the carriages be-
meath it. The engine, tender, and four
front wagons escaped unhurt: but the two
hindmost. it i, feared. were crushed by the
falling mass of earth. 1t is not yet known
how many passengers, it any, may have
been occupying the wrecked compartments;
but every effort is now being made to dig
out the debris"
Guy read the paragraph through un-
moved, to the outer ~ through with a
whitening face, and then took up the
dog-eared Bradshaw" that lay close upon
the little oak writingtable. His hand
trembled. One glance at the map, how
ever, set his mind at rest.
II thought o." he said quietly. Cyril
wouldn't be there. It's beyond his beat.
Lavington's the fourth station this way on
the up-line from Chetwood. Cyril's stop
ping at .Tilgate town, you know-I heard
from him on Saturday-and the bit he's
now working ats in Chetwood forest. He
couldn't get lodging at Chetwood itself. SO
he's put UP for the present at the White
every day to Warnworth. It's three
stations %away-four off L%avington. He'd
have been daubing for an hour in the wood
.Weil, / didn't attach any great import
to it myself" hewitt went on uncon-
Il thought most likely Cyril
wouldn't be there. But still teit you'd
like, at any rate, to know about it"
"Oh of course" Guy answered, still scan
ming the map in bradshaw" close. He
have been there: but me likes to
think, indeed, to make sure, I'll
teleCraph to Tilgate. Naturally, when .
mans got only one relation in the whole
wide world-without being q sentiment
one relation means Q good
deal in life to him. And Cyril and 1
most ordinary brothers" He BIT his
"StiN. I can't imagine how he
could possibly be there he went on,
riaNcinr 81 "Bradshaw' once more. "You
II lie went to work. he'd have got out
st Warnwort and il he meant to come
to town to- consult his dentist he'd have
taken the o:s' r srpress ,,a straight ag through oogn
minutes earlier"
.sWell, but why to consult his dentist In
p~articular?' Neyitt asked with . smile. He
had yery white teeth. aud he smiled &C
cordinRly, perhaps q little oitensr than was
ouite inevitable. "You Warnings are &C aD-
I never knew such fellows in my
sos. Il Sda " Wv n ssss's k sssi have 8 been .,
up to town, for example, tx see .
6riond ar oeH hlmsAlf fresh cOIOrSf1