The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-02-03
am to ind them? How am Ito break
the sad news to them?"

am I to ind them? How am Ito break
the sad news to them?"
| He was pale to the lips, cold drops Of
sweat were on his brow. All the pent-
up excitement of the last hour burst
from him now with uncomfortable
force. The guard was as calm as a man
Of iron.
Fetch the station-master here, will
you?" he said to a passing porter. "Sad
thing, SIR he said, to the agitated cur
ate; "but you'd better keep yourself
quiet. Such misfortunes will happen.
Well get medical man here presently.
dare say there's one in the train.
Perhaps the lady has only tainted.
Hadn't you better step inside and sit
with herr"
They were standing at the door of
the carriage. George Caulfield glanced
with shudder at that mutfled figure
| in that farthest corner.
NO." he answered, profoundly agi-
tated, Il could do no good. 1 fear there
is no hope. l fear she is dead"
mo relation of yours, sir, the lady?"
asked the guard, scrutinizing the cur
ate rather curiously.
II never saw her till tonight" and
then, in flurried accents, Mr.. Caulfield
related the circumstances of his de-
parture from Grandmother.
Here comes the station-master,"
said the guard, without vouchsafing
any comment on the curate's story.
The station-master was business
like man, of commanding presence, and
Mr.. Caulfeld turned to him as for pro-
lection.
"What am to do?" he asked, when
the guard had briefly stated the case.
Nothing, 1 should think" answered
the station-master, shortly; ''but you'd
better stay to see the upshot of the
business. Where are the lady's friends.
| wonder? They ought to have turned
up by this time. Johnson, just you go
along the platform to inquire for any,
body waiting to meet a lady from
Grandchester, and send some one else
along the line to inquire for DOCTOR"
The guard departed on his errand;
the stationlnaster staid. In three min
utes the porter came, followed by an
elderly man, bearded and specialized.
Medical gentleman, SIR said the por-
ter.
The doctor got into the carriage and
looked at the lady.
Bring me better light" he asked,
and a lamp was brought.
A crowd was collecting by this time,
travellers who scented some excitement,
and thought they could not make bet
ter use of their remaining five minutes
than in finding out all about it.
You'd better send for the police"
exclaimed the doctor, reappearing at
the door of the carriage This is a
bad case"
"How do you mean?" inquired the
station-master.
Il mean that this poor creature has
died from the effects of narcotic poi
son.
Great Heaven!" cried the curate; 81
had presentiment that there was
something wrong"
The doctor and a porter lifted the
muff1ed figure out of the carriage, and
conveyed it to the nearest waiting
room. Three minutes more and the
train would be moving.
A police-constable appeared as if by
magic, and planted himself at the cur
ate's side.
The guard came back.
Nobody here to meet the lady" he
said. There must be a mistake some
where"
What am I to do?" demanded
George Caulield looking helplessly
from the station-master to the doctor.
Keep yourself as quiet as you can,
I should say answered the stations
master
But, good heavens! l may be sus-
pected of being concerned in this poor
creatures death, unless her friends an
pear to verify my statement. All, by
the-bye, her brother gave me his card.
l can tell you her name at any rate"
ITO BE CONTISuEDl