The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-05
CHAPTER xII.-(Continued.)

II thought could not do Il! But 1t
was worth a trial." said Charles. shaking
himself. George, look after the horse
and cart, and take them straight back.
Now. Ralph. we must run for II. IT, we
mean TO catch the train. Middleton, you
had better go back In the cart" And off
they set, plunging through the snow with
out further ceremony. l watched the two
dark figures disappearing. aghast with
establishment. They were positively leav-
Ing me behind
IN a moment my mind was made up.
and. leaving the gasping young groom
to look aftor the horse and cart / set
OF 10 run, too. IL was only a chance, OF
course. but In this weather the train
might be late. IT was all the way down
hill. thought ! could do il and I did
My feet were balled with snow: I was
hotter than ] had been for years; I was
completely out Of breath. but when
puffed into the little roadside station. FIVE
minutes after the train was due. could
see that Il was not yet In and that Ralph
and Charles were waiting on the plat
form.
my word, Middleton said Charles,
coming 10 meet me, "I thought / had
seen the last OF you when left you re-
clining on George in the drift. I do be-
lieve you have got yourself into this state
of fever heat purely to be of use TO
US two, and / treated you very cavalier
ly. ] am sure. Let bygones be bygones.
and let us shake hands while you are in
this melting mood"
I could not speak but we shook hands
cordially and hurried off 10 get my
ticket.
called after me. where we change and
catch the London express"
The station master gave me my ticket
and then approached Charles and touch
ed his cap.
Might any OF you gentlemen be go
ing to London. sir?' he inquired.
"All thpee of us"
81 don't think you will get on, sir The
news came down this morning that the
evening express from Marlborough last
night was thrown Off the rails by drift
and got knocked about, and ] don't expect
the line is clear yet. There will be no
trains running till later in the day, | am
afraid"
The night express said Ralph sud
denly.
do you mean the train, which you
can catch by the S:O2 from here?"
Yes, sir"
"She was in IT." said Ralph, in a hoarse
voice, as the man walked away.
How late the train is" said Charles;
quarter of an hour already. | say, Jer-
Wis" calling after him, ANY particulars
about the accident! serious
"Oh. dear no. sir. not to nay knowledge.
Never heard of anything but that the train
had been upset and had stopped traffic.
Not many people travelling in such
wea thor Mt any rate. j daresay there was
not a creature who went from here by the
las train last night?
"C,nlv two. sir One of the young gen.
tlemen from the rectory and young
lady. who was very near late, poor thing'
and all wet with snow. An! there she IL
a. last as the train came in sight, and
hs vert through the ceremony OF ring
o.. ,he he'll although we were the only
travellers on the platform.
7, was only an hours run TO Tarbor-
ough where we were TO join the main
line. ,s Charles
90 the chimneys OF Tsrborough move III
sight and the train slackened. len 10
one we shall not be able 10 get y" W
London" ,A .r shall,
sao her, shall she her here
T,,ara yvak an -afr-ef excitement about
49,. rhole station as we drew up peiore
,hc nletforrn. Groups OF railway o~ilicia.o ~
- VIZ. s,u.tered together. talking eagerly
,ha harmsids were all looking OUT Vi VIC
r.frasbment room door: policemen "ele
stationed here and there, ann ou'slue -
txav OF the Stbll'i IN
n.onle were waiting In the trodoen yer
.now neering through the bars.
W. cot ont. and Charles went up 70 a
~..ooc,ahIe looking man In black, eVi-
IDENTIFY an official Of some CONSEQUENCE
and asked what was the matter i ne
wan Informed him that speclai hau
haar sent down the line with workmen 10
c,oar the rails, and that it's return, with
the passengers in the ill-fated express
u,as expected at any moment
wen don't mean To say the wretched
noss.nrers have been there all
pirh,7" exclaimed Charles From the
VANS account II appeared that the trav-
e,ere had taken refuge In farm near
,ha .cene Of the accident. and the snow
.,oru, continuing very heavily. II had not
haor thought expedient 10 send train
sovn the line 10 bring them away TIL
after daybreak 1T has been gone an
hour" ne said looking at the clock; and
n a hardly 9 vet. Considering how late
we received notice Of the aceident-for
m. news had 10 travel by night and on
GOO, for considerable distance don't
think there has been much delay"
,'Viu all the passengers come back by
this trnin?" asked Ralph.
'Ye. sir"
.,ws will waltz said Ralph: and he
went and paced up and down the most
deserted part of the platform. The man
followed him with his ewes
ANXIOUS about friends. sir7" he asked
Charles
Yes" 7 heard Charles say as I went
of N warm myself by the waiting room
fre: keeping n sharp lookout for the ar
ftval sef the train. when came out some
time later. wondering II n were ever GO
ing 10 arrive at all, I found Charles and
the man IN black walking M and down
together. evidently In earnest conversa- :
tion when 7 Joined them they ceased
talking O never can imagine why people
verersiiv do when Y come ur) and the