Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-11-13
CHAPTER 1.


idly drawing to close. The thin cold
mist that all the forenoon had envel-
oped wood and field, like limp and
loose cloak of gray, had gradually
changed to snug and heavy garment
OF cloud and rain. And yet the trees
Shivered and moaned as the vagrant,
shifting wind stripped them of their
autumn robes Of green and gold and
crimson; and the damp leaves f1uttered
helpleSsly to the ground and quivered
in seeming ecstacy of terror at the
touch of clinging clay. B1eating f1ocks
and lowing herds huddled in the shell
ter of rocks and fences and looked
with longing eyes toward the distant
farmyard where, through the pelting
rain, the stacks and sheds doomed grim
and ghOStlike.
The storm grew in force. The gloom
steadily deepened; the dim daylight
quickly faded. Gaunt night stalked in
and held the MuSkfngum Valley in it's
chill embrace. =
Here solitary light appeared in the
window of a farmhouse; and there a
glowing group told of a hamlet nest
ling at the foot of the beetling cliffs.
The drowsy "choog-poof'' of a slow
Flooding steamboat mingled with the
clamorOus voice Of the gale. Then
above all other sounds rose the hOarse
vibrating notes of the whistle, quickly
followed by the mellow notes of the
changing bell.
The vast shape of wood and iron
slowly turned a bend in the river and
majestfca1ly ploughed it's way onward
"a gigantic fiery monster belching
smoke and fame from it's two black
horns. The reflected lights glimmered
and danced in the tawny water; two
radiating ridges Of yellow foam leaped
and surged from wheel to shore. And
then the asthmatic leviathan dragged
itself around another bend of the
Stream-and was lost in the black
shadows beyond.
The wind soughed dolefu1ly among
the bare willows upon the banks; and
the waves Tapped sullenly upon the
shelving sands. Then came lull-
the stiffness broken only by the bayfng
of DOG upon the hilltops far away.
Again the wind arose, and blew with
redoub1ed fury. The clouds wept tor
rents. Suddenly an ear-splitting
screech split it's way through the sheets
of driven rain and echoed from hill
slope to hill slope. A muffled, grind
ing roar followed. And presently a
binding glare of light flashed around
a headland of rock and shale;. and a
rumbIing, screaking train swept up to
a small, barnlike station building cling
ing to the skirts of a pretty village.
It was the southbound accommoda-
ton on the z. and o. R.-two hours
late.
The road is a short liGe from Zanes-
Vile to Marietta; and, to be candid,
eSeh train is an accommodat1on-an
more frequently the schedule is broken
than kept.
The engine stopped, and Kissed and
spluttered like an angry thing of life.
The cars bumped one another and
groaned in unison. 'Malconta!" bel
lowed a smut-faced brakeman, throw
ing open the door Of the rear coach.
The buzzing murmur of many voices
suddenly grew to din; the thunder OF
the moving train had ceased. A gust
of wind and wet swept into the car
laden with the suffocating odor OF
steam and smoke. Passengers hurried
ly caught up wraps and satchels and
sidled toward the door. The wind and
rain met and buffeted them. Muttered
maledictions mingled with sharp ex-
CARNATIONS Then the platform Of the
coach was clear-and for few mo-
ments all was quiet within.
Ralph Marowe lifted his chin from
his breast, removed his knees from the
Undiscovered back Of the seat in front
of him. and lazilv drew himself erect
Then he turned down his coat ealla1
and yawned behind his hand He ha6
been asleep.
"Helloi" he muttered to himself
where are WEI" And he swept has
ty glance around the interior of the cal
which now contained but a half score
of passengers
Of a sudden arose the tramp ant
shuttle of many feet upon the steps ant
Dlatform of the coach; and wet and be
draggled passengers with umbrellas
! bags. and bundles, came crowding ant
| jostIing through the door.
! MarIowe screwed half around in hi
! seat and curiously watched their bust
! ling entry. They were nondescrlp
lot: farmers and their wives who hai