Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-11-13
Too Late.
BY WILLIAM BLOSS.


Copyright, 1901, by Authors Syndicate.)
OR the twentieth time that
RE& long, gray day Wetherby
IS - yawned, in the very des-
IA III peration of deep ennui.
tRSa2 II The Pullman was filled
IESC5ENlk with its fair quota of pas
IESI sengers, one to every dou-
IEOa j. BILE seat, and, because he
N was a reasonably we'll
bred person Wetherby followed his
furtive yawn by a surreptitious stretch
ing OF his arms and legs. It is bad
form to the other people. just because
one Is tired oneself His berth was
lower 1, at the forward end of the long,
luxurious coach, and when in his seat,
looking out into the dismal sky upon
the dismal landscape, his fellow passen-
gems were not within the range of his
glance. Still, he had already "sized up"
most or them. They seemed hardly
worth cultivation-cattle men, hurry
Ing home to their vast herds of beeves
out toward the broad ranches to the
Llama Estacado, or Arizona sheep own
ers who had learned the costly lesson
that Texas steer needs plenty of
grass to fit himself for market, while
the sheep can pick up fairly good liv-
ing OF hillside wherein a yearling
calf would become depressing rack Of
bones. There were some loud-voiced
mounta1neers-he reckoned them as
such, with that unconscious summing
up of tone and manner and attire a
man will accord to strangers into whose
contact he is thrown upon a long Jour
ney-go1ng back to their mines; and a
travelling man or two. bound for Rio
Grande towns in the interest of jobbing
firms east of the big river. No, they
were hardly worth while, even to smoke
with. Still. he wanted to smoke. It
could be no more duller looking from
the rear of the car than from his win
dow at the side
So. yawning once more behind a de-
corous palm, stretching himself once
more as unobtrusively as might be. he
rose languid1y and made his way lei
suraly to the smoking room and OBJ
servation car at the other end of his
car, at the very rear of the train. Here
he selected from morocco case a cigar
with that care a man beStoWS upon
trif1es, when the larger concerns of life
are lacking, lighted it with close at
tention to the point, that it burned
quite evenly, and leaned listlessly back
in cushioned seat, looking back at the
receedfng track.
upon each side SOmber wall of
heavy live oak and cypress trees, cloak
ed IN their gray, funeral investiture of
Spanish moss, stretched interminably,
a roOfess tunnel through which the
train sped with monotonous heaviness
OF heart, as If it longed for free air and
broader view of the outside world.
Only when the rumbling wheels dashed
upon a trustle spanning some sluggish
bayou did the weariSome outlook vary.
hand lighted it in calm silence and re-
remonstrance against so dull tourney.
Looks like procession of Quakers. !"
he muttered, surily lifting his glance to
the face of the other occupant of the
smoking-room, who sat rigidly in an
opposite chair, reading the New Or
leans States. The stranger scanned
Weatherby cold1y, rolled himself anoth-
er cigarette with easy dexterity in one
hand, lighter it in calm silence and re-
sumed his reading without response.
His face was hard, from his thin, point
ed beard and waxed mustache to his
sharp, black eyes. He seemed to sug-
geSt Stilletto in a jar of vinegar
Wetherby felt like slapping his face
as a diversion, but contented himself
with the reflection that his fellow trav-
eler was discourteous brute with
whom he didn't care to talk, anyway.
Some of thosD Creole ducks think
dered under his breath, irritab1y. Then
he shut his eyes and fell into a nap,
l1llled by the rumbling monotone of the
flying train. When he awoke darkness
had fallen without doors. The train
was at rest at way station and a mo-
ment later a dining car which had stood
upon an adjacent siding was backed
down upon them and coupled to the
sleeper.
Supper time" thought Wetherby.
with a feeling of relief. Here, at least,
was a diversion. He would eat, and
give thanks that he had an unfailing
appetite. Perhaps bit of red snapper
and some gulf coast crabs would restore
his spirits. he rose quickly and made
his way to his own seat in front.
AS he stopped over his valise to open
it for some accessory of his toilet his
glance fell upon what seemed to be a
small piece of gold, lying in the aisle
behind him. He picked it up It was
a dainty ornamental pin, a woman's tri
fle, to fasten a scarf or ribbon, in the
shape of miniature hand Upon its
chased golden wristband were inter
twined the letters p. C. Wetherby ex-
amined it with wondering scrutiny.
Where was it he had seen that min
of gold before2, Surely it once had been
Iam1llar. OuT0ly ne KneW-On yes, OF
course he knew. Recollection flowed
back upon him as a rising tide. Now
be remembered. This was the pin
which had been little Pauline's-Paul-,
inc Carroll boyhood playmate,
his boyhood sweetheart Well, Well.
How long was it? Ten years, at least,
Yes, full ten years. She was Is then,
and her parents had sent her to New
Orleans to round her education at the
seminary of the Sacred Heart After
that-well. he had never seen her. He