The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-26

window, when the Rev. Joseph Dexter
rushed into the booking Office. with his bag
IA one hand and his money in the other.
ANY more" bawled big voice from the
platform door Of the Office. for the East
Breakstead train?"
a visible spasm ef urgency passed through
the three or four still waiting their turn at
the ticket window, and the Rev. Joseph
Dexter. the last of all. in bath Of anxiety.
struggled with his least engaged hand 10
look at his watch. But. in attempting that,
his money-half eigr-slipped from
his fingers and rolled on the floor. He saw
the little golden disc make one circle and
then he lost sight of IL. Two or three wait
ing porters dashed forward to find it for
him. They paced around him. they swayed
their heads this way and that, but the coin
was not found. And the bell rang the
guards whistle shrilled forth, the engine
took long breath and drove out of the
station. Mr.. Dexter had lost both his money
and his train
His bath of anxiety grew hotter. He set
down his bag, took off his straw hat and
wiped his head with large white hand
kerchief. Nobody commiserated him, or
took any notice Of him, save to smile. For,
though he was a minister nobody would
have guessed II, and the town was too large
for anybody TO be known to everybody.
Besides Mr.. Dexter was both unreverend
and uncIerical in his appearance. He was
short fat and flOrid, and he affected in the
hot summer weather lightness of dress
that made him look very like an ordinary
mortal He wore light baggy tweed trousers
and gray alpaca coat, and his only token
OF ministerial soberness was black ribbon
about his straw hat. To make up for all
that, however. he carried a complete cleri-
cal rig in his bag, for the day was Saturday
and ne was setting forth for a preaching
engagement at East Breakstead on Sunday.
1--WE lost my train-to East Breakstead!'
he exclaimed, desperately. to a superior
kind OF official who was passing by.
Next to East Breakstead. through, at
49," said the official calmly, passing on.
ct is wonderful how little the official mind
is moved by the distress Of unofficial NOR
tals)
That's more than six hours to watt"
exclaimed Mr.. Dexter, following him in
greater desperation. II can't wait till
them"
Want to hire special. sir?" said the Of
fetal. hating and breaking into more
humane smile: he liked the flavor Of his
own wit.
mo. no; of course notP said Mr.. Dexter.
Besides. I've lost some money on the. floor
here. Most extraordinary how it could
have Disappeared
"Aw!' said the official, glancing casually
round. as If it were as usual a thing to
lose money on that floor as on the gambling
tables of Monte Carlo. We'll, there's a
stopping train 10 Five Gates Junction in
twenty minutes; you might take that and
your chance OF a local on to Breakstead."
Mr.. Dexter thanked the official for the
suggestion, and then. with a sudden pang.
he bethought him that, with the loss OF his
half-sovereign, he had very little money
left. He counted his change; he had only
enough to buy single ticket to East
Breakstead and he had no time TO return
home to get more. He resolved, therefore,
on single ticket, and so he added another
70 the suspicious condolences which he was
ignOrantly and innocently preparing against
himself.
His ticket taken, he passed the barrier
and took his seat in an empty third-class
compartment of the waiting train. He had
Just sat down when, at the window on the
off or wrong side, face appeared-a won
dering, pathetic face-and, after an in
stant's hesitation, the door was opened and
a mana fat man-entered, carefully closed
the door and sat down in the corner. II
struck Mr.. Dexter as a singular fact, and,
perhaps, lucky one for the man, that in
another second or two a porter passed
along the footboard on the off side and
locked all the doors. The man seemed TO
think so, too, for he cut a doubtful and
curt look at Mr.. Dexter. When he had
taken that look he turned his face to the
window and the minister had opportunity
to consider him at his leisure. He was a
very fat man, but what particularly struck
Mr.. Dexter was that he also wore a straw
hat with a black ribbon and a gray alpaca
coat. That disquieted the minister little
for he was compelled TO ask himself if he
locked as extraordinary and monstrous a
figure as the man in the other corner He
hoped he did not appear so nervous and
ne was sure he did not look so cadaver-
ously pale.
The fat minister's observation of the fat
man was interrupted by an incursion of
four noisy men, all of whom exclaimed
when they caught sight of the man in the
corner.
Halo! Here's old Waddyr' cried one.
How do old chap" cried another.
Fancy Waddy off on the loose" cried
the third.
You shouldn't be out to-day" said the
fourth: you'll melt; you're too fatr'
But Waddy made no answer. save to turn
on them his sad and weary eyes for a mo-
ment-
When they had sat down they turned
their eyes on the fat minister but any
meditated chan OF him was at once put a
stop to by the voice of one of the four,
who recognized him.
How do. Mr.. Dexter" said he '"You
don't know me-" he added. with a smile.
"Pm Johnson. Of the Old Pack Horse"
There was enforced silence for little
while, when the train started, and while
IL went gathering and roaring through a
tunnel But, once out in the open coun-
try and become used TO the sound Of the
train, the noisy four broke forth again
into talk All their attention was given
TO the silence and unsOciability of Waddy.
What's up. Old MANI" cried johnson,
leading of You do look uncommon blue
about the gills.''
But Waddy made no answer; he kept his
face turned 10 the window and took &C
count only or the passing landscape.
Here, old chap" said Johnson. produc-