Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-11-27
CHAPTER II, Continued.)

Marlowe was hungry. The smell OF
me food and drink made him ravenous.
consulting his watch he found it mark
ed 7:45. He got upon his feet, and
ehrusting his hands deep into his trou-
eers pockets, strobe up and down the
Aoor, scowl upon his handsome face
me was fast losing his temper.
Just as well to sit down and take it
Easy, Clark advised, grinning impish
~ Il told you this was the slowest
9urg you ever struck. Just before you
Gle of starvation they'll get you some
thing to eat, though
The card players looked up aid laugh
cd They were enjoying the strangers
Alsfomfture. The latter resumed his
seat and said nothing. Clark set his
empty glass upon the sloping lid of the
SaH desk, fired bit of bread at the
black crate, and hitching his chair tow
ard Marlome's, asked in an underrone:
Going to stay in town long?"
Not unless succeed in finding more
hospitable quarters was the snappish
Eeply.
The operator laughed half pityingly
rs he returned:
oh! this isn't half a bad place. I've
been stringing you a little about it..
Then you've struck it at a bad time
Aelp all away. They'll give you a clean
1tte and bed. Charley Williams-that's
the landlords a jolly good fellow, and
nell do all he can to make you COM
1ortabIe, Here he comes now'-spring-
ing to his feet and facing a big man
ooming through the rear door
Charley, this is my friend, Mister
Mister"
He hesitated and cast an appealing
nance at RaInh
Ralph Marlowe," the latter prompt
I'D in low tone
MY friend, Mr.. Ralph Marlowe,"
CLARK went on glibly. "I brought him
up from the train. Nobody there to
meet him, you know. He wants supper
and bed-supper as soon as he can get
Il He hasn't had a bite to eat since
week before last Do the handsome by
MIN, Charley
The big man smiled blandly He wore
m immense, dropping, black mustache;
and there were dark, b1adder-like puffs
under his eyes. Wiping his large red
lands upon the white apron reaching
Tzum his chin to his ankles, he remark
I'd in an apologize tone:
IT'S bad night out, Mr.. Marlowe-
an no doubt you're cold an hungry. I'm
sorry had to keep you waitin'. You've
MT us at bad time, though; the helps
an away to a dance an my wife's in
Bed with the sick headache. But I'll
nave you fixed comfortable in a jiffy."
Them to the operator:
''Glhrk, you'll have to help me out
4 little. Sart a fire in he grae; he
800m's too damp. You'll find coal an
kindlin' in the closet there. I'll go an
git some one to tend bar; then I'll git
Che gentleman some supper.
= IL - 1nI ,,rrI,
6he back door-and was gone.
Clark proceeded to build fire, all the
While grumbling whimsically to him
aeN. Soon a genial blaze sprang up in
The black CRATE, effectually dispelling
the gloom and dampneSS of the place
and giving a rosy tint to the time
stained walls. Ralph wheeled his chair
close to the hearth and stretched his
set shoes to the fire. Already he was
much, Modified. The world looked
SNigffter@and he hummed the air Of \
comic opera.
Feeling better, eh?" Clark question
I'd, holding his arms stiffly away from
his body-his blackened palms turned
Outward.
much better" Ralph smilingly re-
piled.
-Going to stay in town awhile?"-
banteringly.
Undoubtedly. I came here to take
n position"
The card players overheard Marlowe's
words: and holding their cards aloft
and listening intently, forgot to play.
The telegraph operator showed the
surprise and curiosity he felt, as he re-
turned quickly:
THAT so? Not going into McDevitt's
store?"
mo"
~Bentley's?"
mo. am a pharmacist; am going
INTO DIR. Barwoods employ"
Not going to clerk for Doc Bar
wood"
at am. But why do you manifest so
much surprise?"
Clark shut his jaws with snap and
sarted hard at Ralph, as if he question
cd the latter's sanity The cadd play
ers looked at one another, and silently
znaking their heads and grinning ma
aciously resumed their games.
At last the operator muttered:
THE hell-well, I'll be skedaddledi"
And suiting the action of the words, he
dDdged out the rear door.
An this was not lost upon Marlowe;
end his wonder and perplexity increased
the more he thought about it. He was
silently cudgeling his brain over the al
air, when Clark returned to the room
Been out to wash my hands" he ex-
nlalned.
Williams told me to tell you your
aupper'll be ready in half minute"
Every WE'LL" Ralph replied. fixing his
Reen brown eyes upon his companion's
vale face. "Sit down Pulling g
chair to his side-''I want to talk with
you"
Clark dropped into the seat and