The Press., 1903-10-01
ON THE
SPECIAL
BY r. b. eiriSbS
Copyright, 1905, bp 7. C. Mcclure

Late! Oh. no: not the north bound
txaini 1t can't be! Are you sureT
There was a ring in the voice that
caught Hugh Morton's attention. He
looked up. The girl in black who had
interested him when she entered the
waiting room three hours before was
at the ticket window, and the agent
was explaining that the night train
due at Bellmar Junction at 1870 was
two hours late. Morton himself was
waiting for that train.
Eyes, miss, I'm certain. Just received
word. Twelve thirty anyway, and it
may be later"
"But the train from Parkerville on
the other road gets In at 11:20, doesn't
it2 Isn't there some train out Of here
before it comes? Anything-a freightv
"No'm; nothing until the fifty three, !"
answered the man in a surprised tone.
He leaned forward to see the girl more
plainly, and she drew aside in confu-
don.
Thank you. I'll have to wait, then
1t doesn't matter at all" she said In q
voice whose trembling showed that 1t
mattered very much. Then she went
out on the platform, leaving Morton
wondering.
Why was she SO pale? Why was she
10 impatient to get away7 Why SO
anxious to leave before the train from
Parkerville arrived? He puzzled over
the question for awhile and went out
side for smoke. Then he heard a sob
from dark corner. The girl was seat
ed on a truck crying so bitterly that
she did not hear Morton as he approch-
ed, moved by a generous impulse.
"You are In some trouble7 Can't
be Of some help"
The girl raised her head with a start.
hurriedly wiping away the tears. mo;
it's beyond help-I mean it's nothing"
There's nothing beyond help. Won't
you tell me the trouble3 You don't
know me, of course, but hope you can
see I'm a gentleman"
The girl seemed to shrink from him.
"It's nothing mere nervousness. II
was kind in you to ask, though, and I
thank you. 1 would accept II 1t could
do any good"
With an apology for his intrusion
Morton moved away. He tramped the
platform for awhile and then stopped
In the shadow by the station window.
He had learned telegraphy years be-
fore, and it amused him to read the
clicking of the key. There was the best
part of message coming in now. Click
click click. click click-click - dress
slender-brown hair-twenty-two; sher-
liz up on IL IL there" When the mes
sage ended the agent glanced out on the
platform toward where the girl was
seated. Then he telegraphed back,
"Girl here: can't leave; 90 late"
So this was the reason Of the girls
agitation, thought Morton. She had
committed some crime, poor thing, and
the law was on her track; the law, so
powerful and relentless; she so helpless
and alone. Morton had an instant VI
sion of the slight, graceful figure and
the pale face and In that instant made
mp his mind. He went toward her and
spoke in IN undertone:
"I've accidentally learned something
which concerns you very much.
don't know what the trouble is, but
they are coming here after you, and
felt must warn you"
The girl started up with clasped
hands. "Oh, I've been afraid Of this!
What can do, what can do?"
'"There's no time to lose. The sheriff
will be here In fifteen minutes. You
must get away"
"How? There's no chance. Oh, If
only my train had been on t1me! The
girl broke down and sObbed.
"Here! Don't do that. You must
keep your nerve, you know" Morton's
brain was working quickly. Listen. If
the sheriff doesn't find you here when
he arrives he'll think you are in the
neighborhood surely, and he'll stop to
search the village. That will take him
until morning. The next station north
Is Newboro - fifteen miles. We have
over an hour in which to make it. Will
you take the CHANGER
"Yes-any chance. haven't really
done anything wrong-and If can es-
cape"
"Quick, then! Go over to that shed
The girl disappeared, and Morton
sauntered into the waiting room. 1--WE
a bad headache and decided I'd better
not travel. Will the hotel be openT
"Open until 55 comes in"
"Much obliged. Good night"
Morton picked up his satchel and
started toward the hotel. Then he
doubled across the tracks to where the
girl was waiting.
"Hurry! There's not much time to
lose" he said. He had noticed that
afternoon a hand car on a siding near
the street and went to it.
"Help me to push it." he directed.
EASY, though. The agent must not
hear"
Together they showed the car gently
along the rails and into the darkness.
Far off they heard the whistle of the
sheriff's train.
Morton waited until it Numbered up
to the station. Now" he cried, I'VE
must push ahead. Their noise will
drown ours"
They jumped aboard and, grasping
the levers. started of and In a moment
were swinging northward under, the
stars, with the station lights growing
fainter in the distance.
The pumping was hard. for the grade
was uphill. and for half an hour moth
ing was heard but the clanking. stroke
Of the levers, the pounding Of the
wheels and the labored breathing Of
the man and woman. Tne girl looked
exhausted, and Morton felt as though
there was a glowing furnace In Ills
chest. How long could he-iast out? he
wondered. Then he felt the car run
easier, and thenz-they had. reached the
crest Z. the grade and started down
ward. Morton looked at his watch. It
was IL o'clock. .t:s4. ,'s9 .==' .s,t
Eve make it now he said. r'You
rest. 49,. - i,-,-s.-s. IT, ..
The girl sank YEARLY upon the plat
form, while the car sped through woods
L-lA ~