The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-10-16
Hold Vp
By ROSS FRAME
Copyright, 1909. by T. c. Mcclure

ne oNeTlunu WAS
east across New Mexico toward the
Texas boundary line. The line alkali
dust of the high plains sifsed through
every crevice in the car. smarting and
Irritating the throats and nos, OF pas
.scngers. Miss Mary Appleton was one
of the few who had not grumbled at the
dust, heat, lack of mirages or slowness
of the service. Presumably her time
was too fully occupied. The Mayne
children, her three nephews, demanded
her complete attention.
When Major Mayne OF the United
States army was ordered TO the Phil
ippines, his wife elected TO go with
him The children were easily dis
posed OF by their little butterfly of a
mother Wen send them east. Ill
telegraph Mary TO come out and take
them back IL will be a nice trip for
her, poor thing
So the poor thing" who was Mrs.
Nayne's elder half sister. the Cinder-
ella of the household. age reversed. left
her invalid stepmother behind and jour
neyed to San Francisco for her
charges.
"We'll try and make II pleasant for
you while you are with u.s." Mrs.
Mayne had cooed to her upon her ar
rival. but the irresponsible little lady
had left all packing ana house clearing
arrangements until the last minute.
and II took all OF Mary's time and
4 sound sense to evolve order out OF con-
| fusion. Finally all the boxes were
corded, the majcr and his wife of to
the transport. and Miss Appleton. with
the train for their long ride to the At
lantic coast.
One section had been provided for
her and the three boys. Bobbie, Tom
and Grover. lads of twelve. nine and
six. They We're hearty. healthy young
animals. who regarded the commands
of their gentle. mild tempered aunt In
the light OF perpetual jole. The Pull
man was crowded. and their fellow
traveller looked with manifest disfavor
upon the noisy. III behaved boys.
Their section was nearest the draw
ing room. and Miss Appleton occasion
ally caught Glimpses of the tall, stern
looking man with iron gray hair. lie
seemed to he always busy. either read
ing or writing. and her tender con-
science prompted the hope that he
might be too much absorbed I'm his
work to be disturbed by the proximity
l of her nephews. She had noticed his
critical. disappearing glances at her
flock in the dining car. and once she
detected a smile OH his face when she
4 ,.-l
them.
1t was the fourth day of the Journey
and a particularly hard one. Bob and
Tom had joined forces and teased Gro
yer. who was quick tempered. into
such fury of passion that he had
sobhed himself asleep OH his aunt's
knee. She sat in n cramped. uncom
Portable position. holding the little teal
stained face against her shoulder.
The man III the drawing room looked
at her for n moment. then stepped out
and said quietly: Let me take you
I little boy. lie can rest very comforta
bly, on my sofa" Suiting the action {,
the words. lie carried the sleeping chile
TO the couch and set the door ajar.
Miss Appleton's lips trembled and 4
was with difficulty that she kept bacl
the tears. 1t was almost the first kind
ly words spoken in those hard and dis
agreeable days. There had been ad
monitions In regard to the boys bein,
left behind at stations and tanks o
breaking their necks from window
and platforms. There had been man,
complaints in respect TO their nois
and requests that they be kept strict.
to their own seats. but this was tn
first kindly interest manifested. Tn
weary. nervous woman looked ou
steadily over the uninviting landscap
so that the tears that hung heavy o.
her lashes might remain undetected.
The occupant of the drawing roor
missed nothing OF what was going OF
His heart gave an unaccustomed thro
as he remembered the mute grntitud
expressed by her dark eyes when h
: carried of the sleeping boy. II was
I. strange and by no means unpleasaI
z sensation.
Bob and Tom sat In virtuous arme
: truce. BoL's black eyes snapped as b
related To Tom In snbdued tones th
: Adventures Of Snake Eyed Sol. th
Terror Of the Western Plains" IF "
: could only get OFF this blamed train. W
\ wnuld b. sure to find lots of IndiaT
; and gold and Wild hars,s $. We'd haN
= great time. But there's no use
: trying. Aunt Mary has the porter Q
TO us The boy looked decidedly wicl
y I'd as he thought II his lost opportun
> ties. The man within caught the loo
ard q vision of the aunt's sweet FAC
at the same time. ''lf had the maj
n agcment Of You. my lad. would brir
4 you up with Il round turn" he though
5 Miss Appleton sInothcrcd sigh m
= leaned bacl; on the luxurious cushion
? Her few days Of more intimate a
- qraintauce with Master Rob had mat
her fully aware OF the consequence
20 likely to follow from an interruptiC
. of the narrative. The comparati'
peace and repose were provocative
= sleep. She was awakened from a do
20 by n brisk official voice demandin
Is "Your papers. please?"
10 "Do you mean our tickets?"
- "No. madam. have nothing to (
~ with the tickets. | want your quara
, tine passports. We are near the Tex
boundary line"
IA "But-but we have no papers exceI
20 Ing our tickets. We have no passports
10 VERY sorry. madam; very sorry, b
you'll have tn get eff before Won cor