Evening journal., 1904-01-14
WHERE
JOURNEYS S
END
CRITTENDEN MARRIOTT
c0pyrIahl, la0a. By 7. c. MccIure

AS the train came to a stop Howard
Monroe glanced out of the window Of
the Pullman '"Twenty-four hours
more," he murmured. "Well. it can't
be helped. BY George, that's a pretty
girll Nice old lady with her too. Hope
they'll come in here"
Next moment his hopes were real
ized, as the two women entered the
ear, guided by an obsequious porter,
who deposited dress suit case and an
umbrella in the section opposite. BE
here about ten minutes, ma'am," he
said in answer to question from the
elder; ''got to cut in some sleepers and
diner"
''Thank you. Better sit down, Aunt
Bessie"
But the elder woman shook her head.
Il do wish you had some one to so
with you. Dorothy she exclaimed in
tones Howard could not help overhear-
ing. Il can't bear to have you go
alone. Your uncle never would have
let you if he hadn't been sick in bed.
You're sure you don't mindT'
II don't mind the least bit in the
world, auntie. We bachelor girls have
to learn TO do for ourselves"
Bachelor girls, indeedw The elder
lady smiled. while Howard felt an un-
accountable thrill Of pleasure pass
through him. "Old maids we used to
call them. A girls a girl, no matter
what she says. and / don't like to see
one travelling alone. 1t wasn't consid-
cred proper in my young days"
Il know" returned the cir. softly.
"But travelling has changed so since
then. even down in this dear little out
OF the way corner OF the south. Why,
what could harm me?"
"Oh, nothing, l suppose. but l don't
Ike It. You wouldn't even take
lunch with you" she added irrelevant
ly, her hospitable southern heart ag-
grieved. 1T seems so inhospitable to
send any one away without something
to eat"
you're awfully good, Aunt Bessie;
but, indeed, it wasn't worth while. I'll
get dinner and breakfast in the dining
car and be in New York for lunch"
sudden changing made the elder
woman start. "Graciousw she ex-
claimed. "I'll be carried Off Goodby.
Dorothy. Write as soon as you get to
New York. I'll be anxious till l hear"
The two hurried to the platform,
where the girl stood smiling and wav-
ing until the trair was well under way.
SO we'll under way was II, indeed, that
as she turned to enter the car a sud
den luroh threw her violently to one
side and made her grasp the rail to
steady herself. AS she did 80 her
purse, hung to her belt by a chain,
few open and sent most of its contents
at large through the yet Enclosed doors
Of the vestibule.
Unaware Of this. however, Miss Yer
non walked to her seat. glancing around
her Just in time 10 see Howard watch
ing her. Both were thinking Of the
good lady's anxious hospitality. and
before they could recover themselves
they had smiled squarely into one an
others eyes.
with quickly stiffened lips Dorothy
sank into her seat As she did so her
purse swung forward into her lap, ex-
posing its emptiness to her startled
gaze. With gasp OF dismay she seiz-
ed and examined it, Her ticket was
safe in an inner compartment. but ev-
cry cent Of her money was gone.
1t did not take her long to decide on
the moment of her loss nor the hope
lessness of repairing it. Miss Vernon
was very Independent young woman
who on more than one occasion in the
four years that had elapsed since she
had begun to earn her own bread had
seen her funds depleted nearly to the
vanishing point, yet never before had
she found herself entirely penniless.
There was nothing to be done how
ever. To telegraph to Aunt Bessie for
money would be TO frighten that lady
almost to death. and there was no one
else on whom she felt at liberty to call.
She must simply resolve to make the
best OF her journey, all twenty-four
hours OF It. without money.
Meanwhile Howard had been watch
ing the girl out of the corner of his
eye admiring her more every moment
i He had noted the look OF vexation that
froze the smile with which she had I'M
Intentionally favored him and had
promptly averted his eyes as if i'm
hopes that the girls wrath might glance
on his broad shoulders Thus, turned
away, he had missed seeing her discov-
cry Of her open purse and her conse-
quent CONSERVATION. When he had ven
tured to look again. she was staring
straight ahead OF her with what seem
ed TO him most inscrutable express
sion. In reality she was thinking Of the
luncheon she had refused and ponder
ing the great truth that even modern
dining car is of little avail unless one
had the price Of meal.
As the afternoon wore away Howard
began to curse the conventionalities
Here he was within a few feet OF this
peerless girl, as he had already begun
to term her. and yet to all practical pur-
poses was miles and miles away. lie
had always been slow to scrape ac
quaintance, even with men, and. so far
as he could remember, had never in his
life done so with a woman. Unless
Dorothy-he had heard her aunt call
her Dorothy-should give him an open
ing he told himself sadly that he should
never venture to address her.
After awhile a waiter passed through
the car announcing dinner. Howard
was hungry, but determined to wait