The Van Buren press., 1904-11-12
arose to the emergency, though her hus-
L I - Ia Il a

arose to the emergency, though her hus-
band had promised to do it.
Helen. dearest said Alice, slipping
her arm caressingly around her. there
has been a railway accident, and Har-
ODDS name is among the injured" She
could not tell her among the dead. "Eut
don't be alarmed; as you have heard SO
recently there must be some mistake.
"Oh. Alice. Oh. Dick" she cried, ut
terly colapslng, while Dick proceeded
to explain that Harold's business house
had had wire from place called Three
Cocks Junction, and they had sent
for him "and we have been tele-
graphing for particulars. 1t hap
pened about noon, but now | feel
certain, Helen, since seeing Harold's
message, that there must be soma
mistake though they found letters
addressed to Harold, care of his firm, in
this mans pocket They did not wish to
alarm youuntil they had full particulars,
but you must keep up your courage till
you hear from me- am going there to-
night, and Alice will stay with you.
| What puzzles US all is whatever took
| him to that place. as it is not on his route,
and now his wire is still more puZzling
/ Be brave. think We will find Harold
is all right, said poor Dick, trying his
| best to brace his sister-in-law up.
Il shall go with you Dick, said Helen.
quietly.
"Oh, no; it's bad night. | may not
be able to get through, said he, in dis
| tressed voice. IT'S better for me to 20
alone, and l will wire you Immediately
al particulars
| Please say no more against it, Dick.
/ shall die of anxiety before morning i'll
stay here
In spite of all their protestations, she
insisted on going, ard they arranged 10
meet her and Sara at EustOn station for
the 1880 train that night.
| The fog had not lifted, and the cab
]
then getting off to lead him, oltentimes
not knowing where he was. Poor Sara's
heart was in her mouth; she begged TO
get out and walk.
The nearer they got to their destina-
| tion the more nervous they became. 1t
was just getting daylight as the short
/ train pulled into the little station, It
was damp and cold; a cold that pene-
trated TO your very marrow and sent
/ the cold chills creeping up and down
your back The only person to be seen
| on the narrow platform was the station
master, who peered curiOusly at them
/ from under his dark, smoky lantern.
| Dick explained to him in few words,
/ and he piloted them silently across tho
| green to little brick sChoolhouse that
/ had been temporarily fitted up for a
mOrgue As he opened the door 1t
| creaked on its hinges. THE good Lord
4 have mercy on us, groaned Sara as
| they entered a cheerless, uncarpeted,
| narrow hall dimly lighted by smoking.
| smelling lamp hanging from the side OK
| the wall He halted before door at the
end and said THE dead are in here.
viii you all go in-or-"
Yes; proceed, said Dick.
"Never heard Of dead folks in school
before" muttered Sara.
| As the station master put his hand on
| the noisy latch poor Dick was cutChed
on all sides by his three trembling COM
panions, all trying to get through tho
door at one time, and they entered the
| room in bunch,
Never did they forget that sight, A
| big, square room; cold, damp and dirty,
| Five long tables with coarse white
cloth stretched across them occupied
| the middle Of the room. At one end was
little dais with a small Kitchen table,
on which were perched two weary look
| ing policemen, with only an oily SMELL
| ing lamp between them. The station
master whispered to one Of them who
looked up with surprise at the group and,
rising, walked to the forthest end of tn,
room, and stopping at the last table, mo-
! toned to Dick and his companions with
his big, brawny hand Then they knew
! that on that rough, wooden table, under
that coarse, white cloth they were about
to look upon that which would number
them from that moment amongst tho
most miserable or the most happy crea-
lures on the face Of the earth,
It was a most trying moment Each
felt they could hear the others heart
beat The policeman respectfully walt
ed Dicks intimation to remove the
cloth, Helen for a moment put both
hands over her eyes, and Dick drew
closer to her; then nodded to the police.
man who began to turn back the cloth,
| 1t caught on tack and all that was vis-
| ible was familiar dark blue sleeve.
| II was an anxious moment. The man
more firmly pulled the cloth, making
lIttel square hole In It, which they re.
mcmbcrcd cyeraftc then swept II down
with sudden Jerk, but before anyone
| could speak word Sara screamed out:
"l's the tramp! Thank the Lord:
IT'S the tramp in me masters clothes!"
N o. Times Democrat.