The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-03-11

her New YORK aunt from her network
Of social obligations, In conveying her 10
the station. and in seating both her aunt
and herself bound for Miss Hartman's
restored colonial mansion. minus itk
knocker. II was an afternoon train they
had taken for they had been detained
through the morning by a lecture at one
OF the Waldorf parlors on the subject OF
Thought Transference and the Subcon-
sciols Self"
This afternoon train was scheduled to
reach Fieldbrook well on into the even
ing, and II stopped at the little country
station on the rare occasions only When
q New York passenger was TO be left.
Ihese occasional passengers we're left to
fend for themselves, for at o'clock the
stationmaster locked the door and left
the little wooden building under its pro-
tecting trees to the night and the darkest
Of darkness. Toward this gulf Of black
ness Nancy and her aunt were steadily
moving The girl was m high spirits and
her aunt, whose stream Of conversation
never failed at home or abroad had made
the trip seem short. Several times they
returned 10 the SUBJECT of the forenoon
lecture and had tried 10 read each 9TH
er 3 thoughts-always with great success,
Nancy declared. and her aunt smiled to
think how transparent was the eager
pleasure OF the girl as she drew near the
end of the journey.
Then her thoughts turned to her own
early married life, and she was about to
relate the incident which had started her
husband on his successful career. She
remembered with a thrill the day when
she sat looking down on the young law
yer who was to plead his first case. She
saw again the figures in the midst OF
whom he stood. the Judge, the witnesses,
especially the three old men with the car
pet bags. whose evidence was to prove so
important.
But the story was not to be told, for
Nancy pressed her face to the window
and distinguished some object in the night
which served 10 show that they We're
a41a attf
preparation and collection Of belongings
took place. and the girl stood at the open
door Of the car moment before the train
drew up. Her aunt followed more leisure
ly. and together they stepped into the
dark The train swept away, the light
Of their carriage was seen approaching
but It disappeared around a loop that
circled the grove and was two or three
minutes in reaching the spot where the
two We're standing. Nancy clutched her
aunt's arm nervously and whispered
Where are the three old men?'
what men?' asked her aunt. Il didn't
why. the three old men with carpet
bags. persisted Nancy. They stood on
the steps Of the car In front Of ours ready
to get Off.
Just then the carriage drove up, and
Sidney sprang out, while the driver
quieted the horse which had evidently
been driven at full speed.
Il should have been here before you. 4"
Sidney apolOgized. but Miss Hartman
insisted that the carriage should leave by
her old clock instead of by my watch.
As they drove toward the street after
the first questions had been asked. Nancy
remembered her fright
Did you see US get off the train, sid
ney2" she asked
Yes. quite plainly he answered I'VE
were just at the bend and the train
Did you see any one else get out?9
she asked.
why. no. Of course not" Sidney looked
puzzled. You must have seen that there
was no one else
Then Nancy told Of the three old men
with carpet bags. and various opinions
We're expressed. Nancy was sure she had
seen the men, and thought they had
stayed on the car, but why should they
have stood on the steps as ii ready to
descend2 Her aunt was sure ii was an
instance Of thought transference, and ex-
citedly described the scene she had been
on the point OF describing when the train
stopped.
William. the driver. who was usually
the most lacOnic Of individuals, was led
10 express himself at length. He ex-
planned that the train slowed up a mile
furthtr along where there was cross
ing Of tracks. II a man wss prepared
hr might easily jump of. William an
eager deyourer Of dime novels, added
that he had heard some talk OF a gang
Of men who visited the woods not Far
above the crossing. whose business there
had never been explained Nancy
laughed, but checked her laugh as she
noticed that sidney did not seem incredu-
lous
sidney" she urged. tell me what
you really think.
TT isn't worth thinking about, Nancy"
he answered promptly. If there were
ghosts. they have gone the way all good
ghosts 60 IL they were men. they may
have had my knocker IN one Of their car
pet bags. and perhaps ] shall find II ia
tho woods tomorrow
This disposed Of the subject FOR the
tinle and IL was more than an hour later
when the two travellers and Sidney We're
JUST finishing the elaborate supper Miss
Hartman, had served them In the old
fashioned dining room that Nancy burst
out with n description of her experience.
Miss Hartman listened TO the particulars
and scornfully put aside both vision. and
bandit explanations.
Nonsense Nancy" she said "Your
eyes were confused by the change nf
lights and you didn't see straight. Prob
ahlv some tFainman was standing there
Now can you positively bring before
your mind this minute three men. or
was II only ons7'
Nancy heslsated She was surprised at
the inaccurary OF her own memory
When ] stood on the PLATFORM she said
slowly as N consulting her inner con-
seriousness. II was sure Of thee old men.
each with q bright colored lag. Now ]
must admit the outlines seem vague. /
tnink 1 saw llFtc lDffnH rather DtQt. Dll
IL may have been only two. The shape
eludes me but the colors are just as vivid
as at first, the bright red and the duller
blue and green Of the carpeting. 1t is
strange" she added "this confusion.
was sure Of every detail few minutes
ago"
The aunt from New York broke in with
excitement. 1T was transference of
Thought" she cried. There is no doubt
It is just as the lecturer said. The mind
does not retain the memory OF these
transferred sights as II they were real
titles and shape Is much swifter in its dis 4
appearance than color"
ibid he say that?" asked Nancy. Il
wasn't thinking of the lecture but Just Of
Sidney drew her arm through his and
moved toward the door. You are tired.
he said Come into the library and rest
a few minutes before ! go.
once in the library the two were soon
transferred into a world where there was
no room for intruders from the outside.
however shadowy. Suddenly Nancy start
ad. II thought some one came up on the
rorch.r she said They listened, but no
sognd followed. Nancy rose, Let us 80
nui "a moment ] want to see II the porch
looks natural Sidney opened the glass
door and she stepped tn the edge OF the
porch and looked up the familiar street.
church further VI the read could be
family distinguished through the elm
lr,trlys Tife spring leaves on the branches
were Already so fur grown that shadows
fcn thick and confused across the side
walk Sidarv nauscd a moment 10 close
fh,. andr which had caught on the rug,
,nd the GIRL stood absorbing the beauty
~ tbe soothing scene. Suddenly the clock
ID the church struck u and she gave
ffffa rugn.