The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-09-01

balcony. Tie ngnts ana smoke, the
noise of climbing glasses and animated
conversation, faded away. He could
hear the roar of the Atlantic just be-
yond. the music Of the hotel orchestra
and the tinkling Of Marcia's mandolin
rs she played the accompaniment
Then the lights went up, the singer
came forward on the stage, and the
picture faded. leaving Campbell with
a quickcncd memory. The music
frightened, and the singer dashed into
Il rOllickinS Spanish air, the sentiment
Of which the audience seemed heartily
to approve, and Campbell rose to go.
"What is that song?" he asked as he
| settled his score with the waiter.
The waiter struggled with his scanty
store of English words. "She say you
love woman who says No The
more she tells you No the more you
ask. \ woman is not to be dead easy.
You must-what you call it? All, yes,
you must box for her."
| You mean fight for her." corrected
| Campbell.
as not the box to fight?" asked the
| waiter. "GraZie, scnor," he added, for
| Campbell with Il laugh, had tossed
him gold and had waved away the
change.
The following morning he had
| booked for Paris, and now he was on
his way to southampton and the
| steamer. Every turn of the wheels
was bringing him nearer to Marcia
| He could almost hear the word as the
| wheel flnnges struck the rails
But a grinding shock broke in upon
| his reverie. The car In which be sat
was flung from the track and had
| fallen upon its side. The windows in
| the door on the uppermost side had
been let down. and he crawled through
| the opening.
There had been n rear end collision.
and the tlimsy cars nearest the engine
had been telescoped by the heavier
cars of the goods train ahead. A few
Of the passengers were cIambering out
of the rear cars, but none came from
the forward carriages, and already the
smoke was curling up dangerously
near the baggage cars. There were
only four of these, mere shells to
Campbell accustomed to the heavier
trains on American railways, and he
hurried forward with the guards now
fastening from their compartment at
me extreme rear.
He was in splendid form, and he
worked like Trojan, throwing aside
the wreckage and eXtricatiHg the
wounded from those cars most badly
smashed Others worked with him.
Suddenly Campbell stopped and
stepped back TO let the light fall on the
face of one of the wounded passengers.
Then he stopped over the body eagerly,
half fearfuIly. 1t was Marcia Bennett.
Taking her i'll his arms, he bore her to
the bank beside the right of way.
He had supposed that she was In
America, and it was rude awakening
to his dream to find her here, perhaps
MORALLY hurt.
Tenderly he loosened the high collar
about her neck, and In doing so his
unframed hands broke tiny gold
chain from which suspended a heart
shaped locket.
it might not be lost and ran for wa
ter That simple treatment was sufti-
cient, - for beyond n bruise over the
temple she was unhurt. The shock
alone had rendered her unconscious.
An hour later new train had been
provided, and they We're again on their
way to the steamer.
1t was the third day out before Mar
cia was able to come on deck again.
Campbell, who had found cold comfort
in sending messages to her through her
aunt, spent the day beside the steam
err chair in which she was tucked, but
it was not until evening drew down
that in the soft spring twilight he
sought the courage to speak of her re-
fusal.
Before he could frame a speech she
turned toward him.
Jack" she said softly, "who attend
ed me while | was uuconscious?"
81 did," he said promptly. Why
81 wondered if some one had stolen
a locket."
Campbell gave a start. BY Jove."
he cried, Il just remembered it."
Marcia gave n cry of delight. "You
found it? You have 1t now"
"Yes. Was it SO valuable?'
There was photograph" she said.
blushing prettily Did you look ut it?'
He drew out the heart. No" he
said slowly But should like to-"
"You must not" she cried in alarm.
Something III her expression determin-
ed him He pressed the catch.
loose photograph Of himself fell out.
He remembered that 1t was one from
a group taken at the beach. He care
fully slipped it in his rocketbook.
Marcia" he said slowly. "a girl
down in Spain gave me n message
from you. She said Il woman liked to
be fought for. l am going to fight for
you Then you can have the original
and have me photographed ms much AZ
you like Is there IL chance for me?'
81 think" she said demurely, there
is more than-a fighting chance"