Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-01-22
DAILY SHORT STORY
ITS A BAD STORM THAT
HELPS NOBODY
tOriginal.1

/ attention of the others. The woman
sat moodily ummindful of whattwas go
| ing on about her; the man was alter
| nately peering, out of the window and
endeavoring to,infuse bittof cheerful
ness into his companion. The train
| moved skwertan slowertan at last
stopped.
| In thescar all was Still sahead was a
| babel notes.-the engineer, conduct
| or and ttrainmen consulting as to what
| should sbe done. A strain on the boiler
| had prevented further making Of
steam. (which not only inberfered with
progress, but prevented heating the
cars. 1t was decided to send a man to
station a mile ahead tO,telegraph for
| an engine.
| When, the couple in the parlor car
| learned tthiS the face OF the man took
| on a greater uneasness. The stea IN
havingI been shut off, the car rapidly
cooled iand. the thermometer being be-
| low zero, the prospect of comfort was
at the ebb.
II think we shall get on again pres
entity said the man reasSIlringly
II wish ave would have to go back"
! A frowns gathered on his brow Il
supposed your mind was made up he
said ..Whar has come over you:"
Il wonders who put Alice to bed to-
night?''
There was silence between them-a
| gloomier silence than before. Then tsbe
| man said he would go forward and fin
| qure'i into the prospect While he was
gone the porter of the car said to the
| lady:
''YO'' might go into de house VIVA yo'
see de light up yondah.''
A sudden idea seized the woman
Dropping Il piece of money Pinto the
mans hand. she babe him lead the
way She seemed to wishjto escape
from something besides thefcold Once
out of the car the ;porter helped her
through snowdrifts to the house in
question. 1t was a imere cot. and its
only occupants We're a man and n baby.
The porter left. saying that he would
come for her before the train started
She slipped another coin into his hand
and asked him to ttell the gentleman
who had been WHITTIER that she would
take rest and did not wish to be dis
turbed till it became necessary. She
charged him not to let the gentleman
with whom she was travelling know
where she was. The porter was to slip
away and come to her.
The baby was restless and cried The
man. after vainly endeavoring to quiet
it, took it up
Where is its mother?" asked the
lady.
THE childihas no mother
'DeadT
Worse
A convulsive shudder passed over
her. as If some one had struck her.
Even though the man who took her
away was far preferable tn me- Won
der she could have left this helpless
child-her child-to go with him.
Another shudder passed over the lady
She looked al the man holding the babe
with a pair of wild eyes that bespoke
terror, misery, remorse. He was not
looking at her and went on with his
talk. which was addressed as much to
himself as to her.
"a woman who can desert her child
is not a woman. She is n monster 1t
is bad enough to go off with another
man. but to leave her child to die but
for the fathers care. and that father
having TO go out to work. is the worst |
of crimes. If 1 were making the laws
1 might not hang a woman for murder,
but should hang her for deserving her |
baby"
The listener turned a CHASTITY white.
But. do you know, I'd forgive her |
if she'd only come back" he went on.
and his voice trembled. Yes. I'd for |
give her the whole thing. Not only on
the child's account. but on her own.
The man who took her away got a |
story on me which had just enough |
truth in it to make her believe it all, |
and she wasn't strong enough to resist
his influence. Yes, I'd take her back |
but he added gloomily, cit would
never be the same again. There would
always be the shame of it"
4 locomotive whistle sounded and |
presently footsteps came crunching in
the snow. The door opened, and the
porter appeared.
wen be off soon,'' he said.
Have you told the gentleman where
amp"
mo, ma'am. He tried to make me.
but / wouldn't
Il want you to stay with me-"
What, stay here and let the train
so On?"
YES"
''Lor', missus. 1 couldn't do dat; I'd
git discharged
I'll get you better position
From her purse she took roll of
bills and handed 1T to him. then turn
ing to the man with the baby she said,
I'VE must get out of the way in case
they search"
There's rooms upstairs he said,
and the lady went up. The porter !
went to a shed without. A searching !
party headed by the lady's companion
came along, but, not finding her, they ;