The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-06-19
WHEN HIRAM WAITED.
FOR HIS WIFE

said Mrs. Samuel Smith 1T may not
seem avery consinlys thing TO do. but
Il it's too good to keep. You see, Mrs,
Hiram Smith had been at Pinehurst
for some weeks, and on Monday HI
ram got telegram saying that she
was starting home and that her train
was due to arrive at Jersey City about
$3.50 o'clock on Tuesday evening. Hi.
ram made plans accordingly, start
Ing away from Freeport early on Tues
day afternoon, arrived with time to
ispare at the Jersey City station.
Walking mp and down the concourse
he saw hundreds of commuters hurry
ing for their trains and listened to
the stentorian announcements as TO
the movements of trains emanating
from a man with megaphone.
There was nothing said about
not think that was strange, he Just
walked up and down and waited, Six
thirty came, but no sign of the Pine
hurst train, This did not seem Tin,
usual, these southern expresses are
often late, thought Hiram. and tramp
cd up and down the concourse some
more. Seven o'clock, III so, and still
no Pinehurst train Hiram began to
feel the pangs Of hunger, also the
pangs of worriment at the nonappear-
ance il his wife. Finally he applied
at the information window with tho
idea of finding out something
planning at the same time that the
men at the gates did not seem to have
a very clear idea as to the arrival of
trains.
30, dear said the man at the
window, turning to a nearby mirror to
adjust his crayat, these southern
trains are very often hours behind
time. The one from Pinehurst will
probably be very late. Move along
please; there are persons behind you
who wish information
Then there was more tramping
about in that cheerless concourse, the
Of strange faces and tense
watch for the Pinehurst special that
lid not appear AT ten o'clock things
,egan to look deserted and apparently
he megaphone man had retired for
he night, All was stiffness at 1890
o'clock, and the only sound was tho
araway clang of the bell of some
ard locomotive. Hiram decided to
ny the so-called information bureau
'nce more He moved in a rather
,ingeFly way to the window and
leered In. There ne saw an old man
sleep
Please said Hiram, viii yon
ell me when the Pinehurst train win |
rive?
THE elderly man awoke with a
avn.
Pinehurst, he said hazily. Pine ,
nrst? Tomorrow morning she's
ate-shell get in tomorrow morn
ng; and then returned to repose.
Disconsoiate. Hiram watched the
crubwomen who were now cleaning
p the station. for awhile, and then
ecided that he needed rest. He would
o quickly to some hotel on the New
ork side and snatch few hours of
eeded sleep This was good plan
nd he followed it, leaving call for
our o'clock with the clerk, so that
e might be on hand early the next
corning for the Pinehurst train.
Faithful to his word, the clerk
,uted Hiram out at four o'clock the
ext morning. and no extra charge
IRAN forthwith snatched a hasy |
and hurried again TO Jersey |
ity to the great concourse where the
aims arrived. Things were pretty
uch deserted at such an early hour,
nd il was long time before Hiram
lud find a person to whom he might
zach the subject Of Pinehurst trains,
/ first he thought the train had al
ady arrived and his conscicnte
note him because he had gone to
e hotel to rest Such was not the
Use, however, he found upon inquiry
a yawning and uniformed attend
H. The Pincliurst train said the
ed Officer was very hate might not
, in for an hour on two.
Hiram waited. II was eight
and still no news of the
nehurst express Crowds filled the :,
alton and many looked askance at
ram. wan and pale through the long
gill Would that train never Gomez
THE megaphone man appeared
ain staggering. important. rs II
q some weighty message 10 deliver.
Raising the horn TO his lips, the
sgaphone man roared forth the ques-
IN:
is Hiram r. Smith in the sta 2
ing 7
Hiram raised his hand. I'm here,
said. with all the strength he could !,
lister.
Mr. Smith. Won are wanted on I
p telephone advised the announcer, u
4 Hiram hurried toward the booth.
was tho hank az Rockville Center
At had been trying 10 get him
ey are IN the wire now, the attend >
! ssid Hiram tuok the receiver and
"A Hello weakly
Hello. Mr.. Smith came the voice II
the other end. Mrs. Smith got to G
eeporf last nieht. and this morning
eIhoned the bank asking where
d were and when you would be
rF