The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-03-17

aRAHAM PASSED HER ON HIS WAY TO THE
DINING CAR.
OF course Philip would be back later
to explain that he was unable to effect
an exchange into another car. Prob
ably he would spend the evening
across the section from her, and, un-
like the men, there was no place to
which Nancy could retreat.
She was genuinely surprised when
presently a strange porter came for
the suit case, placing another in the
seat In Its place. She smiled to her
self with satisfaction. 1t was plain to
be seen that she had shown Graham
how she had penetrated his plan, and
he had acknowledged his defeat. Idly
she wondered II he would leave the
train at Philadelphia; then mentally
she scolded herself for taking any in
terest in Philip Graham's movements.
They were well past Philadelphia
when Graham passed her on his way
to the dining car, and Nancy rather
admired him for his persistence In re-
naming away from her. At least he
was too clever to betray his disap-
pointment that his ruse had failed.
The night had settled down. Lights
were dull, and reading was impossible.
Nancy had answered the first call for
dinner, and she resigned herself to
idling the long hour until the berths
were made up. The message calling
her home had been vague in the ex-
treme, and in its very vagueness it
was the more alarming. Her father
might be dying for all she knew, and
the thought bore down upon her.
She was peculiarly sensitive to
moods, and the atmosphere Of the half
deserted car was depressing. Through
the closed door Of the stateroom at
her back came the wailing cry of a
baby, to which was occasionally added
the more lusty note Of growing child.
Across the aisle a man played innu-
merable games of solitaire, the sharp
whir of the shuttle punctuating his
grunting, half audible comments at the
run of bad luck. Just ahead two wom-
en- were discussing dressmaking in
shrill tones which rose above the
steady rattle of the train, and here and
there some man leaned idly back In
his seat and turned his newspaper
with a rustic that Jared on nerves al
ready at a tension.
Nancy felt that she must scream. She
had slept little the night before after
her interview with Philip, and when at
last she had been able to doze off she
| hol Cd 10 rood f6o fnlnOT0
| calling her home. From then until
train time it had been a steady con-
fusion, and the meeting with Philip
in the car had added the final touch to
her nervous condition.
As he returned from the diner to seek
| the car ahead she half started from
her seat, but sank back in confusion.
| 1t would never do to tell Philip that
J she needed him. He would think that
she was seeking to reopen the question
of last night, and he would suggest
that the need was permanent.
But as the minutes dragged past
Nancy's discomfort increased, and at
last she signaled the porter and direct
ed him to go after Graham. The por-
ter grinned understandings as he went
forward to the cafe car and presently
returned with Graham, whom he pre-
scented with the proud air of accom-
plishment worn by the magician who
extracts q rabbit from a hat.
"You are illY' Philip asked, with
grave concern, as he noticed the drawn
lips and the feverish sparkle of her
| eyes.
mot ILL.," she explained, "but shall
be presently if l have to sit here ano
listen to the wailing Of those children,
with no one to talk to. thought
perhaps-you wouldn't mind doing 8
charitable act and talk to me for a lit
tie while"
philanthropy becomes a pleasure
when it assumes so inviting form,
he declared, with smile, as he SANK
into the seat beside her.
Graham was capital conversational
list and almost before she realized II
the porter had begun to take down
the berths, and Graham glanced at his
watch.