The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-27
iction
The Release of No. 2OI
BY DAVID H. TALMADeE.

the schedule, on the branch road was
stuck in the snow, and there seemed to
be no relief for 1t. No provision had
been made for such contingency be-
cause the branch, sheltered by trees
and bluffs, had been considered proof
against such misfortune. The engi-
neer, who had been on the run for
twenty years, was too astonished for
words when the small locomotive fail
ed to cut the drift into which 1t had
plunged so confidently, and he sat on
his seat staring dumbly at the con-
ductor, who swore shockingly and ges-
tlculated with his arms.
In the coach were two passengers,
both young men. One was the type Of
commercial salesman sent out by small
jobbng houses, well dressed self as
sertive, crudely philosophic; the other,
by appearance plainly a farmer. He
wore a baggy, shiny black suit, and
his white collar was attached TO
gingham shirt by a white bone button
sewed with black thread. His appear
ance was enhanced by carefully
trimmed shock of hair and whiskers.
The commercial salesman had arisen
when the train stopped and had walk
ed to the door.
81 guess" he remarked after. min
ute, chat we're stalled"
He whistled a popular melody as he
walked down the aisle and noted with
some amusement that the other man
was clutching the back of seat, his
eyes filed with CONSERVATION
provoking, isn't itY' the drummer
said as he lighted cigar and drew a
paper covered book from his grip.
"Y-yes-by-catw the other STAN
mered. "Say, do you mean that we're
stuck?"
That's it exactly. Here's the CON
ductor now"
The conductor slammed the door
cap. Were up against it, gentle
men," he announced i'm disgust. "rhe
confounded teakette is dying like a
sick pig out there i'm n drift no big
ger N washtub. We're two miles
from DillSport, and the SHOWS so thick
! you can't see your hand before your
face. Lucky we've been to supper"
"Then we won't get out tonlghtT'
asked the farmer anxiously, looking
at his watch.
"That's the size of 1t. AS we're up
here on this pea vine the section men
won't learn what's the matter with us
| till tomorrow. We've got plenty of
coal 1t might he worse"
YES" said the farmer, "I spose II
might, but don't see how 1t could be
much worse for me-"
He picked up an overshoe.
"You see" he explained, fastening
the buckle, 1--WE got a particular en-
gagement tonight up at Dilkport, and
if the train amt going I've got to hooi
It."
He put on the other shoe and rose
reaching for the wolfskln coat which
dangled from one end OF the parcel
holder. The conductor and the sales
man contemplated him In astonish
ment,
But man, you can't do 1t possibly
said the conductor. you'll fall
through a bridge, or something. and
then you'll freeze to death"
81 reckon tits n bit risky" admitted
the farmer but / amt at all sure II
wouldn't be rislIier not to. You see
my wife's ut Dllkport, and she's sick
She may be dyings I've got to go tC
her"
An expression Of sympathy came
! I,n fn nj Iaf ,,i
the salesman took on a sudden gravity
"There are certain circumstances,
the farmer continued In explanation
(which make 1t more important that
should see her than you might natural
ly think from the plain fact of her be
ing sick. l haven't treated her jus
right, to tell the truth. I've been stu
pid and unreasonable. We were mar
rled only a year ago. l won her away
from three or four other fellows. Any
one of 'em would have made her {
better husband than me. Funny how
such things go, amt it?"
Its a blooming queer old world,
said the conductor, .nodding his head.
"And the queerest things In it ar,
girls" added the salesman In the ton,
of an authority.
1--WE were married at Dilkport, wher,
she was raised, and we went to m!
farm to live. We were happy as coulC
be for maybe six months, aud then
noticed that something was wrong witt
her. A sort of cloud come over her
1t was nothing but homesickness,
s'pose, but | couldn't see 1t any othe
way than that she was sorry she'C
married me. And one day l happened
to find sheet OF paper-a part of {
letter she'd been writing r that hat
dropped from her portfolio, and rea,
1t. There weren't many words on tn
} sheet The first one was 'disappoint
, ed ending sentence she'd begun oil
the sheet that went before. And the
1t said 1T is not as / had pictured II
/ wish to go home And right ther
It ended. said nothing to her.
didn't think 1t was necessary to have
scene, as they call 1t. But was hur
hurt clean " the core-and in tryin
to cover up my feelings / s'pose / wa