Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-09


Stood on the Platform Looking to
Right and Left.
pillow, all painted with palette hold
Ing only drabs and browns; here and
there a dab Of red in a barn or OF
white in windmill or house; but these
livelier tints so scattered that they
were no more than pin spots on the
picture. The very sky was as dimly
colored as the earth, lighter, yet Of no
brighter hue than the fog which
smoked up from the ground. Later
In the spring this same landscape
would be Of delicate and charming
beauty; in summer or autumn 1t
would make the beholder's pulse throb
with It's glorious fertility; but ON a
blurred March morning 1t was a.
dreary as the reveries Of an aging man
who has failed.
Nevertheless, Rupert Winters first
conscious sensation was not depres-
sion, only little Jingle of interest and
excitement such as stings pleasantly
one who rises to prospect Of con-
flict in which he has the confidence Of
his own strength. by Jove!" he
wondered. whatever makes me feel
80 kiddish?"
His first impulse was to peep
through his curtains into the car. 1t
wore its early morning aspect of muf-
fed berths and stuffy curtains, among
which Miss Smiths trig, carefully fin
ished presence In fresh white shirt
waist, attended by the pleasant whiffs
of cologne water, gave the beholder
certain refreshing surprise. One hand
(white and firm and beautifully cared
for) held wicker bottle, source Of the
pleasant whiffs: her sleek black
braids were coiled about her comedy
head, and the hair grew very prettily
IN blunted point on the creamy nape
of her neck 1t was really dark brown
hair, but it looked black against the
Wilderness of her skin. She had very
capable-looking shoulders, the colonel
noted. and fiat back; perhaps she
wasn't pretty, but In q long while he
had not seen a more attractive looking
woman. She made him think of a
Bonnie Celine rose, somehow. He
could hear her talking to some one be-
hind the berth's curtains. Could those
doleful means emerge from Archie?
Could a Winter boy be whimpering
about the jar Of the train in that
fashion? Immediately he was aware
that the sufferer was Randall, for Miss
Smith spoke: Bring the tea, and lie
down again, I'll attend to Mrs Winter.
Don't you worry!"
Getting solid with Randall" COM
mented the colonel. (which is she
kind-hearted, or an accomplished vii
/ lainess? Well, it's interesting, any
how"
| BY the time he had made his toilet
the train was Stacking speed ready to
halt in Council Bluffs, and all his sus-
picions rushed on deck again at the
sight of Miss Smith and Archie walk
| ing outside.
| He joined them, and he had to admit
that Miss Smith looked as pleased as
Archie at his appearance. Nor did
]! she send single furtive glance, slant
| ing or backward, while they walked
in the crisp, clean air. Once the train
had started and Miss Smith was in the
drawing-room, breakfasting with Mrs.
| Winter and Archie, he politely attend
ed Mrs. Millicent through the morning
meal in the dining-car. 1t was so
good meal that he naturally. al
though illogically, thought better of
Miss Smiths prospects OF innocence;
and cheerily he sought Haley. He
found him in the smoking compart-
ment Of the observation car. having
for companions no Tess personages
than the magnate and a distinguished
looking New Englander. who, Rupert
| Winter made no doubt, was Harvard
professor of rank and renown among
his learned kind. He knew the ear
marks of the species. The New Eng
lander's pencil was flying over little
improvised pad Of telegraph blanks,
while he listened with absorbed inter-
est to Haley's rich Irish tones. There
WAS little sidewise lunge OF Haley's
mouth, faint twinkle Of Haley's frank
| and simple eyes which the colonel ap-
praised at very nearly their real value.
He knew that it isn't in Irish-AMeri-
can nature to perceive wide-open ear
and not put something worth hearing
into 1t. Besides, his sharp ears had
brought him key to the discourse, a
sorrowful remark of the sergeant's as
he entered: yes. sor, thin wather
| torchures is terrible!"
He glanced suspiciously from one OF
Haley's audience to the other. The
newspaper cartoonist had pictured on
all kinds of bodies Of preying crea-
lures, whether of the earth or air. the
! high brows. the round head. the deli