The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-02-28
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toi OutdilO tildL HlSIl.
For they were about to make jour
ney. ! gathered, and the young wom-
an wished TO go alone, | drank three
cups Of coffee, which accounted for
: Ell4- ~ .aal--a1sslllaass later. and shameless
~ watched the tableau before me. The
womans protest evidently went for
nothing; across the table the man
grunted monosyllabic replies and grew
more and more lowering and sullen
Once, during brief unexpected plan
issimo in the music, her voice came
70 me sharply;
III | could only see him In time,"
she was saying. "Oh. it's terrible!"
In spite Of my interest would have
forgotten the whole incident at once,
erased it from my mind as one does
the inessentials and gatherings of
memory, had not met them again,
later that evening, in the Pennsylvania
station. The situation between them
had not visibly altered The same
logged determination showed in the
mans face, but the young woman
daughter or wife? | wondered-had
drawn down her veil and could only
suspect what white misery lay be-
meath
bought my berth after waiting in
line of some eight or ten people.
When, step by step, | had almost
reached the window, a tall woman
whom had not noticed before spoke
to me from my elbow. She had
ticket and money in her hand.
win you try to get me lower
wnen you buy yours?" she asked Il
have travelled for three nights in up
pers."
! consented, of course; beyond that
| hardly noticed the woman. had
a vague impression of height and a
certain amount of stateliness, but the
crowd was pushing behind me. and
some one was standing on my foot
| got two lowers easily, and, turning
with the change and berths, held out
the tickets
Which will you have?' ! asked.
Lower IL or lower 10?"
ut makes no difference" she said.
Thank you very much indeed"
At random gave her lower II, and
called porter TO help her with her
luggage. | followed them leisurely TO
the train shed, and ten minutes more
saw us under way.
] looked into my car. but 1t present.
ed the peculiarly unattractiye appear.
ance common to sleepers. The berths
were made up; the center aisle was
path between walls of dingy, breeze
repelling curtains, while the two seats
at each end of the car were piled high
with suit cases and umbrellas. The
perspiring porter was trying to be In
six places at once; somebody has said
that Pullman porters are black so
they won't show the dirt, but they
certainly show the heat
Nine-fifteen was an outrageous hour
to go to bed, especially since sleep
little OF not at all on the train, so |
made my way to the smoker and
passed the time until nearly IL with
cigarettes and magazine.
The car was very close. 1t was
warm night. and before turning in |
stood a short time in tre vestibule.
The train had been stopping at fre.
quent intervals, and, finding the brake.
man there, | asked the trouble.
1t seemed that there was a hot-box
on the next car, and that not only
were we late, but we were delaying
the second section, just behind. Twas
beginning to feel pleasantly drowsy,
and the air was growing cooler as we
got into the mountains. | said good
night to the brakeman and went back
to my berth. To my surprise, lower
ten was already occupied--a suit case
projected from beneath, pair. of shoes
stood on the floor, and from behind
the curtains came the heavy, unmis-
taxable breathing of deep sleep. l
hunted out the porter and together
we investigated.
Are you asleep, sir?" asked the
porter, leaning over deferentially. No
answer forthcoming. he opened the
curtains and looked in. Yes, the in
truder was asleep--very much asleep
-and an overwhelming odor of
whisky proclaimed that he would
probably remain asleep until morning.
! was irritated. The car was full,
and was not disposed to take an
upper in order to allow this drunken
interloper to sleep comfortably in my
berth.
You'll have to get out of this
said, shaking him angrily But he
merely grunted and turned over. AS
he did so, saw his features for the
first time. II was the quarrelsome
man OF the restaurant
i was less disposed than ever to re-
linquislp my claim, but the porter
after little quiet investigation, Of
fered solution of the difficulty.
There's no one in lower nine" he
suggested, pulling open the curtains
just across, 'Its likely nine's his
berth and he's made mistake, owing
to his condition, You'd better take
rine. sir"
! did, with a firm resolution that II
mines rightful owner turned up later
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