The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1910-11-05

Five miles from Los Angeles the
engine broke down. That would make
the train late.
Craig expressed his chagrin In vio-
lent terms. under his breath. Too
restless and outdone to sit still, he left
the car and began to pace up and
down on the switch track. parallel
with the main. bothering the porter.
the conductor. the engineer with
score of questions. Nobody, it seemed,
could tell him anything.
Suddenly he observed coming
toward him curiously familiar young
person in a black skirt and crisp white
shirtwaist. She wore a little turban
on her brown curls.
''Phoebe!"
She stopped. A little scowl devel-
oped between her brows.
Il didn't know you were on this
train. How"
II got on, at the last station" she
said. stiff1y, land took the chair car.
Probably that is It,"
Look here, Phoebe, we acted like
a pair of kids the other day. Why
can't we come to our senses and be"
Because" interposed she gravely.
81 found out the truth in time. that
is all. You never really cared. or you
would have acted differently. / could
not be happy with a man"
Unless he yielded weakly to your
every within? Is that it?" The resent
full red showed dark under Craig's
tanned skin as he spoke. But he in
stantly regretted the words and went
on in a softened tone: Say that 1t
is all a hideous nightmare, dear; that
you didn't mean what you said
that"
81 have made up my mind" she cut
IN. haughtily. Thank heaven I have
stength of character to adhere to my
decision" She brushed past him.
and for a moment young Craig stood
where she had left him. He had no
idea of abandoning his purpose. but
how should be proceed?
The answer came from an unex-
pceted source. Among the passengers
who had begun to alight for breath
of fresh air he espied little Molly Ger
eds. a winsome blonde, who had come
in for a large share of his attention
in Plainfield the season before he met
Phoebe. Everybody had said 1T was
match, and doubtless 1t W0ul6 have
| been had not Phoebe made her en-
trance at the psychological moment
He hurried over to Molly and held out
a cordial hand. The girls pleasure
was obvious. For some minutes they
fnIl
presently they walked on together and
were lost to view among the wild
flowers on a little knoll beyond.
Phoebe watched them with a burst
ing heart She had never quite got
ten over Harold Craig's devotion to
Molly Gerelds, and now the latent 1eal-
ousy famed into life.
At this 1uncture the engine backed
into the cars with an ominOus clank.
Everybody was hurrying to get aboard.
Phoebe turned. startled. and sought
the name OF her car with anxious
eyes. The train was creaking and
whining; 1t had begun to move.
oh" she gave a little cry.
But Craig detained her with a wise
like grip on her arm. The fierceness
of his grasp brought her to a pause.
Hal, how-how dare you!"
] I'D dare anything for my-for our
happiness, Phoebe. I'm not going to
let you get back to civilization until
you've come back to reason. Those
people are waiting for you in Los An
geles. Oh, / know all about the ar
rangement: never mind now. l want
II fixed so they can't hold you to any
of those quixotic promises you made
them. We're only a mile from one OF
the suburb ban towns. I Well look up
l the Justice and be married sans
preacher and sans church. But we'll
be married all the same-and nothin 9
else counts Will your
Phoebe suddenly bethought herself
of Molly Gerelds. II would never do
to let him go on to Los Angeles where
! she was, and
While inclination and doubt were
struggling for mastery the last coach
vanished around the curve.