The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-08-18


or course. she never meant to taIk
to . stranger. but there was some
| thing ~reassuring in the bearing Of this
one and she asked him what time II
was.
He told her.
Cannot l make you q little o
comfortable? ?" he asked as he put her
telescope and umbrella up on the
rack.
Il wonder" she said, timidiy.
whether we are on time"
The man caught the inarticulate
howl of the brakeman at the door. and
consulted his time table-the time ta-
BILE that was Greek to her-and said:
mo, we are more than an hour
) late"
"Oh, It will be after midnight when
get there"
You are not the only one," he
smiled. 1T will be after midnight
when I get there, too"
Then he picked up a paper and
about the news of the day. When she
asked the conductor when they would
: reach LIE Pere he looked at her with
sudden interest.
Il am going to LIE PEREZ" he said:
W shall be late. and If / a be OF
any assistance. I hope you will allow
' me to be-"
"Oh, thank you." she said. II am
: not used to travelling. This is unusu.
al-very. l was sent for"
"Yes?"
"Yes-it's my brother-the only
brother l have. I had a telegram. l
am afraid he is very Ill. People don't
usually telegraph until they are. dc
they?"
She told him all about 1t. It seemed
SO much safer to talk to this utter
stranger than to the Littleton o n
ductor.
Perhaps. II you are acquainted in
lie Pere, you know my brother, John
Mayne."
John Mayne your brother? 1
didn't know he had a sister. I am his
! friend and physician-perhaps you've
heard him speak of Ned Hallam; I
had a telegram also. No,"-in answer
to her quick look of inquiry, Il know
no more than you do. I'm simply to
get there as soon as l can"
After that there was no reason why
she should not go In to dinner with
him, and in the light and warmth of
the dining car she lost her tired look.
bright color fluttered In her cheeks.
and they fingered over their coffee
till the waiter looked at them disap-
provingly.
I'VE are losing time constantly" he
said. consulting the time table. Il
wonder what's the matter" and then
with a shock and jar the train stood
still. with a broken down engine.
You're dead tired he said, two
hours later. land there's no sleeper.
They were to put It on at the juno
ton"
She protested that she didn't mind;
she was not sleepy. But he turned
over the empty seat in front of them
and made her put her feet up on il.
He put on a travelling cap that made
him look years younger, and settled
himself for such res as might be had.
And sitting primly upright, Miss Win
nifred closed her eyes, only to open
them when the sun shone through the
window the next morning, and to find
her head resting cozily on a broad,
square shoulder.
"Rested?" he said, in a matterof-
course professional n that put all
embarrassment to flight. I'm so glad
that you got some sleep. We are here
yet, you see. Now l will see If there's
any chance for breakfast"
He came back. This Is a mans
tragedy" he said. Nothing to eat!
They took the diner of"
She thought of the thrifty little
lunch-not enough, she was sure. for
two.
But after a hungry hour or two. she
began to feel guilty, like n carrying
concealed weapons.
/ please hand me down my tele-
scope" she said. Il took dinner with
you last night; will o take break
fast with me this morning?"
"How good 1t u.s." said the man
you are sure there isn't any more?"
They seemed to have known each 9TH
er for years. In all her life she had
never been 80 happy In caring for
any me-.
The nurse met them at the door.
/ Mr.. Mayne is much better. He slept
al night, for the first time"
| They went In together.
"Dear little girl-it's good to .
you," said the sick man. Il was afraid
I couldn't wait for you. but seem to
have come back. The doctor will
know whether I'VE come back to
stay"
The keen, kind eyes that had been
searching him. met his. the fingers
that had already sought pulse and
heart ware laid reassurfngly on his