The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-04
CHAPTER VII.
Enter Mister Smivvers.

CHAPTER VII.
 Enter Mister Smivvers.
 Extremely uncomfortable. both in mind and body, Ronald, after leaving the mill, made his way across the moor. There is nothing so wetting as a mist. Scotch or English; his light overcoat> was not waterproof: and he felt damp and chilly.
 After walking for mile or two, he struck upon the track again, and. ouickening his pace, left the moor. and entered the little town towards which he had journeyed by so de- vious and eventful way. The train he had hoped to catch had gone an hour ago; but while he was standing on the platform, wondering whether he should look out for; bed or con- tinue his tramp, goods train came numbering into the station.
 ~Where- are you going?" he asked the guard, as the man stepped out and stretched himself.
 He replied, London" and locked somewhat surprised when. Ronald. in his free and easy way. proposed to go with him. The guard hesitated for . moment or two; but most men found 1t difficult to refuse Ronald Desborough anything, and with ail "Oh. we'll. sirl'' he jerked his head to- wards the van.
 Ronald took the hint and got in; there were some empty sacks in the corner, and he sank on to them, and, fell asleep. He slept so soundly that he was scarcely conscious of the various shuntings and steppings of the train; but presently he was aware, in a dim fashion. that there was an- other person in the van beside him. self and the guard: he did not open his eyes, but, with a little shiver, for he was feeling cold, turned over. and fell more soundly asleep. He was awakened by the sunlight streaming through the window full on his face, and, sitting up, saw that some one had covered him with coat; he looked round. and met the gaze of a man who was seated with his back to the side of the van.
 He was a young man, with a shrewd face and blue eyes. which twinklea with Q sense of humour, toned by the intense gravity with which he re- garded Ronald. The man was not dressed as labourer. he was evil dently not navvy one the line, and there was something about his ap- pearance which made it difficult for Rorald to place him; he would have looked like clerk out of a berth for he wore a dark lounge jacket but, in place of a collar, was dingy blue scarf with white spots. and no clerk. even in the last extremity, would be minus a collar of some sort; both the coat and the trousers were old and frayed, and the sole of his boots, presented unashamedly ro 8onalds gaze, were in holes. Ronald knew that the seedy overcoat. which had slipped from him when he rose, belonged to the man, who still con- tinued to regard him with quizz;ng gravity, and Ronald said:
 This is your coat? It was awfuily kind of you to put it over me-"
 Don't mention 1t. sir," said the man. with strong Cockney accent, and shifting his extremely short clay crtty to the corner of his mouth. You look cold, as the man said when he put the oyster in the oven; so I just chucked it over you, sir"
 Ronald threw him the coat, with a repeated thanks. and, stretching him. self. looked out of the window.
 Are we near London, guard?" he asked.
 Pretty nigh, sir" replied the guard; "ciose on Nine Films. I shall pull on a siding there, and I'm afraid I'll have to ask you two gentlemen to step out when I do; for I might get into trouble for taking passengers. You understand?"
 Quite so." said Ronald promptly. I'm very much obliged to you, guard: I particularly wanted to reach London to-day"
 Same 'ere," remarked his fellow passenger.
 The guard glanced at him with a smile.
 well. you've worked your passage. so to speak," he said. "Gaye us a hand at one of the shuntings, sir," ne explained to Ronald; made himself very useful for we were shorthanded; said he wanted to go to London, so -hancsd it. and gave him lift: in