Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-28
CHAPTER Xxx.
Eolled Again.

FolIed Again.
Mallory tucked Marjorie under his
arm and Marjorie tucked Snoozleums
under hers, and they did sort or
threelegged race down the platform.
The porter was pale blue with excite
ment, and it was with the last gasp OF
breath in all three bodies that they
scrambled up the steps OF the only
open yestibule.
The porter was mad enough to give
them a piece of his mind, and they
were meek enough to take it without
q word OF explanation or resentment.
And the train sped on into the
heart of Nebraska, along the unpoetic
valley Of the Platte. When lunch
time came, they ate 1t together, but
in gloomy silence. They sat in Mar
jorles berth throughout the appalling
ly monotonous afternoon in a stupor
Of disappointment and helpless de1ec'
ton, speaking little and saying moth
ing then.
Whenever the train stopped, NAL
lory watched the on-getting passen-
gers with his keenest eye. He had a
theory that since most people who
looked like preachers We're decidedly
lay, it might be well to take a gam
blers chance and accost the least
ministerial person next.
So, in his frantic anxiety, he select
ed horsey-looking individual who got
on at North Platte. He looked so
much like a rawhided ranchman that
Mallory stole up on him and asked
him to excuse him. but did he happen
TO be clergyman? The man replied
by asking Mallory If he happened to
be 1eabitten maverick, and embel-
lished his question with a copious flow
Of the words ministers use, but with
a secular arrangement of them. In
fact he split one word in two to insert
a double-barrelled curse. All that NAL
lory could do was to admit that he
was a flea-bitten what-he-said, and
back away.
After that, IL a vicar in full uni
form had marched down the aisle
heading a procession Of choir-boys,
Mallory would have suspected him. He
vowed in his haste that Marjorie
might die an old maid before he would
approach anybody else on that SUBJ
ject.
Nebraska would have been nice
(Dy h11t
four hundred-odd miles were dreary
length for the couple so near and yet
so far. The railroad clinging to the
meandering Platte made the way far
longer, and Mallory and Marjorie left
like Pyramus and Thisbe wandering
along an eternal wall. through which
they could see, but not reach, one
another.
They dined together as dolefully as
If they had been married for forty
years. Then the slow twilight soaked
them in its melancholy. The porter
lighted up the car, and the angels
lighed up the stars. but nothing light
ed up their hopes.
We've got to quarrel again, my be-
loved" Mallory groaned to Marjorie.
Somehow they were too dreary even
to nag one another with an outburst
for the benefit Of the eager-eyed pas
sengers.
A little excitement bestirred them
as they realized that they were con-
fronted with another night-robeless
night and morrow without change Of
gear.
What a pity that we left our things
in the taxicab." Marjorie sighed. And
this time she said, I'VE left them" in
stead of you left them" 1t was very
gracious Of her, but Mallory did not
acknowledge the courtesy. Instead he
gave q start and gasp:
Good Lord, Marjorie, we never
paid the second taxicab!"
Great heavens, how shall We ever
pay him? He's been waiting there
twenty-four hours. How much do you
suppose we owe him."
About a year Of my pay, guess"
"Iou must send him telegram Of
apology and ask him to read his
meter. He was such a nice mantle
lindest eyes-sor a chauffeur"
'Eut how can I telegraph him? I