The Ordway new era., 1912-07-26


her-off the train and let her-him-
come in-oh. yassum. you may rely on
me-" He bowed and held out his
hand. But she was gone. He shut
fled on into the car.
He had hardly left the little space
before the stateroom when q hand
some man with luscious eyes. but
without any smile at all. came stink.
ing along the corridor and tapped
cautiously on the door. Silence alone
answered him at first. then when he
had raped again. he heard q muf-
fed:
Go away. I'm not In"
He put his lips close and softly
called: Edith"
At this Sesame the door opened .
trifle. but when he tried to enter. a
hand thrust him back and voice
again warned him on. You mustn't
come in"
But I'm your husband"
That's Just why you mustn't come
in" The door opened little wider
to give him a view of a down.cast
beauty moaning:
"Oh. Arthur. I'm SO afraid"
"Afraid?" he smiled. with your
husband here?"
That's the trouble. Arthur. What
II your former wife should find us to-
gether?"
But she and l are divorced"
"In some states. yes-but other
states don't acknowledge the divorce.
That former wife Of yours is fiend
to pursue us this way"
She's no worse than your former
husband. He's pursuing us. too. My
divorce was as good rs yours. my
dear"
"Yes, and no better"
The angels looking on might have
judged from the ready tempers OF the
newly married and not entirely un-
married twain that their new alliance
promised to be as exciting as their
previous estates. Perhaps the man
subtly felt the presence Of those eter-
nal eavesdroppers. for he tried to end
the love.duel In the corridor with an
nppeasing caress and tender ap-
peal: But let's not start our honey
moon with a quarrel"
His partial wife returned the caress
and tried to explain: I'm not quar-
reling with you. dear heart. but with
the horrid divorce laws. Why. oh.
why did We ever interfere with
then?"
He made brave effort with: I'VE
ended two unhappy marriages. Edith.
to make one happy one."
But I'm SO unhappy. Arthur. and
SO afraid"
He seemed a trife afraid himself
and his gaze was askance as he
urged: But the train will start soon.
Edith-and then we shall be SAFE"
Mrs. Fosdick had genius for In
venting unpleasant possibilities. But
what II your former wife or my for
mer husband should nave detective
on board?"
"A detective?-poof!" He snapped
his fingers in bravado. You are with
your husband. aren't you?"
In Illinois, yes." she admitted.
very dolefully. But when We come
to Iowa, I'm a bigamist. and when
we come to Nebraska. you're biga-
mist, and when we come to Wyoming.
we're not married at ALL
1t was certainly n tangled web they
had woven. but ray OF light shot
through 1t into his bewildered soul.
But we're all right in Utah. Come.
dearest"
He took her by the elbow to escort
her into their sanctuary. but still she
hung back.
"On one condition. Arthur-that
you leave me rs soon MS we cross the
Iowa state line, and not come back
till we get to Utah. Remember. the
Iowa state line!"
"Oh, all right" he smiled. And see-
Ing the porter. beckoned him close
and asked with careless indifference:
"Oh. porter, what time do We reach
the Iowa state line?"
1.-TWO fifty-tive in the mawning.
sah."
Two fifty-tive n. m.?" the wretch
exclaimed.
Two flfty-five a. m. yassah, the
porter repeated, and wondered why
this excerpt from the timetable
should exert such dramatic effect
on the luscious-eyed Fosdick.
He had small time to mediate the
puzzle, for the train was about to be
launched upon its long voyage. He
went out to the platform. and watched
a couple making that way. AS their
only luggage was dog-basket he sup
posed that they were simply come to
bid some Of his passengers goodbye.
No tips we're to be expected from
such transients, SO he allowed them to
help themselves up the steps.
Mallory and his Marjorie had tried
To kiss the farewell or farewells half
n dozen times. but she could not let
him go at the gate. She asked the
guard to let her through, and her