Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-08-09
CHAPTER Xxx.
Foilsd AGAIN.

three-legged race down the platform.
The porter was pale blue with excite
ment, and II was with the last gasp Of
breath in all three bodies that they
scrambled up the steps Of the only
open vestibule.
The porter was mad enough to give
them piece of his mind, and they
were meek enough to take 1t without
. word of explanation or resentment.
And the train sped on into the
heart of Nebraska, along the unpoetio
valley of the Platte. When lunch
time came, they ate 1t together, but
in gloomy silence. They sat in Mar
tories berth throughout the appalling.
| ly monotonous afternoon in a stupor
Of disappointment and helpless dejec-
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
theory that since most people who
looked like preachers were decidedly
lay, it might be we'll to take a gam
bler's 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 rawhided ranchman that
| Mallory stole up on him and asked
him to excuse him, but did he happen
to be a clergyman? The man replied
by asking Mallory if he happened to
be flea-bitten maverick, and embel-
lished his question with copious flow
Of the words ministers use, but with
. 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 flea-bitten whathe-said, and
back away.
After that, If vicar in full uni
form had marched down the aisle
heading 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 sub
ject.
Nebraska would have been a nice
long state for honeymoon, but it's
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
II 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 q 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 a start and pasn.
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 year of my pay, guess"
you must send him a telegram of
apology and ask him to read his
meter. He was such nice man-the
kindest eyes-for chauffeur"
But how can telegraph him? I
don't know his name. or his number,
or his company, or anything"
TITS too bad. He'll go through life
hating US and thinking we cheated
him"
We'll, he doesn't know our names
either"
And then they forgot him Temperate
ly for the more immediate need Of
clothes. All the passengers knew that
they had left behind what baggage
they had not sent ahead, and much
sympathy had been expressed. But
most people would rather give you
their sympathy than lend you their
clothes. Mallory did not mind the
men. but Marjorie dreaded the WON.
en-. She was afraid of all of them but
Mrs. Temple.
She threw herself on the little lady's
mercy and was asked to help herself.
binary simplicity. shirt waist Of an
ancient mode, and number Of other
things.
If there had been anyone there to
see she would have made most ana.
chronistic bride.
Mallory canvassed the men and OBJ.
tanned shockingly purple shirt from
Wedgewocd, who meant to put him at
his ease, but somehow failed when he
said in answer to Mallory's thanks:
God bless my soul, old top. don't
you think of thanking me. ought to
thank you. You see, the idiot who
makes my shirts, made that by mis-.
take. and I'd be no end grateful IL
you'd jolly well take the loathsome
thing OF my hands. mean to say.
shouldn't dream of being seen. in ii