Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-11-14

tlOn. For moment she gaZed at
him, and then hurried inside. 1t was
Tom Harlow, carrying a suitcase.
Selecting the darkest corner In the
station, Helen sat down, turned her
back toward the door, and waited, hop
ing that no one would come in and
fearing something that she could not
have explained. Her corner was so
dark, and she remained so silent that
Tom entered without noticing her
When does the train leave for
Medford?" he asked at the ticket win
dow.
Its pretty hard to tell" the opera
tor replied. shes reported fifty min
utes late, but there's a washout up
the road, and she may be held up all
night"
That's encouraging" Tom remark
ed. What I've seen of this place
doesn't make me yearn to spend the
night here. Where's the town."
This Is it."
Isn't there hotel Of any kind?"
mo, nothing in that line except the
farm house half mile down the track,
where the night operator and
board"
IL suppose there's no hack"
None that I've ever heard Of"
What time do you light up here4
They ought to let you use plenty OF
oil in such lonesome place as this.
It's getting pretty dark"
met ,;y,t,t ,tn %
The operator turned to his instru.
ments and Tom Harlow waited at the
ticket window, hoping there might be
encouraging news concerning the train
for Medford; but he was doomed to be
disappointed.
Il guess you may as we'll make up
your mind to hang around here all
night" said the operator after the in
strument had ceased clicking Che
spoke rather loudly for Helen's bene-
fiD; they say the track Is washed out
in half a dozen places. There's been
u cloud-burst.'
While Tom drummed with his finger
tips upon the ledge Of the ticket win
dow the operator lighted the lamp in
his Office and then proceeded to illu'
inmate the waiting room, which
served for both men and women.
For a moment after the light had
been turned on Tom Harlow looked 81.
lenl.- at Helen, who sat with her back
toward him, her head bent and her
face hidden in her hands. The opera
tor turned to his instruments, which
were clicking frantically.
Helen" Tom said very tenderly aft
er he had paused beside her.
She looked up at him, and he saw
that there were tears in her eyes. He
reached for one Of her hands, but she
drew away from him and shrank q
little farther into her corner.
Helen" he said again, I've come
to explain to you. l supposed you
were already at Medford. | was 60
Ing there to tell you"
She stood up, and when he again at.
tempted to take her hand in his she
did not object.
Lets 60 outside" he suggested,
outside, under the stars, where l can
tell you erything-where nothing
will be between us and heaven
The operator was busy, and did not
notice that the waiting room was
empty
you see, Helen, 1t was necessary
for Mrs Danforth to take somebody
into her confidence" Tom said. For
some reason she selected me. Her for
mer husband, who was a scalawag, had
informed the secret service agents that
she had been smuggling jewelry. 1t
was merely a case of blackmail. She
had refused to support him and he
tried to get her to buy him off. She
needed somebody to help her establish
an alibi, and at the same time she
didn't want the story OF her troubles
to get out. So she drafted me into
her service, and l couldn't very well
beg off. She was a woman in dis.
tress, that was ALL"
But why didn't you tell me before?"
Helen asked.
"She had asked me not to tell any
body until she gave me permission to
do So"
Then she has given you permission
and you have seen her againf"
mo, have neither seen her nor
heard from her. The man has made a
confession, and the whole story Is in
the papers"
She walked away from him, crossed
the platform and stood for long time,
looking at the silent hills that lay deep
in the gathering shadows of the night.
At length she turned, came half way
back to him, and then stopped. He
approached her, held out his arms,
and asked:
Don't you believe I have told you
the truth, Helen-that have told you
all there Is to tell?"
She did not speak, but put her arms
about his neck and laid her neck
against his breast, while his arms
closed about her. Thus for a long
time they stood beneath the stars.
When they returned to the waiting
room the operator informed them that
the train for Medford would arrive In
ten minutes.
At Medford Helen had friends, and
at Medford there were preachers.
Copyright. 1912, by w. G. Chapman.)