The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-18
TALE OF THE PLAIN
A. C. AcClurG h Co.. 1907

Copyright, A. c. NcClurg h Co.. 1901
nope was not the only woman On
board, yet q glance at the others was
sufficient to decide their status, even
had their freedom Of manner and loud
talking not made 1t equally obvious.
Fearful lest she might be mistaken
for one Of the same class. she re-
manned In silence, her veil merely
lifted enough to enable her to peer
out through the grimy window at the
barren view slipping slowly past. This
consisted Of the bare prairie, brown
and desolats, occasionally interested
by some small wateroourss. the low
hills rising and falling ike waves to
the far horizon Few Incidents broke
the dead monotony; occasionally .
herd of antelope appeared in the dis
lance, silhouetted against the sky
line, and once they fairly crept for an
hour through q mass of buffalo, graz
ing so close that fusillade Of guns
sounded from the front end Of the
train. A little farther along she caught
. glimpse Of troop Of wild horses
dashing recklessly down into a shell
tering ravine. Yet principally all
that met her straining eyes was ster-
lie desolation. Here and there q great
ugly water tank reared its hideous
shape beside the track, the engine al
ways pausing for . fresh supply. Be-
side 1t was invariably q pile Of coal.
few construction cars, a hut half
buried under earth, loop-holed and
barricaded, with several rough men
loafng about, heavily armed and in
quisitive. A few OF these points had
once been terminal, the surrounding
scenery evidencing past glories BY
piles of tin cans, and all manner OF
debris, with occasionally q vacant
shack, left deserted and forlorn.
Wearied and heartsick, Hope turned
away from this outside dreariness to
contemplate more closely her neigh
bors on board, but found them scarce
ly more interesting. Several were
playing cards. others moodily staring
cut of the windows, while a few were
laughing and talking with the girls.
their conversation inane and punctu-
ated with profanity. One man was
figuring on q scratch pad, and Hope
decided he must be an engineer en-
ployed on the line; others she classed
Is small merchants. saloon-keepers.
and frontier riK-ran. They would
glance curiously ut her as they
marched up and down the narrow
aisle, but her veil, and averted face,
prevented even the boldest from
speaking. Once she addressed the
conductor, and the man who was fig
uring turned and looked back at her,
evidently attracted by the soft note
Of her voice. But he made no effort
at advances, returning Immediately to
his pad, oblivious to all else.
It was growing dark, the outside
world. now consisting Of level plains.
fading into darkness, with few great
stars burning overhead. Trainmen Lit
the few smoking oil lamps screwed
against the sides Of the car, and its
occupants became little more than
dim shadows All by this time were
fatigued into silence, and several were
asleep, finding such small comfort a.
was possible on the cramped seats
Hope glanced toward the heretofore
noisy group at tho rear-the girl near
est her rested with unconscious head
pihowed upon the shoulder Of her
man friend, and both were sleeping.
How Eaggard and CHASTITY the wom-
ans powdered face looked, with the
light just above it, and all semblance
OF Joy gone. 1t YVES as though mask
had been taken off. Out in the dark
ness the engine whistled sharply and
then came to . humping stop at some
desert station. Through tho black
window . few lanterns could be seen
oscker1ng about, and there arose the
sound Of gruff voices speaking. The
sloepers inside. aroused by the sharp
stop, rolled over and swore, seeking
easier postures. Then the front door
spsned, and slammed shut, and q new
passenger entered. He came down
The aisle, glancing carslsssly at the
RDturned faces, and finally sank INTO
the seat directly opposite Hope. He
WAS broad shouldered man, his coat
buttoned to the throat. with strong
face showing clearly beneath the
broad hat brim and lighted up with
laar Of shrewd. kindly eyes. The oou-
Auctor came through, nodded at him,
and passed on. Hope thought he
must be some Official of the road, and
ventured to break the prolonged 81
Ience with question:
Gould you tell me how long It win
Do before we reach Sheridan
ehe had partially pushed aside her
PsA In order to speak more clearly,
md the man. turning at sound OF her
soaoe, took OF his hat, his searching
eyes Quixzical.
We'll, no. l can't madam" the
words coming with jerk. "For I'm
pot At an sure ven keep the track.
Ought 70 make It In IN hour, however.
everything goes right. Live in shert
hanr
she shook her head. uncertain how.
frankiy to answer.
! No loss to you-worst place to live
n On Aarth-no exceptions how-
Deen there myself three months-got
Eisnds there nkAlyY
Il hardly know" abe anknswlsdgeS
oOuDG2ully. II think @. bat I shall