Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-06-27
nuAp1ER vl-lcontlnuedl.

Ipry decorate bridal berth.
CHAPTER vl-(continued).
Then Ashton interviewed like a dog
in the Manager and dragged her off to
her seat, leaving the young man to
exclaim:
Some tamarind, that!"
Another young man behind him
growled: cut out the tamarinds and
get to business. Mallory will be here
any minute"
q hate to think what he'll do to us
when he sees what we've done to
him"
"Oh, he won't dare to fight in the
presence Of his little bridey-widey. Do
you see the porter in there?"
Yes, suppose he objects"
We'll, we have the tickets. Well
claim It's our section till Mallory and
Mrs. Mallory come"
They moved on into the car, where
the porter confronted them. When he
saw that they were loaded with bun
dies of all shapes and sizes, he waved
them away with scorn:
The emigrant sleepa runs only
Toosdays and Thuzzdays."
From behind the first mass of pack
ages came a brisk military answer;
You black houndl About face
forward march! Section number one"
The porter retreated down the aisle,
apologizing glibly. " Scuse me for
questioning you. but you-all's baggage
looked kind o. eccentric at first"
The two young men dumped their
parcels on the seats and began to I'M
wrap them hastily.
III Mallory catches us, he'll kill us,"
said Lieutenant Shaw. Lieutenant
Hudson only laughed and drew out a
long streamer of white satin ribbon.
Its glimmer, and the glimmering eyes
Of the young man excited Mrs. Whit
comb so much that after little hest
lance she moved forward, followed by
the jealous Ashton.
"Oh, what's up?" she veptured. 1T
looks like something bridal"
Talk about womanly intuition'
said Lieutenant Hudson, with an in
gratiating salaam.
And then they explained to her that
their classmate at West Point. being
ordered suddenly to the Philippines
had arranged to elope with his beloved
Marjorie Newton; had asked them to
get the tickets and check the baggage
while he stopped at a minister's to
get spliced and hike for Manila by
this train"
Having recounted this plan in the
full belief that it was even at that mo-
ment being carried out successfully
Lieutenant Hudson, with ghoulish
smile, explained:
Being old friends of the bride and
groom. We want to fix their section VI
in style and make them truly comfort
able"
"Delicious!" gushed Mrs. Whitcomb
But you ought to have some rice anC
old shoes"
Here's the rice" said Hudson.
Here's the old Shoes" said Shaw.
"Lovely!" cried Mrs. Whitcomb, but
then she grew soberer. II should think
though, that they-the young couple
would have preferred a stateroom."
OF course" said Hudson, almost
Flushing. but It was taken. This wal
the best We could do for them"
That's why we want to make 4
nice and bride-like," said Shaw. per
haps you could help us-a woman'i
touch"
oh, I'd love to-" she glowed, has
tening into the section among TN,
young men and the bundles. The un
usual stir attracted the porter's sus
picions. He came forward with a lool
of authority:
"scuse me. but wha-what's al
this?"
"Vanish-get out" said Hudson
poking a coin at him. AS he turned
to obey, Mrs. Whitcomb checked hin
with; "Oh. Porter, could you get u
hammer and some nails?"
The porter almost blanched: Goo,
Lawd, Miss. you amt allowin' to driy
nails in that woodwork, is your" ,Tha
woodwork was to him what the alta
Is TO the priest.
But Hudson, resorting to heroi
measures, hypnotized him with a two
dollar bill: Here, take this and Sc
nothing. hear nothing, say nothing.
Inc porter caressed it and chuckled
I'm bind, deaf and speeches." H
turned away, only TO come back a
once with timid "Scuse mel"
You here yet" growleu Hudson.