River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-10-24
The COrrectOr of DeStinieS
Being Tales of Randolph Mason as Related by
His Private Secretary, Courtland Parks
A St. Valentines Adventure
BY Melville DAVIDSON Post
Copyright by Edward ]. Clode

south was late and did not arrive until
nine O'Clock. 1t was very cold, the
windows Of the cars were lncrusted
with ice there were miniature snow
drifts across the vestibules, and the
steam pipes smoked. l was exceed
ingly hungry. The dining-car had been
cut off at philadelphia and my hope
of dinner was beyond me, in New
York. When the boat which carried
us across from Jersey City to the
Twenty-third street ferry touched the
dock, / jumped off and ran into the
checking room to give directions about
the transfer of my luggage. l was de-
layed by the oriental leisure OF the
man in charge. When l got out, final
ly, into the street not cab was to
be seen. The wind was driving past
every moment with increasing fury;
the frozen snow fakes cut ones face.
/ started to cross the street to wait
ing street car. I had hardly stepped
out from the ferry house when han
some pulled up and 1 hailed it.
AS l put my foot on the cab step, |
heard behind me a little smothered
cry of disappointment. | took my foot
down from the step and turned around.
a little way behind me, under the
caves of the building, stood a woman
wearing a long fur coat to her feet,
and carrying in her hand travelling
bag. Her face above the fur collar Of
her coat was wrapped in black vail
] went at once to her
Madam" / said, did you call this
cab?"
NO." she replied, in voice low,
musical, but greatly troubled; Il did
not call it, but hoped to get it."
Then she added with fiutter in her
voice:
Il am alone cannot possibly walk
in this storm, and / must get quickly
to the Dresden"
Madam" l said, this hanson Is at
your service; pray take it."
but your" she answered.
II shall get uptown some way"
said; "the elevated station is only a
few blocks away"
helped her into the hanson, then
ing down by the ferry house. banged
the doors and ducked my head to es-
cape the fierce onslaught Of the wind.
When the gust passed | looked up to
find the cab standing beside me. A
little hand threw open the hanson
door, the soft, musical voice said
Il cannot leave you here In this ter
rible storm; get in"
got in, howled to the driver to get
over town to the Dresden and sat
down by the unknown. AS the han
som wheeled into the street, the wom-
an leaned over me and looked back.
I looked over her shoulder. Another
boat had arrived and the passengers
were coming out. | saw in the heavy
snow, a man running toward us, wav-
ing a hand; then we were out of sight
bowling over the Belgian blocks.
The woman tucked the fur coat
around her feet. pulled the long
sleeves over her hands and nestled up
against her corner of the hanson.
Pardon me-" she said, 81 thought I
had stupidity left my bag on the curb,
but mere 1t is at my feet.
/ smiled at the pretty lie.
Madam" / said, Il am sure 1t is at
your feet. There must be some trace
of feeling even in alligator leather"
think she was undecided whether
to chill me with irony or laugh. The
laugh prevailed, then came the irony.
How stupid of me-" she said; per
haps you do not wish TO go to the
Dresden. We are approaching the ele-
waited station. | notice.
Her tone was in that admirable mid
die pitch which reveals nothing.
wished to answer that the Dresden
seemed just then to be fairy Mecca,
and that If I were put out, | should
probably trot after the cab like
faithful puppy; but were there not
faint breaths of frost in the little
voice? | might be put out after all,
and | wished greatly to remain. At
any rate, l must take no risks until
the elevated station was behind us, so
l laid before her the details of my
discomfort.
Il shall be glad of the Dresden" I
said. Il am cold, I am starving. NY
fingers are quite numb, and could
gladly eat the straps on the hansom.''
She laughed
Have you gone SO long, then, with
cut dinner?"
Long?"I echoed. why, madam, it
has been eight mortal hours! Men
have become cannibals in less time
than that"
We were we'll past the elevated sta
ton now.
She shrugged her dainty shoulders.
observe" she said, how / shud-
der"
we were getting on famously.
And with reason" l answered.
WAS not the taste of the bear for
the bee-tree known even to the anc-
ients?"
"One of the gospels, / think" she
said, tells US how bad such food is
for the digestion"
Then, fearing that she had been led
too far into pleasantly, she turned 1t.
after the manner of a woman.
Let us hope" she added, that you
will find something more. substantial
than the Baptist's meager fare at the
Dresden. I would suggest a loin of
beef, washed down with Burgundy,
dish of salad, pot of coffee"
Then her voice slipped up into that
dangerous. indeterminate note.
I'VE are crossing Broadway" she
said; perhaps you would get down
here?"
What" l cried; "and leave the