The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-10-07
Copyright. IslI. BY d. K. Fly Go.
CHAPTER XVI.
DeIIIah and the Conductor.

worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly
willing to do evil, that good might
come of it. She advanced on the in
nocent conductor, as the lady from
Sorek must have sidleG up to Sam
son, coquetting with one arch hand
and shipping the shears with the
other.
The stupefied Mallory saw Mar
jorie in a startling imitation of her.
self at her sweetest; only now it was
braZen mimicry, yet how like! She
went forward as the shyest young
thing in the world, pursed her lips in
to an ecstatic shipper, and began on
the unsuspecting official:
Isn't the country perfectly
Yes, but I'm getting used to it. -
the conductor growled, without look
ing up.
His curt indifference jolted Mar
jorie trifie, but she rallied her forces,
and came back with: How long do
we stop at Ogden?"
Five minutes" very bluntly.
Marjorie poured maple syrup on her
yours is an awfully fast train, isn't
it?"
sort Of" said the conductor, with
inst a trace of thaw. What followed
made him hold his breath, for the
outrageous little hussy was actually
saying: 1.-The company must have a
great deal of confidence in you to en-
trust the lives and welfare of SO many
people to your presence of mind and
courage"
well, of course, l can't say as to
that" Even Mallory could see that
the mans reserve was melting fast as
Marjorie went on with relentless
treacle:
Talk about soldiers and firemen
and life-sayers! / think it takes a
drawer man than any of those to be
a conductor-really'
well, 1t is a kind of a responsible
job" The conductor swelled his chest
little at that, and Marjorie felt that
he was already hers. She hammered
the weak spot in his armor:
"Responsiblei I should say it is
Mr.. Mallory is soldier, but soldiers
are such ferocious, destructive peo-
pie, while conductors save lives, and
If l were only a man I think it
would be my greatest ambition to be
conductor-especialIy on an over
land express"
The conductor told the truth when
he confessed: well, never heard
it put just that way" Then he spoke
with little more pride, hoping to in
crease the impression he felt he was
making: THE main thing, of course,
is. to. get my train through On TimeI' y
This was facer. He was going to
get his train through On Time just
to oblige Marjorie. She stammered:
Il don't suppose the train, by any
accident, would be delayed in leaving
Ogden?"
Not if 1 can help it," the hero
averred, to reassure her.
Il wish it would" Marjorie muir
INJURED
The conductor looked at her in sur
prise: why, what's it to your" She
turned her eyes on him at full candle
power, and smiled:
'Oh. l just wanted to co little
shopping there
shopping! While the train waits.
Excuse me-"
You See" Marjorie fluttered, by a
sad mistake, my baggage isn't OF The
train. And l haven't any-any-I
really need TO buy some-some things
very badly. It's awfully embarrassing
to be without them"
Il can imagine the conductor
mumbled. Why don't you and your
husband drop off and take the next
train?'
My husb-Mr. Mallory has to be
in San Francisco by tomorrow night.
He just has to-"
$50 have l."
But to oblige me? To save me
from distress-don't you think you
could?" Like a sweet little child she
twisted one OF the brass buttons on
his coat sleeve, and wheedIed: Don't
you think you might hold the train
Just little tiny half hour?"
He was sorry, but he didn't see how
he could. Then she took his breath
away again, by asking, out of a clear
sky: Are you maFFied?"
He was as awkward as If she had
proposed to him, she answered for
him: "oh. but OF course you are. The