Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-06-20
'0h. % mIserabIeL l eaat gtand L

race DlhHe0 with good
news: in Just a little while we come
to the Utah ltne-then we're safe"
God bless Utah"
The rapture died from her face as
she caught sight Of DR.. Temple, who
happened to stroll in and 20 to the
b~ookshelves, and taking out a book
happened to glance ne~ar-sightedly her
way.
BE careful Of that man, dearie,"
Mrs. Fosdick Kissed out Of one side
Of her mouth. He's a very strange
character"
Her husband was infected with her
own terror. He asked. huskily: What
do you think he Isl"
"A detective! I'm sure he's watch
ing US. He followed you right in
here"
Wen be very cautious-tiIl we get
to Utah"
The old clergyman, a little fuzzy in
brain from his debut in beer, contin-
ued i%nnocently to confirm the appear
ance Of a detective by drifting aim
lessly about. He was looking for his
wife, but he kept glancing at the IN
easy Fosdicks. He went to the door,
opened it, saw Mrs. Wellington finish
ing a cigar, and retreated precipitate-
ly. Seeing Mrs. Temple wandering in
the corridor, he motioned her to a
chair n1gr tha L7pg1inl-r apI cba .,4
by his side, wondering at his tlmy
eyes.
The Fosdicks, glancing uncomfort-
ably at DR.. Temple, rose ana selected
other chairs further away. Then
Roger Ashton sauntered in, his eyes
searching for a proper companion
through the tunnel.
He saw Mrs. Wellington returning
from the platform, Just tossing away
her cigar and blowing out the last OF
It's grateful vapor.
With an effort at sarcasm, he went
to her and offered her one Of his own
cigars, smiling; Have another"
She took it, looked it over, and
parted his irony with a formula she
had heard men use when they hate
to refuse a gift-cigar: Thanks. III
smoke it after dinner, if you don't
mind"
"Oh, l don't mind" he laughed, then
bending closer he murmured: They
tell me we are coming to a tunnel, a
nice, long, dark, dismal tunnel"
Mrs. Wellington would not take a
dare. She felt herself already eman-
cipated from Jimmie. So she answered
Ashton's hint with a laughing chal-
Ienge:
How nice Of the conductor to ar
range It,"
Ashton smacked his lips over the
prospect.
And now the porter, having noted
Ashton's ippatience to reach the tun-
mel, thought to curry favor and q
quarter by announcing its approach.
He hustled in and made straight fdF
Ashton Just as the tunnel announced
itself with a sudden swoop Of gloom,
a great increase Of the train-noises
and a far-of clang Of the locomotive
bell.
Out Of the Egyptian darkness came
the unmistakabie sounds of OSCILLATION
in various parts OF the room. Doubt
less, it was repeated in other parts OF
the train. There were numerous COO
ing sounds, too, but nobody spoke ex-
cept Mrs. Temple, who was heard to
murmur:
"Oh, Walter, dear, what makes your
breath SO funny"
Next came a little yowI of pain in
Mrs. Fosdick's voice, and then day
light flooded the car with a rush, as
If time had made al instant leap from
midnight to noon, There were inter.
esting disclosures.
Mrs. Temple was caught with her
arms round the doctors neck, and
she blushed like a spoony girl. Mrs.
Fosdick was trying to disengage her
hair from Mr.. Fosdicks scarf-pin. Mrs.
Whitcomb alone was deserted. MIR.
Ashton was gazing devotion at Mrs.
Wellington and trying to tell her
with his eyes how velvet he had
found her cheek.
But she vas looking reproachfully
at him from a chair, and saying, not
without regret;
Il heard everybody kissing every
body, but l was cruelty neglected"
Ashton's eyes widened with unbe-
lief, he heard a smoker at his elbow,
and Whirled to find the porter rub
bling his black velvet cheek and
Writhing with pent-up laughter.
Mrs. Wellington glanced the same
way, and a shrek OF understanding
burst from her. 1t sent the porter
into a spasm OF yah-yahs till he
caught Ashton's eyes and saw murder
in them. The porter fled to the plat
form and held the door fast, expect
ing to be lynched.
But Ashton dashed away in search
of concealment and soap.
The porter remained on the plat
form for some time, planning to leap
overheard and take his chances rather
than fall into Ashton's hands, but at
length, finding himself unpursued, he
peered into the a and, seeing that
Ashton had gone, he returned to his
duties. He kept a close watch on
Ashton, but on soberer thoughts Ash
ton had decided that the incident