The Ordway new era., 1912-08-02
CHAPTER TX,
All Aboard!

RU Rooaro!
The starting OF the train surprised
the ironical decorators In the last
stages Of their work. Their smiles
died out In sudden shame. rs It
came over them that the joke had re-
coiled on their own heads. They had
done their best to carry out the time.
honored rite OF making n newly mar
ried couple as miserable as possible
and the newly married couple had
failed to do its share.
The two licutenants glared at each
other in mutual contempt. They had
studied much at West Point about
ambushes. and how to avoid them.
Could Mallory have escaped the pit
they had d!ggcd for him? They
looked at their handiwork in disgust.
The cosy.corncr eff.v, OF white rib
bons and orange flowers, gracefully
masking the concealed rice-trap. had
seemed the wittiest thing ever de.
vised. Now 1t looked the silliest.
The other passengers were equally
downcast. Meanwhile the two lovers
in the corridor were kissing good
byes us II they were hoping to store
hearts for three years fast. And
the porter was studying them with
perplexity.
He was used. however. TO waking
people out OF dreamland. and he be-
gan to fear that II he were discovered
spying on the lovers. he might suf-
fer. So he coughed discreetiy three
or four times
Since the Increasing racket OF the
train made no effect on the two hearts
beating rs one. the small matter OF a
cough was as nothing.
Finally the porter was compelled to
reach forward and tap Mallory's arm.
and stutter:
"'Scuse me. but ocould ri, b.by?"
Tho embrace was united. and the
lovers stared at him with dazcd.
where.am.I? look. Marjorie was the
first to realize what awakened them.
She felt called upon to say something.
SO she said. rs carelessly as II she
had not Just emerged from a young
gentleman's arms:
'Oh, porter. how long before the
train starts?"
This simple statement struck the
wool from her eyes and the cotton
from her ears. and she was wide
enough awake when she cried: "Oh.
stop it-stop 1t!
That's mon | can do. Missy" the
porter expostulated.
Then I'll jump on" Marjorie
vowed. making a dasn for the door.
But the porter filed tho narrow
path, and waved her back.
.Vestibule's done locked up
trains going licketysplit.' Feeling
that he had safely checkmatcd any
rashness, the porter squeezed past
tho dumbfounded pair. and went TO
change his blue blouse for the white
coat OF his chambermaidenly duties,
Maliory's first wondering thought was
rapturous feeling that circum-
stances had forced his dream into
reality, He thrilled with triumph:
You've got to 90 with me now
.Yes-l've got to CO." Marjorie as
sented mecky: then. sublimeiy. It's
fate. Kismet!"
They clutched each other again IN
a flercely biissful hug. Marjorie came
back to earth with n bump: Are
you really sure there's minister on
board?"
Pretty sure" said Mallory. sober
ing n triile.
But you said you were surc?
"Well, when you say you're sure
that means you're not quite sure.
It was not an entirely satisfactory
Justification, and Marjorie began to
quake with alarm: Suppose there
shouldn't be?"
"Oh. then" Mallory answered care
lessiy. there's bound to be one TO-
morrow"
Marjorie realized at once the enor'
nous abyss between then ana the
morrow, and she gasped: Tomorrow
And no chaperon! Oh. I'll jump out
Of the window"
Mallory could prevent that. but
when she pleaded. What snail We
do9" ha Ind no solution to oHer