The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1912-06-26
Copyright, 1911. BY II. K. Fly 90.
CHAPTER Xxx.
FoiIed Again.

Mallory tucked Marjorie under hi
arm and Marjorie tucked Snoozleumi
under hers, and they did a sort o
three-legged race down the platform
The porter was pale blue with excite
ment, and it was with the last gasp Of
breath in all three bodies that they
scrambled up the steps Of the only
open vestibule.
The porter was mad enough to give
them a piece Of his mind, and they
were meek enough TO take II without
a word of explanation or resentment.
And the train sped on into the
heart of Nebraska, along the unpoetic
valley of the Platte. When lunch.
time came, they ate it together, but
in gloomy silence. They sat in Mar
Jor1e's berth throughout the appalling
ly monotonous afternoon in a stupor
OF disappointment and helpless dejec-
ton, speaking little and saying moth
ing then.
Whenever the train stopped, Nal
Tory watched the on-getting passen-
gers with his keenest eye. He had a
theory that since most people who
looked like preachers were decidedly
lay, it might be well to take a gam
bler's chance and accost the least
ministerial person next.
So, in his frantic anxiety, he select
ed horsey-looking individual who got
on at North Platte. He looked so
much like a rawhided ranchman that
Mallory stole up on him and asked
him to excuse him, but did he happen
to be a clergyman? The man replied
by asking Mallory if he happened to
be a flea-bitten maverick, and embel-
hshed his question with copious flow
or the words ministers use, but with
secular arrangement of them. In
fact he split one word in two to insert
a double-barrelled curse. All that NAL
Tory could do was to admit that he
was a flea-bitten what-he-said, and
back away.
After that, if vicar in full uni.
form had marched down the aisle
heading a procession of choir-boys.
Mallory would have suspected him. He
vowed in his haste that Marjorie
might die an old maid before he would
approach anybody else on that sub
ject
Nebraska would have been a nice
long state for a honeymoon, but its
four hundred-odd miles were dreary
length for the couple so near and yet
so far. The railroad clinging to the
meandering Platte made the way far
longer, and Mallory and Marjorie left |
like Pyramus and Thisbe wandering
along an eternal wall, through which
they could see, but not reach, one
another.
They dined together as dolefully as
II they had been married for forty
years. Then the slow twilight soaked
them in its melancholy. The porter
lighted up the car, and the angels
hghed up the stars, but nothing light
ed up their hopes.
We've got to quarrel again, my be.
loved, Mallory groaned to Marjorie.
Somehow they were too dreary even
to nag one another with an outburst
for the benefit of the eager-eyed pas.
sengers.
A little excitement bestirred them
as they realized that they we're con.
fronted with another night-robeless
night and morrow without change of
gear.
What pity that we left our things
in the taxicab," Marjorie sighed. And
this time she said, I'VE left them" in.
stead Of you left them" 1t was very
gracious of her, but Mallory did not
acknowledge the courtesy. Instead he
gave a start and a gasp:
Good Lord, Marjorie, we never
paid the second taxicab!"
Great heavens, how shall we ever
pay him? He's been waiting there
twenty-four hours. How much do you
suppose we owe him?"
About year Of my pay, guess"
You must send him a telegram of
apology and ask him to read his
meter. He was such a nice man-the
kindest eyes-for a chauffeur"
But how can ! telegraph him?
don't know his name, or his number,
or his company, or anything"
TITS too bad. He'll 20 through life
hating us and thinking we cheated
him"
well, he doesn't know our names
either"
And then they forgot him temporari.
ly for the more immediate need of
clothes. All the passengers knew that
they had left behind what baggage
they had not sent ahead, and much
sympathy had been expressed. But
mostSpeople would rather give you
their sympathy than lend you their
clothes. Mallory did not mind the
men. bat Marjorie dreaded the won.
en-. She WIS AFRAID Of all of them but
Mrs. Temple.
She threw herself on the little lady's
mercy and was asked to help herself
She borrowed nightgown of extraor
iinary simplicity. shirt waist OF an :
incient mode, and a number OF ooAef |
hinge. .yNtJ ,