Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-07-11
CHAPTER TX.
All Aboard

The starting OF the train surprised
The irouical decorators in the last
stages OF their work Their smiles
died out In a sudden shame. as 1t
came over them that the joke had re-
Coiied on their own heads. They had
done their best to carry out the time
hCuored rite OF making a newly mar
rted couple as miserable as possible
and the newly married couple had
failed TO DO its share.
The two lieutenants 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 digged for him? They
looked at their haudiwork in disgust
The cosy-corner effpr, OF white rib
hons and orange flowers, gracefully
masking the concealed ricetrap, had
seemed the wittiest thing ever de-
vised Now It looked the silliest.
The other passengers were equally
downcast Meanwhile the two lovers
in the corridor were kissing good
byes as II they were hoping TO store
W honey enough TO sustain their
hearts for q three years fast And
the porter was studying them with
perpeXity.
He was used. however 10 waking
people out Of dreamland. and be be-
gan 10 fear that If he were discovered
spying on the lovers, he might suf-
fer. SO he coughed discreetly three
or four times.
Since the increasing racket o. the
train made no effect on toe two hearts
beating as one. the small matter OF q
cough was as nothing
Finally the porter was compelled TO
reach forward and tap Mallory's arm.
and stutter:
SCuse me, but co-couId / git b-by -
The embrace was united, and the
1overs stared at him with a dazed,
vhere-am-I? look. Marjorie was the
first 10 realize what awakened them.
She felt called upon to say something,
so she said. as care!essly as if she
had not just emerged from q young
genteman's arms:
oh. porter. how long before the
train starts?"
Trains done started. Missy"
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 it,"
That's mon ! can dc, Missy" tht
porter expostulated.
Then I'll jump OF" Marjorie
vowed, making dash for the door.
But the porter filled the narrow
path, and waved her back.
'Nestibu!es done locked up
trains going lickety-split." Feeiinl
that be had safely checkmated am
rashness. the porter squeezed pas
the dumbfounded pair. and went L
change his blue blouse for the whit,
coat OF his chambermaidenly duties
Msllory's first wondering thought wal
q rHptuTous feeling that circum
stances had forced his dream into
reality He thrilled with triumph
You've got 10 so with me now
'Yes-l've got TO 60" Marjorie as
sented meekly; then. sublimely. 1T
fate Kismet!"
They clutched each other again II
a fercely blissful hug Marjorie cam,
back TO earth with a bump: AR,
you really sure there's a minister oil
UoaTd?"
Pretty sure" said Mallory, sober
ing a tritie
But you said you were sure?"
Well. when you say you're sure
that means you're not quite sure"
Il was not al entirely SATISFACTORY
justification, and Marjorie began t
quake with alarm: Suppose Their,
shouldn't be-"
oh, then" Mallory answered care
Iessly. there's bound to be one TO
morrow"
Marjorie realized at once the enor
nous abyss between then and tn,
morrow, and she gasped Tomorrow
And no chaperon! Oh. III jump on
o.; the window"
Mallory could prevent that, bu
when she pleaded. What shall W,
d. De had no solution TO ottsr