The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-08-08
cHAPTER vI-lcontInuedl.

Then Ashton interviewed like dog
In the manager and dragged her off t.
her seat. leaving. the young man t.
exclaim
Some tamarind, that!"
Another young man behind him
growled: 'sCut out.the tamarinds and
get to business Mallory will be here
any minute"
Il hate to think what he'll do to us
when he sees what we've done tt
him"
"oh. he won't dare to fight in the
presence of his little bridey-widey. Dc
you see the porter in there?"
Yes. suppose he Objects.
We'll, we have the tickets. Well
claim It's our section till Mallory and
Mrs. Mallory come"
They moved on into the car, where
the porter confronted them. When he
saw that they were loaded with bun.
dies Of all shapes and sizes, he waved
them away with scorn:
"T'he emigrant sleepa runs only
Tuesdays and Thuzzdays."
From behind the first mass Of pack.
ages came a brisk military answer:
You black hound! About face
forward march! Section number one.'
The porter retreated down the aisle,
apologizing glibly. "Scuse me for
questioning you, but you-all's baggage
looked kind O. eccentric at first"
The two young men dumped their
parcels on the seats and began to un-
wrap them hastily.
II Mallory catches us, he'll kill u.s.
said Lieutenant Shaw. Lieutenant
Hudson only laughed and drew out q
long streamer Of white satin ribbon.
Its glimmer. and the glimmering eyes
Of the young man excited Mrs. Whit
comb so much that after a little hest
lance she moved forward. followed by
tho jealous Ashton.
"Oh, what's up?" she ventured. ut
looks like something bridal"
Talk about womanly intuition!'
said Lieutenant Hudson. with an in
gratiating salaam.
And then they explained to her that
their classmate at West Point, being
ordered suddenly to the Philippines,
had arranged to elope with his beloved
Marjorie Newton; had asked them to
get the tickets and check the baggage
while he stopped at minister's to
get spliced and hike for Manila by
this train
Having recounted this plan in the
full belief that 1t was even at that mo-
ment being carried out successfully,
Lieutenant Hudson, with ghoulish
smile, explained:
Being old friends Of the bride and
groom, we want to fix their section IN
In style and make them truly comfort
able"
"Delicious!" gushed Mrs. Whitcomb.
But you ought to have some rice and
old Shoes"
Here's the RICE" said Hudson.
Here's the old Shoes" said Shaw.
lovely" cried Mrs. Whitcomb, but
then she grew soberer. Il should think.
though. that they-the young couple
would have preferred a stateroom.
"Of course" said Hudson, almost
blushing, but 1t was taken. This was
the best we could do for them"
That's why we want to make it
nice and bride-like." said Shaw. "Per-
haps you could help us--a woman.s
Touch"
oh, I'd love to-" she glowed. has
eening into the section among the
young men and the bundles. The mn
usual stir attracted the porter's sus-
picions. He came forward with look
Of authority:
"scuse me. but wha- what's all
this?"
"vanish-get out" said Hudson.
poking coin at him. AS he turned
to obey, Mrs. Whitcomb checked him
with: "Oh. Porter. could you get us
hammer and some nails?"
The porter almost blanched: Good
Lawd. Miss. you amt allowin' to drive
nails in that woodwork, is your" That
woodwork was to him what the altar
IL to the priest.
But Hudson, resorting to heroic
measures. hypnotized him with a two
~~----~ Ss~~' A4CAOs bnkO Lille ana sec
nothing. hear nothing, say nothing. .
The porter caressed 1t and chuckled:
Pm blind, deaf and speeches." He
turned away. only to come back at
once with timid "Scuse mel"
t. You here YETI" growied Hudson.
Anxiously the porter pleaded: II
Just want to asst one question. Is you
all Akin up for bridal coupler"
Foolish question. number eight
million, forty-three." said Shaw. AN
swer. no. we are"
The porter's face glistened like
fresh stove polish as he gloated over
the prospect. Il tell you, It'll be mahty
refreshin' to have bridal couple on
bode! This dog-on Reno train don't
carry nothin' much but Divorces. I'm
Just nachally hongry for a bridal cou-
pie"
Brile coup-hic-le?" came q voice
like an echo that had somehow be
come intoxicated In transit It wal
Little Jimmie Wellington looking fol
more sympathy. "Whass els abouI
hrile coupler"
| why. here's Little Buttercupl'