The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-11-15

when does ;he train leave for
Medfordg' he asked at the ticket win
dow.
IT'S pretty hard 10 tell" the opera.
tor replied. shes reported fifty min.
utes late. but there's a washout up
the road. and she may be held up all
night"
That's encouraging" Tom remark
ed. What I've seen OF this place
doesn't make me yearn to spend the
night here Where's the town.
This is IT,"
isn't there a hotel OF any klnd?"
mo, nothing In that line except the
farm house half a mile down the track.
where the night operator and ]
board"
i suppose there's no haek?"
None that I've ever heard Of"
What time do you light up here2
They ought 10 let you use plenty OF
oil In such n lonesome place as this.
It's getting pretty dark"
Just minute. Here's my call"
The operator turned TO his instru
ments and Tom Harlow waited at the
ticket window, hoping there might be
encouraging news concerning the train
for Medford; but he was doomed TO be
disappointed.
Il guess you may as well make up
your mind to hang around here all
night said the operator after the in.
strument had ceased clicking Che
spoke rather loudly for Helen's bene.
hD; they say the track Is washed out
In half a dozen places. There's been
a cloud.burst."
While Tom drummed with his finger.
tips upon the ledge OF the ticket win.
dow the operator lighted the lamp In
his oidce and then proceeded TO illu-
inmate the waiting room, which
served for both men ana women.
For a moment after the light had
been turned on Tom Harlow looked ST.
len at Helen, who sat with her beck
toward him, her head bent and her
face hidden in her hands. The opera.
to- turned to his instruments, which
were clicking frantically
Helen" Tom said very tenderly aft.
er he had paused beside her.
She looked up at him, and he saw
that there were tears In her eyes. lie
reached for one Of her hands, but she
drew away from him and shrank a
little farther into her corner.
Helen" he said again, I've come
to explain to you. | supposed you
were already at Medford. l was 90.
Ing there to tell you
She stood up, and when he again at
tempted to take her hand in his she
lid not object.
Let's go outside" he suggested,
outside, under the stars, where can
ell you eyerything-where nothing
will be between US and heaven"
The operator was busy, and did not |
notice that the waiting room was
Empty.
you see, Helen, it was necessary |
or Mrs. Danforth to take somebody |
nto her confidence" Tom said. For
ome reason she selected me. Her for
ner husband, who was a scalawag, had
Informed the secret service agents that
he had been smuggling iewelry. 1t
vas merely a case Of blackmail. Sue
lad refused to support him and he
ried TO get her to buy him off. She
eeded somebody to help her establish
n alibi, and at the same tine che
idn't want the story of her troubles
o get out So she drafted me into
er service, and l couldn't very we'll
eg off. She was a woman in dis
ress. that was ALL"
But why didn't you tell me before?"
Ielen asked.
She had asked me not to tell any
ody until she gave me permission to
0 So"
Then she has given you permission
and you have seen her again?"
NO. l have neither seen her nor
card from her. The man has made
and the whole story is in
le papers"
She walked away from him, crossed
1e platform and stood for long time,
lOhlu6 at IuO ollGlll ulllb ludl lay Gt6D !
| the gathering shadows of the night.
t length she turned, came half way
ack to him, and then stopped He
Dproached her, held out his arms
nd asked:
Don't you believe I have told you
lie truth, Helen-that have told yor
! there is to tell?"
She did not speak, but put her arms
bout his neck and laid her mech
,ainst his breast, while his arm.
osed about her. Thus for a long
me they stood beneath the stars.
When they returned to the waiting
ON the operator informed them that
e train for Medford would arrive ir
n minutes.
At Medford Helen had friends, and
Medford there were preachers.
,Convripht 1919 hv w q ChopuapN