The Green Forest tribune., 1912-11-08

It's pretty hard to tell" the opera tor replied. She's 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 Eere. Where's the town?"
 This is it."
 Isn't there a hotel of any kind?'
 No, nothing in that line except the farm house half a mile down the track, where the night operator and l board"
 T suppose there's no hack?"
 None that I've ever heard of"
 What time do you light up here? They ought to let you use plenty of oil in such a 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
 T guess you may as well make up your mind to hang around lere all night, said the operator after the in- strument had ceased clicking Che spoke rather loudly for Helens bene- fit); they say the track is washed out in half a dozen places. There's been cloud-burst."
 While Tom drummed with his finger tips upon the ledge of the ticket win dow the operator lighted the lamp in his otdce and then proceeded to illu- minate the waiting room, which served for both men and women.
 For a moment after the light had been turned on Tom Harlow looked si- len at Helen, who sat with her back 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 CT he had paused beside her.
 She looked up at him. and he saw that there were tears in her eyes. He 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. I supposed you were already at Medford. l was go- ing there to tell you.'
 She stood up and when he again at- tempted to take her hand in his she did not object
 Lets go outsde,' he suggested, outside, under the stars, where I can tell vol everything-where nothing will be between us and heaven
 The operator was busy, ana did not notice that the waiting room was empty
 You see, Helen, it was necessary for Mrs. Danforth to take somebody into her confidence" Tom said. For some reason she selected me. Her for mer husband, who was a scalawag, had informed the secret service agents that she had been smuggling jewelry. It was merely case of blackmail. She had refused to support him and he tried to get her to buy him off. She needed somebody to help her establish an alibi, and at the same me she didn't want the story of her troubles to get out. So she drafted me into her service, and I couldn't very well beg off. She was a woman il dis tress, that was all"
 But why didn't you tell me before?' Helen asked.
 She had asked me not to tell any body until she gave me permission to do so.'
 Then she has given you permission and you have seen her again?"
 No, I have neither seen her nor heard from her The man has made a | confession, and the whole story is in the papers,
 She walked away from him, crossed the platform and stood for long time, looking at the silent hills that lay ueep in the gathering shadows of the night. At length she turned, came hal; way back to him, and then stopped. He approached her, held out his arms, and asked:
 Don't you believe I have told you the truth, Helen-that I have tod you all there is to tell?"
 She did not speak, put put her arms about his neck and laid her neck against his breast, while his arms closed about her Thus for long time they stood beneath the stars. When they returned to the waiting room the operator informed them that the train for Medford would arrive In ten minutes
 At Medford Helen had friends, and at Medford there were preachers. Copyright. 1912 by W. G. Chapman)