The Ordway new era., 1912-08-30

The spickest and spannest OF leu
tenants soon realized that he was re-
duced to wearing yesterdays linen a.
well as yesterdays beard. This was
intolerable. A brave man can endure
heartbreaks. loss OF love. honor ana
place. but q neat man cannot ABIDE
the traces OF time In his toilet. Lieu
tenant Mallory had seen rough serV'
Ice In camp and on long hikes. wnen
he gloried In mud and disorder. and
he was to see campaigns in the fhll'
ippines. when he should not take on
his shoes or his uniform for three
days at . time. But that was tne
field. and this car was q drawing
room.
In this crisis in his AFFAIRS. Little
Jimmie Wellington waddied into the
mems room, foundering about with
every lurch OF the train. like a cannon
loose in the hold of ship. He fum'
bled with the handles on basin. and
made . crazy toilet. trying to hnd
some abatement of his fever BY nlling
a glass at tho ice-water tank and
emptying It over his head.
These drastic measures restored
him to some sort Of coherency. and
Mallory appealed to him for help In
the matter OF linen. Wellington o.
fusivcly offered him everything he
had, and Mallory selected from his
store half dozen collars. any one OF
which would have gone round DIS
neck nearly twice.
Wellington also proifered his safety
razor. and made him a present OF
virgin wafer OF steel for his very own.
With this assistance. Mallory was
enabled to make himself fairly pre-
sentable. When he returned to his
seat. tho three curtained rooms had
been whisked away by the porter.
There was no place now to hide from
the passengers.
He sat down facing the feminine
end of the car. watching for Marjorie.
The passengers were watching for
her. too. hoping to learn what un'
heard.of incident could have pro
voked the quarrel that separated a
bride and groom at this time. OF all
+ times.
To the general bewilderment. when
Marjorie appeared. Mallory and she
rushed together and clasped hands
with an ardor that suggested a desire
for even more ardent greeting. The
passengers almost sprained their ears
| to hear how they would make up such
a dreadful feud. But all they heard
was: Well have to hurry. Marjorie
J II we want to get any breakfast"
"Ail right. honey. Come along"
Then the inscrutable couple sour
ried up the aisle. and disappeared ir
the corridor, leaving behind them
mighty riddle. They kissed In th<
corridor Of that car. kissed in the YES
tibule, kissed in the two corridors o
the next car, and were caught kiss
ing in the next vestibule by the new
conductor.
The dining car conductor. who HAT
tered himself that he knew brid'
and groom when he saw them. 81
corted them grandly to a table 10
two: and the waiter fiuttered abou
them with extraordinary considera
tion.
They had a plenty to talk OF in pros
pect and retrospect. They both Tel
sure that minister lurked among tn
~v..H
zest to prepare for the ceremony. NJ
guing the best place for it. and quar-
reling amorously over details. MAJ
lory was for one Of the vestibules a
the scene OF their union. but Marjorie
was for the baggage car. till she real
ICED that Snoozleums might be unwill
ing to atteld. Then she swung rount
to the vestibule. but Mallory SHIFTED
to the observation platform.
Marjorie had left Snoozleums will
Mrs. Temple. who promised to hid
him when the new conductor passet
through the car. and she reminded
Harry to get the waiter to bring then
a package OF bones for their onl!
Child" so far.
On the way back from the dining
car they kissed each other good-by'
again at all the trysting places the!
had sanctified before. The sun wal
radiant, the world good. and the yer!
train ran with jubilant rejoicing. The!
could not doubt that few more hour!
would see them legally man and wife
Mallory restored Marjorie to be-
| place in their car. and with smiles o
.ssurance. left her for another par
son-Aunt through the train. She wait
ed him in bridal agitation. II,
ransackeo> the train forward in vain
and returneo, passing Marjorie with
a shake OF the head, and a soul
countenance. He went out to the oh
servation platform where he stumbled
on Ira Lathrop and Anne Cattle, en-
gagged in conversation OF eviden
intimacy. for they jumped when h,
opened the door. as II they were guilt,
of some plot
Mallory mumbled his usual. "Ex
cuse me-" whirled on his heel, anc
dragged his discouraged steps bacl