Gunnison news-champion., 1914-02-20
CHApTEa q
m.ren cemss IN Lac sss Liea.


The train. which had reared throu00
. witherine gale OF siset ali the way
w from New York. came to siand-
still. sith many an ear-splistins sigh.
alongside the little station. and re
IuctaRt porter opened his yestibuie
door to descend TO the snov plat
form a solitary passenger has
reached the journeys end. The swirl
Of snow and sleet screaming cut of the
blackness ct the end of the stattoa
building enveioped the porter In ~
nstaHt. and cut his ears and neck with
singing force rs he turned his eack
against the sale. A pair Of lonely.
half-obscured platform lights gieane1
fatuously at the top of their icy pOsts
three rost-incrusted windows glowed
duly in the side Of the building. whils
one shone brightly where the operates
sat waiting for the passing of No. -.
An order had been issued fOr tAo
stopping Of the fest express st >,
Q noteworthy concession in these aayo
Of premeditated haste. Not In the pre-
vious career Of nying 80 had 1t evea -
much ss slowed down for the insi0-
nificant little station, through which
It swooped ct midnight the whole year
round. Just before pulling out Of Nsw
York on this eventful night the eoa-
ductor received q command to ss0D
33 at b and let down q single pee
senger, Q circumstance which mesnt
trouble for every dispatcher along ~
line.
The woman who got down ct ."
In the wake ef the shivering but ds1sss
ential porter. and who passed by tAs
conductors without lifting her lace,
IVES without hsnd lussAGe Of sny -
scriptiOa. ohs was heavily veileA, snl
warmly clad In furs. At eleven oclscA
that night shs haA entePsl the coa-
partment n New YOrk. ThFoughouG
the thirty niles er more she had sat
slOos aDA inSrt beside the snow
clOGseA winAow. pserinG through vel
sn1 frsst ints tAs niGht that whizsed
past the peae, seeing nothing yet ap
parently intsat on ell that stretched
beyond. A. still, - inmObile ae
6sath itself sAe had held herself from
the moment Of departure to the instant
that brought the porter with the word
that they were whistlins for B.
Without . word she arose and fol
lowed him to the vestibule. where she
watched him as he unfastened the
outer door and lifted the trap. A
single word escaped her lips and he
held out his hand to receive the crum-
pied bill she clutched in her gloved
fingers. He did not look at It, He
knew that 1t would amply reward him
for the brief exposure he endured on
the lonely, windswept platform of a
station, the name of which he did not
know.
She took several uncertain steps In
the direction of the station windows
the engine WAS pounding the air with
quick, vicious snorts in the effort to
get under way: the vestibule trap and
door closed with q bang; the wheels
we're creaking A bitter wind smote
her in the face; the wet. hurting sleet
crashed against the thin veil, binding
hefe
The door of the waiting room across
the platform opened and a man rushed
toward her.
Mrs. wrandall?" he called above
the roar of the wind.
She advanced quickly.
Yes"
What a night" he said, as much to
himself as to her. I'm sorry You
would insist on coming tonight. To-
morrow morning would have satisfied
the"
rs this Mr. Drake7"
They were being blown through the
door into the waiting room as she put
the question. Her voice was mufled.
The man in the great fur coat put his
weight against the door to close ii.
Yes, Mrs. Wrandall | have done
all that could be done under the cfr-
cumstances. am sorry to tell you
that we still have two miles TO 20 by
motor before We reach the inn. Nv
car is open-I don't possess a limou-
sine-but IL you will lie down in the
tonneau you will find some protection
from"
She broke in sharply. impatieutlv.
Pray do not consider me. Mr. Drake.
I an not afraid Of the blizzard"
Then we'd better be or" said he
. note of anxiety In his voice. GER
tain touch of nervousness. Il drive
my own car. The road is good, but I
shall drive cautiously. Ten minutes.
perhaps. IL am sorry you thought
hest to brave this vretched-"
7 am not sorry for myself. Mr..
Drake. but for you You have been
most kind. ! did not expect you 70
Meet me"
I took the liberty of telephonias "a
you- II wae well that l did II es-lr
IN the evening. The wires are dow,
~, fear" He hesftated for a mo-
nsnt. staring At her n II trying u
DsDstrate the thick, wss veu. I nsv