The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-04-17
p /.
Uomes in Like the Lion.

a whitening gale of sleet all the way
up from New York. came to a stand
still, with many an ear-splitting sigh,
alongside the little station, and a re-
luctant porter opened his vestibule
door to descend to the snow-swept plat
form: a solitary passenger had
reached the journeys end. The swirl
of snow and sleet screaming out of the
blackness at the end of the station
building envelOped the porter in an
instant, and cut his ears and neck with
singing force as he turned his back
against the gale. A pair of lonely,
half-obscured platform lights cleaned
~fatuously at the top Of their icy posts
at each end of the station; two or
three frost-incrusted windows glowed
duly in the side of the building, while
one shone brightly where the operator
sat waiting for the passing of No. SO.
An order had been issued for the
stopping OF the fast express at b,
a noteworthy concession in these days
OF premeditated haste. Not in the pre-
vious career of flying 33 had 1t even so
much as slowed down for the insig-
nificant little station. through which
It swooped at midnight the whole year
round. Just before pulling out of New
York on this eventful night the con-
ductor received a command to stop
SO at b and let down a single pas
senger. a circumstance which meant
trouble for every dispatcher along the
line.
The who got down at B.
IN the wake of the ~shivering but defer
entail porter, and who passed by the
conductors without lifting her face,
was without hand luggage of any de-
scription. She was heavily yelled, and
warmly clad in furs. At eleven o'clock
that night she had entered the com
partment in New York. Throughout
the thirty miles or more she had sat
alone and inert beside the snow
clogged window. peering through veil
and frost into the night that whizzed
past hi pane, seeing nothing yet ap-
parently intent on all that stretched
beyond. AS still. as immobile as
death itself she had held herself from
the moment of departure to the instant
that brought the porter with the word
that they were whistling for B..
Without a 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 1t. He
knew that it would amply reward him
for the brief exposure he endured or
the lonely, wind-swept platform of q
station, the name of which he did no
know.
She took several uncertain steps II
the direction of the station windows
and stopped, as II 'bewildered. Alread.
the engine was pounding the air will
quick, vicious shorts In the effort t.
get under way; the vestibule trap ant
door closed with a bang; the wheel!
were %creaking. A bitter wind smot,
her in the face; the wet. hurting slee
crashed against the thin veil, binding
ser.
The door of the waiting room across
the platform opened and a man rushed
toward her.
Mrs. Wrandall?" he called abov'
the roar of the wind.
She advanced quickly.
Yes"
What a night" he said, as much t
himself as to her. I'm sorry yo
would insist on coming tonight. Te
morrow morning would have satisfie
the"
rs this Mr.. Drake?"
They were being blown through tn
door into the waiting room as she pu
the question. Her voice was mufle(
The man in the great fur coat put hi
weight against the door to close 1t.
Yes. Mrs. Wrandall., l have don
all that could be done under the eli
cumstances. l am sorry to tell 20
that we still have two miles to go b
motor before we reach the inn. M
car is open-I don't possess a limo'
sine-but II you will lie down In tn
tonneau you will find some ~protectio
from"
She broke in sharply, inpatient,
Pray do not consider me, Mr.. Drak'
am not afraid Of the blizzard"
Then we'd better be or" said h
a note of anxiety in his voice-a ce
tain touch of nervousness. II driy
my own car. The road Is good, but
shall drive cautiously. Ten minute
perhaps. IL am sorry you though
best to brave this wretched-"
Il am not sorry for myself. M
Drake. but for you. You have bee
most kind. did not expect you
meet me"
Il took the liberty of telephoning
you. 1t was well that l did 1t ear
In the evening. The wires are dow
now, fear" He hesitated for a m
ment, staring at her as II trying
penetrate the thick, wet veil. II ms
have brought you on a FOOLS erran
You see, IL have seer Mr.. Wrands