The Forrest City times., 1914-03-20
March Comes In Like the Lion.
CHAPTER |.

March Comes In Like the Lion.
The train, which had roared through
whitening gale of sleet all the way
up from New York, came to stand
still, with many an ear-splitting sigh
alongside the little station, and a re
fuctant porter opened his vestibule
door to descend to the snow-swept plat
form: 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
stinging force as he turned his back
against the gale. A pair Of lonely
halfobscured platform lights cleaned
fatuously at the top of their icy posts
at each end of the station; two or
three frost-lncrusted windows glowed
DULY In the side of the building. while
one shone brightly where the operator
sat waiting for the passing of No. 80.
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 it 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
80 at b and let down single pas
senger, circumstance which meant
trouble for every dispatcher along the
line.
The woman 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 the pane, seeing nothing yet APP
parently intent on all that stretched
beyond. AS still. as immobie as
death itself she had held herself from
the moment Of departure to the instant
that brought the porter with the word
that they We're 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 crun-
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, wind-swept platform of
station the name of which he did not
know.
She took several uncertain steps in
the direction of the station windows
and stopped, as II bewildered. Already
the engine was pounding the air with
quick, vicious snorts in the effort to
get under way; the vestbue trap and
door closed with a bang; the wheels
were creaking. A bitter wind smots
her in the face; the wet hurtling sleet
crashed against the thin veil, binding
her.
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 night he said, as much 10
himself as to her I'm sorry YOU
would insist on coming tonight. To-
morrow morning would have satisfied
the"
Is this Mr. Drake ."
They were being blown through the
door into the waiting room as she put
the question. Her voice was muHled
The man in the great fur coat put his
weight against the door TO close IT,
Yes, Mrs WrandaIl / have done
all that could be done under the cir
cumstances. ! am sorry to tell YOU
that We stll have two mites to so BY
motor before We reach the inn NV
car is open-l don't possess a liuou.
sine-but If YOU will lie down Tia the
tonneau you will find some protection
from"
She broke in sharply inpatient,
Pray do not consider me. Mr.. Drake.
/ am not afraid OF the blizzard"
Then we'd better be OF said he.
note Of anxiety in his voice-a Ger
tain touch of nervousness 81 drive
my own car. The road is good. bur |
shall drive cautiously. Ten minutes.
perhaps. Il am sorry you thought
best to brave this wretched--"
Il am not sorry for myself. Mr..
Drake, but for you You have been
most kind. did not expect you to
meet me-
Il took the liberty OF telephoning to
you. 1t was we'll that : did it early
in the evening. The wires are down
now, fear He hesitated for a mo-
ment, staring at her as ii trying &c
penetrate the thick. wet veil. Il may
have brought you on fools errand
You see, IL have seen MIR. Wrandal
but once, in town somewhere, and
may be wrong. Still. the coroner-anC