The Winslow mail., 1914-04-18

been coming on this train. Never!
She snuggled closer to him and want
ed to cry. She didn't know why.
1t was only about a three hours ride
to the city, and she grew more and
more nervous as they approached it.
When they had alighted from the train
a young man, though considerably
older than Hal came toward them. He
was not very prepossessing young
man. There were pouches beneath
his eyes and his lips were thick and
wide. He wore loud tie and a suit
and overcoat of wondrously checked
pattern. Alice saw him first. and she
grlpped Halls arm more tightly She
did not experience the bounding Joy
to which she had so long looked for
ward when she should greet this
Prince of the World. She had it upon
the tip of her tongue to cry out to Hal
that she did not want to elope. that
she wanted to go back home but the
pride which had made her keep up the
romance she had builded, even after
it had lost it's interest to her, and
which had made her plunge into this
daring escapade in spite of both her
judgment and her inclination, now
held her silent to meet her devouring
fate.
She glanced half in terror from the
| approaching young man to Hal. She
was startled at the change in her
quasi-brother. He had stiffened him
self to his full five-foot-seven of ath-
letic height. His nostrils were dilated
and his eyes were glaring, but he
smiled, actually smiled as if in the
glee Of coming battle. The approach
ing young man suddenly caught sight
of young Gilman and stopped short, as
if startled. Then he came on slowly,
hesitatingly, looking from one to the
other.
why didn't you tell me this fellow s
name? Why didn't I ask?" demanded
Hal; but he really was pleased
There was no time for reply. The
young man had come up to them. Hal
turned on him savagely.
well, Peyson?" he inquired
How do, Gilman?" said Mr.. Peyson
with jerky nod, and then held out
his hands to Alice, with an evident in
tention to ignore her escort from that
moment on
Hal stepped between them.
"Peyson, I'll give you just two min
utes to get out of sight," he pleasantly
observed. "If you'll remember we
gave you "a hours at college You
had things to pack up there. You
haven't here!"
Mr.. Peyson looked at him curiously
for an instant and moistened his lips,
then he suddenly wheeled, and mo-
ment later they saw him worming his
way through the crowd
I'm sorry, Alice, that can't tell
you the details about him. Hal said.
She was standing very stiff and
straight herself.
II don't care to hear. I know
enough. 1 am just praying my graft
tude that I am not to be linked for
life to any man whom another man
could make run without an EXPLAIN
ton"
Hal scarcely heard her. Already he
was consulting timetable. 1t had
taken them three hours to make the
trip. They had started at $50, and
it was now 1890. There was not an
other train back until three o'clock in
the morning, and it would not land her
in Oakdale until daylight. She had
not comprehended to the full phase of
it as yet But Hal swiftly decided that
whatever they did and wherever they
went they could not stand there, and
he bundled her into a cab.
1t was not until they were rolling
away from the depot that she thought
with a gasp Of the possible conse-
quences Of her act, and cried: What
are we to do?"
II pass" replied the young man. sud-
denly and briskly losing all the dignity
that had weighted him down when he
got his sheepskin, and reverting once
more to the slang of early college days.
ut looks to me as if we were in a jam.
Never you mind, though. Rely on your
Uncle Dudley. He'll put rouge and
cold cream and violet talcum on the
face Of this thing, and don't forget it.
Do you know anybody here that you
could visit?"
mot a SOUL" she walled. II only
know one family, and they are abroad.
Never mind" he said, patting her
hand where it lay trembling on his
arm. you just keep your eye on Lit
tie Willie. First of all we are driving
over to my hotel, where 1 shall leave
my suitcase and send a couple Of tele-
grams. Then we'll do a real quick
thinking stunt. Did you ever see me
think? 1t will be positive joy to
you"
She nestled confidently up to him
His voice sounded SO good and strong,
and she liked him so much better since
he had dropped his age. She was
glad, oh! SO glad, that he had hap
pened to come with her!
At the hotel Hal jumped out with
his suitcase. He left her in the cab,