The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-13


an interrupted descent from the visor
OF his cap.
The shrill. childish whistle of the
locomotive reached us at that instant.
A look of woDder sprang into the eyes
of the guard.
'lt--it is going to stop. meIn herrr
he cried ''It has never stopped be-
fore!" He rushed out upon the plat
form 10 great state of agitation. and
we trailed along behind him. even
more excited than be.
conductor stepped down from the
last coach hut one and prepared to as
sist passenger TO alight. FASTENED
up 10 him
Permit me-" ! said. elbowing him
aside.
portly lady squeezed through the
vestihule and felt her way carefully
down the steps. Rehind her was
smallish. bewhiskered man. trying to
raise an umbrella inside the narrow
corridor. perfectly impossible feat.
She came down into my arms with
the limpness of one who is accustomed
to such attentions. and then wheedled
instantly upon the futile Individual ON
the steps above.
"Quick! My hat. Heaven preserve
us. how it rains" she cried In deep,
wheezy voice and-in German.
Moth began insinuatingly. but
the sacred word died unfinished on my
lips. The next instant | was scurry-
ing down the platform TO where | saw
Britton standing.
Have you seen them?" 1 shouted
wildly.
mo. sir. Not sign. sir. All. see!'
he pointed excitedly down the plat
form.
Nor | rasped out by no possi-
Bile stretch OF the imagination can that
be Mrs. Titus Come. we must ask
the conductor. That woman? Good
Lord, Britton, she waddlesr'
The large lady and the smallish man
passed us on the way to shelter. the
latter holding an umbrella over her
hat with one hand and Juggling heavy
hamper in the other. They were both
exclaiming in German. The station
guard and the conductor were bowling
and scraping in their wake. both car
rying boxes and bundles.
No one else had descended from the
train. | grabbed the conductor by the
arm.
ANY one else getting of hereT
demanded In English and at once re-
pented 1t In German.
He shook himself loose. dropped the
bags In the shelter of the station house,
doffed his cap to the imperious backs
of his late passengers. and scuttled
back to the car A moment later the
train was under way.
Can you not see for yourself?" he
shouted from the steps as be passed
me by.
Once more | swooped down upon
the guard. he was stuffing the large
German lady into small, lopsided car
riage. the driver Of which was taking
off his cap and putting 1t on again aft
er the manner of mechanical toy.
go away" hissed the guard angrily.
This is the mayor and the mayoress.
Stand aside Can't you see?''
when does the next train get in?"
/ asked for the third time. He was
still bowling after the departing hack.
"Ach, Gott!' he gasped. Collecting
his thoughts. he said: There is no
train until 9 o'clock in the morning.
Nine. mein herr
"Ach, Gottr' groaned l. Are you
suref"
"Jah! You can go home now and go
to bed, sir There will be no train un-
til 9. and | will not be on duty then.
Good night"
II dare say we'd better be starting
'ome, sir" said Britton timidly. Some.
thing 'as gone wrong with the plans.
fear. They did not come. sir"
DO you think am blind?' roared.
"Not at all. sir" be said In haste,
taking a step or two back ward
BY the time we succeeded In starting
the engine after cranking for nearly
half an hour | was 40 consumed by
wrath over the scurvy trick Mrs. Titus
had played upon us that ! swore she
should not enter my castle IL could
prevent it. Moreover. wonld take
fiendish delight in dumping her con-
founded luggage into the Danube, We
then had trouble with the lamps. At
last we were off. Britton at the wheel.
I shall not describe that diabolical trip
home. Ii Is only necessary to say that
We first lost our way and went ten or
twelve kilometers In the wrong direc.
tion: then we had blowout and no
quick detachable rim. Subsequently
something went wrong with the mud
caked machinery, and my unfortunate
valet had to lie ON his back In pud
die for half an hour. Eventually we
sneaked into the garage with our trem
bling car and quarreled manfully with
the mer who had to wash her.
Good heavens, BrittOnw exclaimed
suddenly.
He looked ut me In astonishment
admit that the ejaculation must have
sounded weak and effeminate TO him
after what had gone before.
What is 1t. siry' he asked, at once
resuming his status as a servant after
splendid hiatus of i've hours or more
in which he had enjoyed all OF the by
products of equality.
"Poopendyker exclaimed. aghast-
Il have inst fhoncht of him. The poor