University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-08-03
Continued from last issue)

They stepped into the elevator. the
door slammed, the car began to de-
scend. Minot stood gazing through
the iron scroll work until the blond
head of the helpless Lord Harrowby
moved finally out of sight. Then he
returned to his room and the time-ta-
bles, which seemed such dull un-
happy reading.
Mr.. Jack Paddock appeared to ;nvit"
Minot to take dinner with him. His
bags. he remarked. were all packed,
and he was booked for the seven
o'clock train.
"I've slipped down the mountain OF
gold" he said in the course of the
dinner But all good things must
end. and certainly had good thing.
Somehow. I'm not so gloomy as
ought to be-"
where are you going. Jack?" Mi
not asked.
/ Mr.. Paddock leaned over conf
dentially.
I did | say her father was in the
plumbing business" he inquired.
MY error, Dick. He owns a news
paper-out in Grand Rapids. Offered
me a job any time | wanted it. Great
joke then-pretty serious now. For
I'm going out to apply"
I'm glad of it."
$50 am |, Dick. | was fool to let
her go back like that. Been thinking
it all overland Overcome girl in
how many are there in the world.
should you say? The other day | had
a chill. 1t occurred to me maybe
she'd gone and married the young
man with the pale purple necktie who
passes the plate in the Methods,
Church. So / beat it to the telegraph
counter And"
shes heart whole and fancy free?"
20. X. in both respects. So it's me
for Grand Rapids. And say. Dick,
-er-I want you to know I'd sent
that telegram before the accident last
night. AS matter of fact. sent it
two days ago."
Good boy" said Minot 81 knew
this game down here didn't satisfy
you. May | be the first to wish you
joy?"
You? With a face like defeated
candidate? | say, cheer up, She'll
stretch out eager arms in your direc-
ton yet"
II don't believe it Jack
We'll, while there's life there's
considerable hope lying loose about
the landscape. That's why | don't
urge you to take the train with me-"
An hour later Mr.. Paddock spoke
further cheering words in his friends
ear, and departed for the North. And
in that city of moonlight and romance
Minot was left practically alone.
He took little farewell walk
through that quaint old town. then
retired to his room to read another
chapter in the timetable. At four
twenty in the morning, he noted,
small local train would leave for
Jacksonville. He decided he would
take it. With no parlor cars. no sleep
ers, he would not be likely to en-
counter upon it any of the startled
wedding party bound north.
The call he left did not material
ize. and it was four o'clock when he
awoke Hastily in the chill dawn he
bade farewell to town and hotel. In
fifteen minutes he had left both be-
hind, and was speeding toward the
small yellow station set on the towns
edge. He glanced feverishly at his
watch There was need of haste, for
this train was made up in San Marco,
and had had as yet no chance to be
late.
He rushed through the gate just as
it was being closed, and caught
dreary little train in the very act of
pulling out. Gloomy oil lamps
sought vainly to lessen the dOur as
pect of its two coaches. Painting, he
entered the rear coach and threw
himself and his bag into seat.
Five seconds later he glanced across
the aisle and discovered in the oppo-
site seat Miss Cynthia Meyrick. ac
companied by very sleepy-eyed fam
lily,
1.-THE DEVIL" said Minot to himself
He knew that she would see in this
utter accident nothing save a delib-
crate act of following. What use to