The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-05-14

"A sleeper" eagerly. "Oh, can we
get a sleeper?"
That's what I'm going to find out.
You stay here with these and, leav-
ing Helen with the hand baggage,
Warren hurried to the ticket window.
The dimly lit station was swarming
with passengers from the ST. Paul,
all tensely anxious to get on to Lon
don. The excitement of the midnight
landing was in the air.
London papers were being eagerly
scanned for the latest war news. A
table supplied with cable and tele-
graph blanks was crowded with those
anxious to send messages.
But there was none of the usual ex-
hilaration of landing. Even the hurry
and excitement were subdued by the
ominous feeling of depression.
Got two berths of some kind" an
nounced Warren. Then, with a glance
at the lunch counter, want some Of
that fodder while we wait? There's
our old friend. Bovril," nodding at
the familiar English sign.
Il don't like beef extract" de-
INJURED Helen.
Hello, they've got bar, too! What
about sherry and bitters? Thatll set
you up.
Wait, dear" as Warren started for
the lunch counter. "a lot of people
are wiring on to the hotels for rooms.
Don't you think we'd better?"
"Nos they always soak you more.
Don't you worry-we'll get in some
where. They'll not turn away good
American money, war or no war"
Warren now made a raid on the
lunch counter, returning with sherry
and sandwiches. They had had a
late supper on the steamer, but the
thought of the midnight landing in
country still in the throes Of war
had left Helen too excited to eat.
"All passengers this way!" shouted
the guard.
Helen hastily finished her sandwich
and followed Warren into the huge
brick-lined hall, where all the baggage
was ready for inspection.
Keep close to me-" as he pushed
ahead and quickly located their trunks
in the section under &C."
amy spirits, tobacco or silver
plate?" asked the custom officer per
functorily, as he chalked the trunks
without opening them.
With some difficulty Warren got {
porter. The scarcity of porters wa
one of the first evidences of the war
Register these trunks through t.
Euston," he ordered This hand bag
gage we'll have in the sleeper"
Outside they made their way dowl
the platform to the waiting train.
where's this stateroom?" asked
Warren, showing his ticket.
They're not reserved, sir. TAXI
any you like"
When the porter deposited thei
hand baggage in one OF the stuffy stat
rooms, Helen looked around will
amazed disapproval. Compared will
the luxurious American sleeper it wal
crude, shabby and not even clean.
There were two cot-like berths will
washstand between. The curtains
were stained and dusty, and the bit o
carpet worn threadbare.
Helen promptly examined the dub
ous-looking bed linen. The marrow
sheets barely covered the soiled mat
tress, and the harsh, stiff blanket
were a grayish white.
Dear, look Even the sheets don
look fresh"
well. they're getting American
managers on these roads now. They'l
send a lot of these old cars to tn
junk heap"
Lets get out our steamer rugs,
persisted Helen. They're cleaner tina
these blankets"
Unheeding Warren's growing pro
test, she unstrapped the rugs. The
from her suitcase she took two towel
and pinned them over the pillows.
Nov, see here" scowling aroun
for a place to hang his coat; your
to take things on this trip as you fin
EN-. Well have none of this squean
ishness. If you don't like"
. ooh, wait" pleadingly. Let m
wash out that basin first" as Ware
started to wash up. And, dear, don
use that soapl"
Impatiently he waited while Hele
washed out the dusty basin and =
the soap from her suitcase.
"Oh, dear, wouldn't stand on tn
dirty floor. Where're your slippers
, Let me get them out for you"
mo, you don't" pushing her asid
mo sense in getting everything u
packed / paid for this stateroom
get few hours sleep-not to pott,
around all night"
Helen had hardly begun to undrei
when Warren Topped into his berth.
Great Scott, this things marrow
Don't take any chances on tossiI