The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-16
A RAILROAD ROMANCE
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

guiltless of food and the ticket office
minus an occupant.
Marian waited for someone to come,
meanwhile watching the clock anx-
lously. Precious minutes were pass
ing and still no one came to serve her.
She was turning toward the door
When the stranger lifted his hat. Il !
beg your pardon. but as the agent .
doesn't seem to be around just now,
perhaps you will permit me to hunt /
up lunch for you. lie may have I
something hidden under the counter"
Marian turned to the door again |
Thank you, but as the train will
leave in minute ! am afraid | must
go. Good evening"
He hurried to the door and held it
open for her. The storm had increased
in violence, almost carrying Marian
/ off her feet. Fine sleet cut into their
faces. He took her arm and together
they fought their way across the plat
form through the storm. Then they
stopped suddenly, aghast. The track
was empty and the train gone! 1t had
slipped away, its noise drowned by
, the screaming wind.
by George that's too bad!" he
shouted into her ear. Marian was
thankful now for the storm and dark
ness, for she could not keep back the
G tears any longer.
k There seemed to be nothing to do
but to go back to the empty station,
which offered protection at least from
the storm. She might have to wait
some time for the next train.
Z AS they went into the little waiting
room for the second time the fumes
!. of tobacco notified the travellers that
i, the agent had come in, evidently by
. some other way.
Hello, Bob Where on earth have
you been?" asked Marian's would-be
{ benefactor. While we were waiting
n for you to hunt us bite to eat the
d train vamoosed and left US"
Marian heard the other man whistle
with surprise. Then | am afraid you
are up against it, Mr. Hays. There
T. isn't another train tonight"
y Marian dropped Imply to a seat.
is The man went to the door and stepped
it outside to tell his idea Of the whole
: business to the elements.
In few minutes he burst into the
waiting room. Say, Bob, there's a
i. gasoline work car down the track!
10 Is she all right"
81 guess so. The men left her there
y on the siding. Why, what were you
thinking Of? It's frozen over like q
"a wedding cake
Il was thinking" said the man
that as l know enough about them
~ to run one, we might thaw off the
> icing with hot water and l could get
e this young lady to Drexel in time tC
to catch the express. Any gasoline
i around the place, do you suppose?'
"a why, there's bari of gasoline
back of the freight house. Been there
all winter. But, say, there's lots o.
!" freight trains. You'd get killed"
mo, we WON'T"
ed BY the time the little car was ready
is the wind had Gained, and Marian
no wrapped to her ears in a borrowed
:, robe. sat like queen on the soap boz
the men had found for her. In min
ute they were sliding along into thu
IN darkness, their lanterns illuminating
the rails only couple of feet ahead.
% Marian was frightened but gave n,
"a. sign She would have risked her lif
on a war balloon to get to Brighton
before twelve.
The car sped on past little station
ne that were as quiet as cemeteries. N
nr, freights overlook them, and at las
on the lights of Drexel appeared.
NJ The man held his watch close t
- the lantern Good" he cried. tie
minutes and we'll be on the expires
to Brighton"
~ There had been little opportunit
cir tor conversation. In the waiting ROOF
at Drexel Marian tried to thank hin
j There were still two minutes befor
the train was due.
Il wonder II you know how much
'or appreciate what you have done fo
0" me, Mr."
IN Hays! Endicott Hays!"
.ch "Mr. Hays, My name is Maria
Langley. and ii is absolutely nece
!, sary for me to be in Brighton toda.
1t seems that all the heirs to the Lam
- ley estate are in danger of losing
III great deal of money if don't have IN
'ey name on some stupid paper or otht
~, before midnight"
md Endicott Hays looked at her in a
~. constituent for an instant. Then. draw
=. ing a paper from his pocket. he cried
And this is the stupid paper wa
going to Brighton to find you, I'm tn
OIL lawyer in the case. They told me yo
1ne lived there,'
tn And after they had discovered the
mistake they tclegraphed me to me-
,,o you there. as you had already depar
r. ed, laughed Marian. Isn't it tc
funny?'
t"' The mans answer was drowned
nat me noise of the express as it thu
on dcrcd in But his look held inquir
MY I'd better get on anyway and s
MY 10 Aunt Martha's Tor the night" sa
10. Marian.
And Id better go to Brighton, to
so | can come around in the mornr
and be properly introduced. May
fall Perfectly splendid, agreed Maria
as they boarded the train for the r
$50 mainder of the trip.
ny ,Capyrgit, lsl5 ny the Mcclure Ncwsp
DIR Syndlcate)
als. Emeralds are worth more a ka'
49,, ap,. o+bar nreciouc rpms