University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-08-03
LOVE INSURANCE
protest his innocence?
By Earl DER Bigger5
Copyrighted BY The Bobbs-Merrill Company

Iseat. But such a theatric act could
'only increase the embarrassment. AL
ready his presence had been noted
Aunt Mary had given him a glare,
Spencer Meyrick scowl, the girl a
cloudy vague where have / seen this
person before?' glance in passing.
Might as well make the best of it.
He settled himself in his seat. Once
again, as on another railroad car. he
sought to keep his eyes on the land
scape withOut-the dim landscape
with the royal palms waving like
grim ghosts in the half light. The
train sped on.
A most uncomfortable situation, II
only it would grow light, 1t seemed
SO silly to be forced to find the view
out the window entrancing while it
was still very dark.
Spencer Meyrick went forward to
the smoker Aunt Mary, weary of life.
slid gently down to slumber Her un-
lovely snore filled the dim car.
How different this from the first
ride together, The faint pink of the
sky grew brighter Now Minot could
see the gray moss hanging to the ev-
ergreens, and here and there a squalii
shack where human beings lived and
knew nothing of life. And beside him
he heard a sound as of large body
being shaken. Also the cultural pro-
test of Aunt Mary at this inconsider-
ate treatment
Aunt Mary triumphed Her snore
rose to shatter the smoky roof. Three
times MinOt dared to look, and each
time wished he hadn't. The whole ST.
was rosy now. Somewhere off be
hind the horizon the good old sun was
rising to go to work for the passenger
department of the coast railroad.
Some sense in looking out now. Mi
not saw shack that seemed familiar
then another. Next station, bear
ing on its sad shingle the cheery
name of Sunbeam" And close to the
station. gloomy in the dawn. a desic-
Gated chauffeur beside an aged auto
mobile.
Minot turned quickly. and caught
Cynthia Meyrick in the act of peering
over his shoulder. She had seen the
chauffeur too.
The train had stopped a moment,
but was under way again In those
brown eyes Minot saw something visit
full, something hurt.-saw things that
moved him to put everything to a sud-
den test He leaDed to his feet and
pulled madly at the bell cord.
"What-what have you done?"
Startled, she stared at him.
i've stopped the train. I'm going to
ride to Jacksonville as | rode to San
Marco-ages ago. I'm not going
alone"
"Indeed?"
Quick. The conductor will be here
in minute. Here's a card and pen-
cil-write a note for Aunt Mary. Say
you'll meet them in Jacksonville. Hur-
ry. please."
"Mr. Minot!" With great dignity.
"One last ride together. One last
chance for me toto set things right
if | can"
"If you can"
If admit it, Won't you give me
the chance? l thought you would be
game. l dare you!"
For a second they gazed into each
others eyes. The train had come to
stop. and Aunt Mary stirred fretfully
in her sleep. With sudden decision
Cynthia Meyrick wrote on the card
and dropped it on her slumbering rel
ative.
81 know I'll be sorry-but-" she
gasped
Hurry. This way, The conductors
coming there,"
A moment later they stood together !
on the platform of the Sunbeam sta
tion, while the brief little train disap-
peared Indignantly in the distance
"YOu shouldn't have made me do
that" cried the girl in dismay. "I'm
always doing things on the spur of the |
moment-things regret afterward-"
II know. You explained that to me |
once. But you can also do things on |
the spur of the moment that you're 1
glad about all your life. Oh-good /
morning. Barney Oldfield."
Good morning." replied the rustic |
chauffeur with gleeful recognition. /
where's it to this time, mister?"
Jacksonville. And no hurry at all &"
Minot held open the door and the girl 4
stepped into the car.
"The gentleman is quite mistaken" 4
she said to the chauffeur. There is a |