The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-04-16

copyright 1916 by the Mcclure Newspaper synaicatel

get 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 swarmine
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 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 a bar, too! What
about sherry and bitters? That'll 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?"
mo; 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 q
late supper on the steamer, but the
thought of the midnight landing In
a 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-
functoriiy, as he chalked the t1unks
without opening them.
With some difficulty Warren got q
porter. The scarcity OF porters was
one of the first evidences of the war.
Register these trunks through to
Euston," he ordered. "This hand bag
gage we'll have in the sleeper"
Outside they made their way down
the platform to the waiting train.
where's this stateroom?" asked
Warren, showing his ticket.
They're not reserved, sir. Take
any you like
When the porter deposited their
hand baggage In one of the stuffy state
rooms, Helen looked around with
amazed disapproval. Compared with
the luxurious American sleeper 1t was
crude, shabby and not even clean.
There were two cot.like berths with
a washstand between. The curtains
were stained and dusty, and the bit of
carpet worn threadbare.
Helen promptly examined the dubi-
ous-looking bed linen. The narrow
sheets barely covered the soiled mat
tress, and the harsh, stiff blankets
VIZ grayish white.
Dear, look! Even the sheets don't
look fresh!"
well, they're getting American
managers on these roads now. They'll
send a lot of these old cars to the
junk heap"
Lets get out our steamer rugs"
persisted Helen. They're cleaner than
these blankets"
Unheeding Warren's growing pro-
test. she unstrapped the rugs. Then
from her suitcase she took two towels
and pinned them over the pillows.
"Now, see here" scowling around
for a place to hang his coat; you're
to take things on this trip as you find
em. Well have none OF this squeam'
ishness. II you don't like"
"oh, watt" pleadingly. Let me
wash out that basin first" as warren
started to wash up. "And, dear. don't
use that soap!"
Impatiently he waited while Helen
washed out the dusty basin and got
the soap from her suitcase.
"oh, dear, wouldn't stand on this
dirty floor. Wherere your slippers!
Let me get them out for you"
mo, you don't" pushing her aside.
ono sense in getting everything IN
packed. l paid for this stateroom to
get a few hours sleep-not to potter
around all night"
Helen had hardly begun to unaress
when Warren topped into his berth.
Great Scott, this things narrow.
,x chancas m tOS1ing