Gilpin observer., 1917-03-08

hastily, Il said a fine day; not gay, but
day; d-a-yl' s 81. a
"Say? Let them say what they've a
mind to. l fancy Martha Eakins has
got money enough, SO she doesn't ask
any odds Of anybody-present COM
pany excepted. OF course 1T is differ
ent with you. The minute my nephew
introduced us to each other felt that
we were going to be friends-intimate
friends, as may say"
Stones face was now the color of
an Italian sunset, and he was earnest
ly longing for the bottom to drop out
of the carriage and let him through,
or for some other catastrophe to come
to his rescue, but as usual in such
cases his longings were in vain.
"Yes Mr.. Scone, the very instant
set my eyes on you said to myself,
here is congenial soul, man that
can trust; and 1 hope we shall have
no secrets from each other. am rich,
but wealth is not all that is worth liv-
ing for. You may be poor. Mr.. Scone-'
"My name is Stone, madam, not
Scone," shouted the embarrassed bach
elor, land II you will change the SUBJ
ject to something less personal I shall
be greatly obliged to you"
"Obliged to me? Not at all, Mr..
Spone. No obligation whatever.
am only too happy"
"Great heavens!" groaned Stone !;
"what on earth is the old lady driving
at, / wOnderT' And then raising his
voice, he fairly howled: MADAM, your
nephew expects me to see you safely
out of the train at Manchester, and I'll
do it, but in the meantime 1 pro-
pose"
"ro read my paper in quiet until we
reach your station" Stone was about
to say, but Miss Eakins was too quick
for him. Her ear caught the word
propose, and that was enough for her.
The supreme moment of her life had
arrived and last-Or at least she
thought it had-and with a cry of Joy
she Topped over on Stones shoulder,
knocking his hat off and sending it
spinning on the floor, and nearly
smashing in his ribs against the side
of the car.
"Oh, you dear. good man. felt sure
right from the start that you were GO
ing to propose! knew the symptoms
well, and What's the matter, lovey?
Haven't been taken i'll all of a sudden,
have your"
But Stone had wriggled out of her
embrace, leaped to the other side of
the compartment. and, fortunately for
him, the train was just slowing up at
the first stop. He tore open the door,
and slammed 1t to. Then dashed down
the platform to the conductors COM
partment. The stop was brief, and the
conductor signaled the driver to go
ahead and turned to enter the train.
he noticed Stone for the first
time. There was no time for explana-
tions, and both leaped into the car.
"Great Scott!" cried Stone, putting
hard to get his breath. THAT was a
narrow escape. II I hadn't got away
when did I should have found my
self married man before we arrived
at our destination. Do you want to
earn ten-dollar billT"
The conductor was not quite sure Of
the mans sanity, but keeping sharp
eye on him. he intimated that bank
note of that denomination had its
charms.
Then Stone told his story.
"If you'll go to about the fifth car
when We make another stop, you'll find
in one Of the compartments six-foot
female, all alone. You might tell her
that am dead. and that the remains
would like their hat"
"Yes, sir"
"And then, when you have done that,
II you will see that she doesn't find me,
and help her out at Manchester with
all her goods and chattels, and get
her away from the station so that I
may go on my way in safety. I'll put
another bill on top Of the first one"
"All right, sir; leave 1t to me-" re-
sponded the conductor with n smile.
And all the rest of that journey
Jared Stone rode in the conductors
compartment. And fearfully he peered
from the window and watched every
movement of the dangerous and 81
gantic female when at last the station
was reached and the passengers poured
out upon the platform.
Not until he saw the cab into which
she had been deposited with all her
baggage disappear out Of the station
did he emerge from the train. and then
only to leap into a closed carriage