The Jasper news., 1918-04-04
Copyright by D. Appleton& Coz


could get our bearlns by soundin's.
couldn't see em if we did get EN-
says he. No. says l, but we could
taste EN-. Man that's driven through
as much Ostable mud as you have
ought to know the taste of every road
in town."
well, you caught the train any.
how observed Dan.
'Yup. If we'd been crippled as well
as blind we could have done that"
He seated himself just in front of the
pair and glanced across the aisle at Hir.
Graves, to find the latter looking in
tent)y at him.
"Pretty tough night" he remarked,
nodding.
YES" replied the lawyer briefly. He
did not encourage conversation with
casual acquaintance. The latest ar
rival had caught his attention because
there was something familiar about
him. lie must have seen him before.
Conversation across the aisle was
brisk, and its subjects were many and
varied. Mr.. Graves became aware,
more or less against his will. that the
person called "cap'n" was, if not n
leader in politics and local affairs, still
one whose opinions counted. Some of
those opinions as given were pointed
and dryly descriptive-as, for instance,
when a certain town meeting candi.
date was compared to sculpin, with
Il big head That sort of impresses you
till you get close enough TO realize it
has to be big to make room for so
much mouth"
The conductor entered the car and
stopped to collect ticket from his
new passenger. 1t was evident that
lie, too, was acquainted with the lat
ter
"Evening, cap'n," he said politely
Trains little late tonight"
at is-for tonights train" was the
prompt response but If it keeps on
ut the rate it's travelin' now it'll be a
little early for tomorrow mornin's,
won't til"
The conductor laughed Guess
you're right" he said. This is about
as wet Il storm as I've run through
since I've been on the road
The brakeman swung open the door
to shout: "Denboro! Denboro.' The
conductor picked up his lantern and
hurried away, the locomotive wills.
tied hoarsely, and the train hiccuped
alongside another little station, Mr..
Graves, peering through his window,
imagined that here the siIhoucttcs OH
] hlnf n1
| They seemed almost excited. lie in
| fcrred that Denboro was bigger and
more wide awake village than Ostable.
But lie was mistaken. The reason
| for the excitement was made plain by
| the conductor a moment afterward.
That official entered the car, removed
| his uniform cap and rubbed wet
forehead with wetter hand.
"WeN. gentlemen" lie said, 1--WE
been expecting it, and here 1t is. Mari;
me down as good prophet, will you
There's a washout mile farther on
and telegraph pole across the track
It's blowing great guns and raining
pitchforkS. It'll be out of the question
for us TO 20 forward before daylight, il
then. Darn a railroad mans job any
hOww
Five minutes later Mr.. Graves de
scendcd the steps of the car his tray
cling bag in one hand and an umbrella
i'll the other. AS soon as both feet
were securely planted on the platform
he put down the bag to wrestle with
the umbrella and the hurricane, which
was apparently blowing from four di
rectiOns at once. Feeling his hat leav
ing his head, lie became aware that
the umbrella had turned inside out
lie threw the wreck violently under
the train and stopped to pick up the
bag. The bag was no longer there.
It's all right" said calm voice be
hind him. 1--WE got your satchel
neighbor Better beat for harbor
hadn't we? Here-thls way"
The bewildered New Yorker felt his
arm seized in firm grip, and he was
rushed across the platform, through 4
deluge of wind driven water, and int
small, hot, clos smelling waiting
room. When he pushed his hat cleaI
of his eyes he saw that his rescue
was the big man who boarded the trail
at Ostable.
DIRTY weather, hey2" he observed
pleasantly. Sorry your umbrella haC
to go by the board. l see you wa,
carryin' too much canvas and tried t,
run alongside in time to give you I
tow, but you was dismasted just as
) got there. Here's your dunnage, al