, 1918-06-27
Fifteen Hours
in Durance
~
By SUSAN
1918, by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate.)

The train for Winchester and points
south pulled out on time, although
even then the tracks were deep with
the 10Y that had been falling stead
lily for "a hours. Because of the storm
her friends had endeavored to per-
suade Louise Cochran to remain in
Washington, but she had laughed at
their prophecies that unpleasant
things would happen and had wished
them good-by with apparent light
heartedness.
She dreaded the delay to which she
might be subjected. She was In haste
to reach Steunton, at which place she
would still be 10 miles from home, and
the prospect Of the long drive over
country roads late at night did not ap-
peal to her.
But she made herself comfortable,
looked about. taking an inventory Of
the passengers. Seeing nc one whom
she knew, she applied herself to her
knitting with an occasional glance out
Of the frost-rimmed window while the
train kept on its way with ever-in-
creaslng slowness. There was a pause
now and then for some passenger to
alight. Then the train would start on
again with ever-diminishing speed.
Finally it came to a dead stop. appar-
emily miles from anywhere. The worst
had happened. They had run into a
drift and were stalled. And this oc-
CURED before they had reached Win
chester, not many miles from Wash
ington.
1t is N thing to be showed up with
plenty Of warmth in the coaches, an
other when the thermometer gets
down to zero and there is no heat.
Something went wrong with the steam.
The passengers were the usual crowd,
some among them making light Of
the discomfort, others grumbling, but In
the end the women took out their
knitting and the men. having found
several packs Of cards, settled down
to seven-up or poker.
But after several hours one and all
Struggled down into their wraps, and
accepted the inevitable. 1t was cold,
horribly cold, and everyone was hun
CRY. Louise had divided her lunch be-
tween two little girls sitting near her.
Between hunger and cold she was feel
ing very forlorn, when a familiar voice
said to her:
Even If you are not on speaking
terms with me, Louise, I think for the
moment you had better call a truce.
Stand up. please. while I put this
around you"
Her teeth were c%hattering, but she
managed a 'N-no, I am c-comfort-
able. thank you"
"Don't be silly, girl" Robert Lee
said roughly. my coat cannot hurt
you. Stand up or I will pick you up.
Surely you do not want everyone in
the car craning their heads to see
what the fuss is about"
"T-that is the t-trouble with y-you,"
Louise chartered. "Y-you always
t-try to make mime do things I
don't want to-"
81 pretty generally have my way"
the young fellow said grimly, HIS jaw
taking a set look. "When I don't,
things are bound to happen. VIII you
stand up"
She did not move, and he stopped
over, slipping his arm behind her
shoulders. She shrank from him and
the boy-for he was little more than a
boy in spite Of his six-feet-two-drew
back, his face white. Then he took her
hand and drew her to her feet.
II must say" he muttered, IT had
no idea you could act so foolishly. I
know you have Quarreled with me, but
that is no a you should freeze to
death when / a make you comfort
able" He drew the coat well about
her, then seated himself. "What is 1t
all about? Your ring is In my pocket
with a note that I haven't been able
to make anything of. After you are
warn you are going to give me an ex-
PLANTATION. Here's some chocolate.
Nibble on It and perhaps your dispo-
sition will improve" He pushed the
package into her reluctant hand, clos
ing her fingers upon 1t.
II saw you when we left the Union
station, and If 1t had not been for this
COMPOUNDED storm I would have left
the train without speaking to you.
but now, believe me, there will be a
perIect UNDERSTANDING DttWeeu uS ue-
fore we are out of this"
The warmth OF the fur-lined coat
was having its effect, and without con-
sciously doing so, Louise was taking
little bites of chocolate, thereby f1nd-
ing a comfort she had not known be-
fore. She looked at the big fellow and
remarked casually:
SIT is very good Of you to take this
trouble. I did not appreciate how cold
I was, o how hungry" Here she bit
into the chocolate with every evidence
of enjoyment. "Do you always carry
sweets about with your
But he was absorbed In the contents
of a note he had taken from his pocket
and did not answer When at last he
raised his head there was a curious
contraction of his eyes and a bulldog