The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-03-22
Cap'n Warren's Wards
By JOSEPH c. LINCOLN
By JOSEPH c.. LINCOLN
Copyright by D. Appleton & Coz

more or less against his will, that the
person called "cap'n" was, If not a
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
q big head that sort of impresses you
till you get close enough to realize 1t
has to be big to make room for so
much mouth"
The conductor entered the car and
stopped to collect a ticket from his
new passenger. 1t was evident that
he, too. was acquainted with the lat
ter.
Evening, capn," he said politely.
Trains little late tonight"
"It is-for tonight's train," was the
prompt response, "but if it keeps on
at the rate it's travelin' now it'll be a
little early for tomorrow mornin's,
won't itT
The conductor laughed. "Guess
you're right" he said. "This is about
as wet a 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 whis-
tied hoarsely, and the train hiccuped
alongside another little station. Mr..
Graves. peering through his window,
imagined that here the silhouettes on
the platform moved more briskly.
They seemed almost excited. He in
ferred that Denboro was a bigger and
more wide awake village than Ostable.
But he 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 q wet
forehead with a wetter hand.
well. gentlemen" he said, I've
been expecting it, and here it is. Mark
me down as a good prophet, will you?
There's a washout a mile farther on
and a telegraph pole across the track.
It's blowing great guns and raining
pitchforks. It'll be out of the question
for us to go forward before daylight, If
then. Darn a railroad mans job any
howw
Five minutes later Mr.. Graves de-
scended the steps of the car, his trav-
cling bag in one hand and an umbrella
Sl> hot
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, he became aware that
the umbrella had turned inside out.
He threw the wreck violently under
the train and stopped to pick up the
bag. The bag was no longer there.
Its all right; said calm voice be-
hind him. 1--WE got your satchel,
neighbor. Better beat for harbor,
hadn't we? Here-this way"
The bewildered New Yorker felt his
arm seized in firm grip, and he was
rushed across the platform, through
deluge of wind driven water. and into
a small, hot, close smelling waiting
room. When he pushed his hat clear
of his eyes he saw that his rescuer
was the big man who boarded the train
at Ostable.
DIRTY weather, hey?" he observed
pleasantly. Sorry your umbrella had
to go by the board. l see you was
carryin' too much canvas and tried to
run alongside in time to give you q
tow, but you was dismasted just as
got there Here's your dunnage, all
safe and sound"
He extended the travelling bag at
arms length. Mr.. Graves accepted his
property and murmured thanks, not too
cordially.
"Well," went on his companion,
"here we are! And 1 for one wanted
to be somewhere else. Caleb" turn
ing to the station master, who came
in at that moment. "any way Of my
gettin' home tonight?"
"'Fraid not, cap'n," was the answer.
II don't know Of any. Guess you'll