South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-13
The Great Adventure
BY Katherine Hopson

Stanley Lathrop was annoyed
when he found Ethel Beecher was
on the same train. Not that he had
anything against her personally, he
had always thought of her as a
nice, inoffensive little thing whom
he regarded with indifference. But
he was tired of KinwOod and Kin
wood people, and when he broke
away for a few weeks 20 look after
his farming interests in southern
Texas, it was distinctly irritating TO
have Miss Beecher who lived on the
same street, sitting three seats
ahead oft him throughout the jour
ney.
Il might as we'll be back home
walking down Main street" he FUN
ed, then felt ashamed of his irrita-
ton, for certainly she had as much
right on that train as he did
He remembered his sister May
saying that Ethel was going to visit
an aunt in San Antonio.
$50 she'll probably be with me
all the way" he concluded
Kinwood people would have been
surprised if they had known the
seething unrest that sometimes as
sailed the quiet, reserved young
cashier who had taken his fathers
place in the bank after the latter's
death six years ago Even his
mother and two younger sisters did
not dream of SANKEY'S longing for
romance and adventure. Ever
since his college days he had been
promising himself the great adven-
ture, but his life had been singular
| ly uueventful, and he had the repu-
tation among his sisters friends Of
being a confirmed bachelor.
LOthrop felt that the trip south
on which he had planned so much
would be disappointing. 1t rained
steadily since he started. AS they
passed through oklahoma, the red
water was over the tracks. even the
telephone poles were halfway sub
merged. About five o'clock, the
train which for sometime had been
barely crawling, stopped. little
later the porter entered and said
TO the passengers:
"You-alls will have to tie up here
for the night. The tracks unsafe TO
lgo on"
Later they learned there was
hotel in the little town where they
had stopped, and they could go
there for the night if they chose.
but the majority preferred TO stay
/ in the known security Of the Pull
man car rather than brave an UNI
| known hotel Lathrop and Miss
Beecher were among the latter
number.
The rain pelted against the roof
with a dreary sound and the pas
Sengers an seemed depressed. La
throp had his berth made up early
/ and slept late the next morning
when he was relieved 70 find that
the rain had ceased.
There's an eating house down
the track a piece where YOU can get
/ breakfast" informed the porter.
The spirits Of everyone rose at
Thought Of g. comfortable breakfast
As Lathrop went-down the car steps
he saw Miss Eeecher just ahead
4 plthlile Atl WY aAoAb t4lt III AuNJ
track
cit isn't so bad being marooned
iif there's good eating house at
tached." he said as ne caught up
with her
NO indeed" she laughed. IT'S
/ the Robinson Crusoe act brought
/ up 10 date.
The place I'm question proved to
be neat little restaurant presided
over by a comedy half-breed woman
and her son The tables were
already fun. 50 Ethel and Lathrop
took seats ON the high stools before
the counter IL seemed as though
they had never eaten anything more
delicious than the hot pancakes or
drank better coffee.
To his surprise L.a,hrop found
himself laughing heartily over
some OF Ethels remarks. Though
She had long been a friend OF his
sisters and mad been OF his home
many times. il seemed as If he was