Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-11-14

Cuddlcd tip Ike q mouse, lyin- I'd
on Il rude board bench at the sid. Of
an abandoned switch shanty. her hand
supporting her head and cn'neShcd in n
mass Of loose golden treSSes, the girl.
face rs though her dreams were pleas
ant ones.
She could not have been over eight
cen and her worn and ragged shoes
and crinklcd ribbons were not in ac-
cord with the general ncatness OF her
attire. \ man lurched by. young
like herself. paused and stared hard.
"Wcll. this is new one." he nut.
tered. IL say, little one. wake up,
This old switch yard is no place for
YOU"
He had touched one hand lyin.
loosely over the edge OF the bench.
The girl aroused so maGically quick
and her big blue eyes opened so wide
and challenging that Myrnn Trask re-
treated step or two.
THAT is the 6:15 western disputch.
isn't it-can YOU tell meg"
~ can" nodded Trask. "bm what
have you to do with the 6:15?"
ITO get into an empty car II gees
to Meriden. my home town. and that Is
the only way. unless I walk"
Il see you have done something In
that line already" suggested Trask.
glancing mt her broken shoes. one heel.
less and It's side ripped by rail splin-
ter. the other with Il tapping sole.
Yes, clear from Chicago l can't go
barefooted rs I Will soon he IL keep
on tramping. SO I was going to steal
my way"
Myron Trask took silent survey OF
the forlorn little figure. He stendled
himself erect and breathed harl
through compressed lips. "See here.
Miss" he said finally, 81 had n sister
once. and you've set me thinking Tell
me little about yourself and maybe
1 can help you on your way"
"Why. yes. III tell you all about it,"
said the girl with ingenious frank
ness. MY name Is .Irmn Dalziei.
have been filling n little speaking part
IN Hearts and Homes Good people.
they were. from the manager. down. I
ran away from home to join. them.
They went to pieces last week and
there wasn't enough left to pay car
fare. I've written father and mother
that I am through with my foolish
dream of becoming a great actress
and am on my way back to the dear
old place I'll never leave again. Oh
Observation-Disclosures
Go lnnpipr io%n
were the accents, so vivid, so rapturous
did they frame within the mentality OF
Myron Trask that he seemed to covet
such paradise Of relief and joy, rs
II for himself, for Trask was on the
seat OF cOntrition and repentance ut
the present time.
Strange. Miss" he said in an uncer-
tain tone, 'but you and I seem to be
In the same boat. I got my dismissal
from service last week for going on q
bout with the crowd. The road may
or may not take me back, hut 10 more
OF the reckless and silly for me. I've
got no money, but the hotel will give
Myron Trask anything he wants, and
you're going to 60 there With me and
get good meal. Then you are going
to the depot and wait for the S:15
passenger. I'll put you In charge of
old Boyd Wesley. the conductor. He'll
see you onto the branch at Aberdeen.
At that terminus you'll have only fifty
six miles on the Northern. And when
YOU get back to your dear little home.
stay there. and once in a while think
of the railroad lads, rough and ready,
and sometimes reckless. but with
hearts rs big rs pumpkins when they
see a woman needing help"
"Why you almost make me cry"
said Irma sOberly. you'd make n STIR
hit on the stage with such human
interest speech rs that. I'll never for.
get you"
Maybe I'd have made better rec
ord and kept straight If had been
lucky enough 30 run across girl like
YOU" said Myron. with slight catch
In his voice. as ne babe her "ooaby
ut the depot. "Show this card to what
ever conductor YOU run across" and
ne handed her bit Of pastcboard
upon which he had scrawlcd a few
words. I'm not much inst now. but
my name will 60 as far as that Of
the president nf the road with nv true
| pals"
a sudden rush OF tears came to the
eyes of 1rma rs she claspcd the hand
Of her bcnefactor. She leaned towards
him and impulsivcly kissed his
! hronzed, beard-toughened face with the
| words: How your dead sister must
! have loved you" Then n moment later
she waved adicu TO him through IN
! open coach window and for long
time after the train had gone Myron
Trask stood rejecting. caressing the
cheek where that warm kiss of graft
| tude had been bestowed.
1t was noticeable by the former