American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1921-12-31

to bench and sat looking upward
for more than ten minutes; then rose
and went to ticket.wlndow and asked
Tor timetable.
What roadr the clerk inquired.
IAN points SOUTH" said Noble. &
He placed the timetable, still fold.
ed, In his pocket, rested an elbow on
the brass apron Of the window, uuni
would have given himself up to ~
hections. though urged to move away.
Several people wishing to buy tickets
had formed q line behind him and
they perceived that Noble had nothing
more to say to the clerk. The latter
encouraged their protests. and even
went 80 far as to exclaim. For
heavens sake Can't you let these
folks buy their ticketsr And since
Noble still did not moyh: MY gosh,
haven't you got no feetf"
"Feeti Oh. yes" said Noble gently.
I'm going away" And went back to
his seat. &as
After while he sought to study
his timetable. Ordinarily, his mind
was one Of those able to deciphsr and
comprehend railway timetables; be
had few gifts but this was one Of
them. II failed him. now; and. he
wandered back to the ticket-window,
and, after urgent coaching. eventually
took his place at the end instead Of at
the head Of the line that waited there
In his turn he came again to the win
dow, and departed from II after a
conversation with the clerk which left
the latter In unconscious accord with
Aunt Fanny Atwater's commiseratlng
adjective. though the clerks own pity
was expressed IN argot. "The poor
mutt" he explained to his next client.
wants to buy ticket on train
that don't pull out till ten thirty-five
tonight; and me film II all out,
stampin' II and everything. what for !
Turned out all his pockets and
couldn't come nearer'n eight dollars
short o. the price! .,Where you want
To go7
Noble went back to his bench and
sat there for n long time, though there
was no time long or short for him.
lie was not yet consciously suffering
greatly; nor was he thinking at ALL
True, he had dim, persistent impulse
to actiOn--or else why should he be
Mt the station ?-but for the clearest
expression OF his condition It is neces-
sary to borrow a culinary symbol: he
was Telling. The state OF shock was
slowly dispensing while perception
Of anguish as slowly increased. He
was beginning TO swallow nothing at
intervals. and the intervals were grow
ing shorter.
Dusk was misting down. outdoors
when with dragging steps he came out
Of the station. He looked hazily up
and down the street, where the corner
lamps and shop-windows now were
lighted. and. after dreary hesitation
he went In search Of a pawn-shop. and
found one. The old man who operated
II must have been q philanthropist, FOL
Noble was SO fortunate as to secure q
loan Of nine dollars upon his watch
Surprised ct this. he returned to thu
station. and went back to the same old
bench.
A little after six o'clock changing
and cOmmotion IN the train-shed out.
side, attending the arrival Of u
Through express" stirred him from
his tOrpor. He walked heavily across
the room to the same ticket-wlndoa
he had blocked before, but there Wa
no queue attached to II now. liz
rested his elbow gu the apron and hi
| chin upon his hand and for some mo
ments the clerk waited until he should
state his wishes. This was new
clerk, who had just relieved the other
"weli! Welt" he said at last,
"rll take 1t now Noble responded
I gently.
"what'll you take nOwf"
"That ticket !"
"What ticketT'
"The same one 7 wanted before,
Noble sighed.
| The clerk gave him piercing look
glanced out of the window and saw
that there were no other clients, thel
went to desk at the farther end o
his compartment, and took up SOM
clerical work he had In hand.
Noble leaned upon the apron OF thu
window. waiting; and II he though
anything. he thought the man wa
serving him.
The high, resonant room became
clamorous with voices and with thu
mingling echoes of footsteps ON tn
tiled floor, as passengers from the ex
press hurried to the street, or more