The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-04-13
PART ni--continued.

when with dragging steps he came out
OF the station. He looked hazily up
and down the street, where the corner.
lamps and sllop-windows now were
lighted. and, after dreary hesitation,
he went I'm search of a pawn-shop, and
found one. The old man who operated
Il must have been a philanthropist, for
Noble was so fortunate as to secure a
loan of nine dollars upon his watch.
Surprised at this, he returned to the
station, and went back 20 the same old
bench.
A little after six o'clock q changing
and commotion In the train-shed out
side, attending the arrival Of a
Through express" stirred him from
his torpor. He walked heavily across
the room to the same ticket-windOw
he had blocked before, but there "a
no queue attached to Ii now. He
rested his elbow on the apron and his
chin upon his hand. and for some mo
ments the clerk waited until he should
state his wishes. This was g new
clerk, who had just relieved the other.
"Welli Weir" he said at last.
"TTl take il now" Noble responded,
gently.
"NNhat1l you take nowr
THAT ticket !"
"What ticketf"
"rhe same one I wanted before"
Noble sighed.
The clerk gave him a piercing look.
glanced out OF the window and saw
that there were no other. clients. then
went to a desk at the farther end of
his compartment. and took up some
clerical work he had In hand.
Noble leaned upon the apron Of the
window. waiting and If he thought
anything. he thought the man was
serving him.
The high, resonant room became
Humorous with voices and with he
mingling echoes. of footsteps on the
tiled floor, as passengers from the ex-
press hurried to the street, or more
gaiiy struggled through, shouting TO
friends who came to greet them and
among these moving groups there
walked o youthful fine lady noticeably
enlivening TO the dullest eye. She was
preceded by q brisk porter who car
ried two travelling bags of a rich sort,
as well as q sack or implements for
the game of golf and she was warm
In dark furs. against which the Vastly
clumpt of yiolets she wore showed
dewy gleamings OF blue.
At sight of Noble Dill, more than
pensTve at the ticket-window, she hest
tated, then stopped and observed him.
Here. was a coincidence, in a mild
way, for, as it happened, she was her
self the most observed person in all
that place. She was yelled In two
wells. hut she had been seen in the
train without these, and some Of her
feIIow-travelers, though strangers to
her. were walking near her In a hypo-
critical way, hoping still not to lose
sight of her, even yelled. And although
the Surroundings permitted the most
meager information of her features,
what they did reveal was harmfully
piquant moreover, there was a sweet
ness to the figure, a disturbing grace;
and nothing DISCUSSES such an air Of
wearing that many yiolets as a daily
perquisite and matter Of course.
Ii was Julia's fortune tthaugh her
father had other Ideas concerning the
matter) TO he the possessor of a per-
.%enality distinctly pleasing to the
masculine eye, and Of this the fair
Julia was probably aware. In any
event she was quite conscious of the
stir which her passage through the
thropg created.
So the coincidence came about that
this observed lady stopped and OBJ
served Noble, who In return observed
her not at all, being but s~emiconscious.
"Noblet" she said.
He stared al her. His elbow sagged
away from the window; the whole
person Of Noble Dill seemed near col
lapse. He shook. and had no voice.
Il lust this minute got of the
train" Julia said. Are you going
away somewhereY I.
"No," he whispered; then obtained
command of q huskiness somewhat
greater in volume. I'm just standing
here"
II told the porter to get me a taxi
cab" she said. "If you're going home
Tor dinner I'll drop you At your house"
~ Tm- H." His articulation
encountered unsurmountable difficult
ties, hut Julia had been with him
through many such trials aforetima.
She said briskly. Pm awfully hungry
and I want to get home. Come on-if
you like"
He walked wayeringIy at her side
through the station. and followed her
into the dim Interior OF the cab. which
became fragrant OF vioIefs- an ema-
nation at once inefrabIe and poisonous.
.1'm 50 glad happened to run
across YOU" she said. ms they began
TO s.orate TREMENDOUSLY In unison with
The fiei &c little engine that drove them,
"A warr 10 hear All The news. Nobody
snvws I'm home. ! didn't write or
s.laUronh tn a soul and III he n