The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-26
Trouble and I are strangers, so as l have youe
 o O O Mas Mvstery Arrives.

1 a $ l have you"
 Miss Mystery Arrives. l Any one who has arrived at the | railroad station of a New England | village, after dark on a very cold 1 winter night, the train late, no one | to meet him, and no place engaged | for board and lodging, will know the | desolation of such situation.
 rOev, England's small railroad sta ! tons are much alike. the crowds that | alisht from the trains are much alike, | tbe people waiting on the platform | for the arriving travellers are much | alike But there came into Corlhtn one night a passenger who was not | al all like the fellow passengers on that belated train. It was a train | from New York, due in Corinth at | $40. but owing to the extreme cold weather. and various untoward treez- l ings occasioned thereby, the delays were many and long and the train drew into the station shortly after o'clock.
 The passenger who was unlike the others stepped down from the car platform, and holding her small suit l case firmly, crossed the track and l entered the station waiting room. She went to the ticket window, but found there no attendant. Impatiently she | tapped her little foot on the old board floor but no one appeared.
 Undecided as to her next move she opened the station door just in time to see an old man with long white beard jump into his sleigh and begin to tuck fur robes about him.
 He sprang to his sleigh-to this team gave a whistle" she quoted to herself and then cried out, Hey. there, Santa Claus, give me lift2"
 You engaged for our house?" the man called back, and as she shook her head, he gathered up the reins.
 Cant take any one not engaged" :" he called back. "Giddap"
 "Wait-wait' l command you" The sharp, clear young voice rang out through the cold winter air, and Old Saltonstall Adams paused to listen.
 "Ho ho," he chuckled. you com mand me, do you? Now, I haven't been commanded for something like 50 years"
 "Oh, don't stop to fuss,". the girl exclaimed angrily. Don't you see I'm cold, hungry and very uncomfort- able? You have a boarding house I want board-now, you take me in. Do you hear?"
 Sure. l hear but. miss, we've only so many rooms and they're all occu- pied or engaged"
 Some are engaged, but as yet un- occupied?" The dark eyes challenged him, and Adams mumbled-"We ell, that's about it."
 "Very well, I will occupy one until the engager comes along"
 The wild wind blew fiercely. It was showing little, and the drifts sent feathery clouds through the air. The trees, coated with ice from a recent sleet storm, broke off crack ling bits of ice as they passed. The girl looked about, at first curiously, and then timidly, as if frightened by what she saw.
 It was not long ride and they stopped before large house, showing broad front door that swung open comfortably lighted windows and a even as the girl was getting down from the sleigh.
 For the land sake" exclaimed a brisk feminine voice, this aint Lefty! Who on earth have you got
 T don't know" ca Salt Adams re- piled truthfully. Take her along, mother, and give her nights lodg-
 But where is Lefty? Didn't she
 Now cant you see she didn't come? Do you s'pose I left her at the station? Or dumped her out along the road? No-since you will have 1t, she didn't come She didn't comew
 Old Salt drove on toward the barns, and Mrs. Adams bade the girl go into the house.
 The landlady followed, and as she saw the strange guest she gazed at her in frank curiosity.
 You want a room, l s'pose," she began. But I'm sorry to say we haven't one vacant"
 "Oh, I'll take Letty's. She didn't