Evening star., 1923-12-23


an unmistakable air Of disap-
pointment. For minute or two she
stood, irresolute. beside the incredi-
BILE number of parcels which her por-
ter had deposited on the snowy plat
form, watching the crowded taxis
and the closed cars as they blithely
circled the station-yard and scattered
hillward toward the avenues of VIM
blehurst.
Then. deserting her pyramid OF
saily ribboned parcels. she walked
toward the waiting-room door. 1t
was not often that Stevens. that most
dependable of chauffeurs. was late in
coming for her. She was tired. after
her day of Christmas shopping in the
city. The holiday spirit ebbed from
her heart, like air from a punctured
tire. She felt alone and overlooked in
a cold and wintry world. And as
though expressive of her own momen-
tary desolation Of spirit. sudden
dolorous and prolonged duet of dog
bowling smote on her ears.
She stopped short as she heard that
sound. for Alberta Orgaine loved
Sowling, which echoed through the
wintry air, was unhappiness and neg
lect and heart-break making itself
vocal. So. instead of turning in at
the waiting room to telephone, she
kept on along the station platform
until she came to a Slated crate
standing just beyond the corner of
the express room. Imprisoned within
this crate she saw two Scotch collies,
SO alike in line and markings that
one seemed but the shadow of the
other. They stood with their thin
shoulders together and their pointed
noses directed heavenward. baying
out their misery to an unheeding
world. They yodeled and chorused in
unison. prolonged their thinning
: howls into a plaintive double wall Of
protest that echoed across the wintery
hills.
Alberta Orgaine dropped on her
knees beside the crate and uttered
soothing little endearments to the
dogs. She continued to talk to them.
in a soft and friendly tone. until
they gave up their mournful caroling.
glove to caress their unaverted necks.
When they had completely quieted
down again, the girl rose to her feet
and proceeded with an ominously de-
termined stride to the inner door of
the express room, where she encoun-
tered a hostile and extremely busy
youth with terra-cotto-tinted hair,
sorting packages.
Where's Tredway?' she demanded
with a crisp note of authority which
the youth promptly and openly re-
scented.
sick wit the flu," he retorted,
turning back to his packages.
And what are you doing here, lit
tie boy?" she naively inquired. The
youth managed to survive the "little
boy" But he proclaimed his personal
and inalienable independence by
lighting a cigarette and inhaling its
fumes.
TT. tryin' to run this Office" he
coolly announced.
''And do you think you're running
it properly" just as coolly inquired
the girl in chinchilla.
rstorted the red-headed youth.
Then you probably haven't heard
those dogs that are being so afro
ciously neglected out on the plat
form," she said with sugary quiet
ness.
Say, let me tell you somethin'," he
cried as he threw down his cigarette
and ground it under a quickly rotat.
ing heel. I'm doin' two mems work
here. and I amt got time for holdin'
debates or sloothin' out the owners Of
animals who amt interested enough
to come and get their shipments
whom they're landed here"
A Iberia ORGAINE considered
the red-haired one, considered
him with quiet and contemplating
eye.
When did those dogs come hereT'
she finally inquired.
"On the seven-eighteen this morn
Ing" was the curt reply.
Have they been fed and watered?"
1t was the harried youths turn to
swing about and inspect her with
steely stare. Yes, maam,'' he said,
with purely ironic intent. That's all
I'm here for-just that-to wet nurse
tho livestock that comes down the
1inev'
II don't think you'll be here long"
asserted the girl with the slightly
flushed cheeks.
Il don't intend to be-" retorted the
undisturbed youth as he flung a par
Gel to the far end of the truck.
Alberta turned away, but her heart,
which one short hour before had
rocked with the blithest Of Christmas
goodwill, now beat hard against her
slender young ribs. She went in
dignantly. back to the dog-crate,
where the lonely collies shifted less
tirnorously at her her coat as she
bent over the Stats In search Of the
shipping tag. She found 1t. at last:
MIR. PARAN CAYLEY,"
Gray Cables
"Wimblehurst Station"
She had no idea who Paran Cayley
might be. but she knew what her
opinion of him was. So inflammatory
remained her estimate OF that gen.
tleman, in fact, that when she looked
up and saw Stevens standing at at
tention with rug over his arm. she
regarded him with fire in her eye:
How dare you keep me waiting
like this" she demanded.
"It was a blowout, miss" explain
ed the meek-eyed chauffeur.
wait here for me-" she said short
1y as she started across the station
ward. She went to the, Star Restau-