ll the cars
were about starting, and then to jump on and buy my ticket from the
conductor.

"But I never expected such an interminable wait. Minute after minute
went by without a hint of preparation for the advancing train. The hour
for leaving arrived, passed, and not a man had shown himself on the
platform. Had a change been made in the time-table? If so, what a
prospect lay before me! Autumn nights are chill in Minnesota, and, my
cloak having been sacrificed, I found poor protection in my neat but far
from warm serge dress. However, I did not fully realize my position till
another passenger arrived late and panting, and I heard some one shout
out to him from the open door that an accident had occurred below
and that it would be five hours at least before the train would come
through.

"Five hours! and no shelter in sight save the impossible one of the
station itself. How could I pass away that time! How endure the cold and
fatigue? By pacing to and fro in the road? I tried it, resolutely tried
it, for an hour, then a new terror, a new suspense, gripped me, and I
discovered that I could never live through the hours; never, in fact,
take the train when it came without knowing what had happened in Boone
and whether the feint on which I relied had achieved its purpose. There
was time to steal back, time to see and hear what would satisfy me of
my own safety; and then to have some purpose in my movement! How much
better than this miserable pacing back and forth just to start the
stagnating blood and make the lagging moments endurable!

"So I turned again toward Boone. I was not in the mood to fear darkness
or any encounter save one, and experienced hesitation only when I found
myself reapproaching the bridge. Shadows which had protected me until
now failed me there, and it was with caution I finally advanced and
emerged upon the open spot where the road crossed the river. But even
this was not needed. In the wide stretch before me cut by the inky
stream, I saw no signs of life, and it was not till I was on the bridge
itself that I discerned in the black hollows below the glint of a
lantern, lighting up the bending forms of two or three men who were
dragging at something which heaved under their hands with the pull of
the stream.

"It was a sight which has never left me, but one which gave wings to my
feet that night and sent me flying on till a fork in the road brought
me to a standstill. To the left lay the hotel. I