"Not until 3:05 A.M."
Beryl sat down on the edge of a baggage truck, and pondered the situation. She knew that her mother, who had carefully studied the railway schedule, was with feverish anxiety expecting her return by the train, now many miles away; and she feared that any unexplained detention would have an injurious effect on the sick woman's shattered nerves.
Although she could ill afford the expense, she resolved to allay all apprehension, by the costly sedative of a telegram.
Only a wall separated the ticket office from that of the "telegraph," and approaching the operator, Beryl asked for a blank form, on which she wrote her mother's address, and the following message:
"Complete success required delay. All will be satisfactory. Expect me Saturday. B. B."
When she had paid the operator, there remained in her purse, exclusive of the gold coins received that afternoon, only thirty-eight cents. Where could she spend the next seven hours? Interpreting the perplexed expression of her face, the agent, who had curiously noted her movements, said courteously:
"There is a hotel a few blocks off, where you can rest until train time."
"I prefer to remain here."
"We generally lock up this office about half-past eight, and re-open at half-past two, which gives passengers ample accommodation for the 3:05 train."
"Would you violate regulations by leaving the waiting-room open to-night?"