Some of the passengers saw her from the windows, and were inclined to laugh rather than sympathize with her evident distress.
“Serves her right!” said a grouty old fellow. “Why didn’t she come back in time?”
“There’s a woman left behind,” said another passenger to the conductor.
He shrugged his shoulders, and said, indifferently, “That’s her lookout. If she didn’t choose to come to time, she must take the consequences.”
“Couldn’t you stop the train?” asked a kind-hearted little woman.
“No ma’am. Quite impossible. We’re behind time already.”
So the train sped on, leaving granny frantic and despairing, waving her arms and screaming hoarsely, “Stop! I’ve got a gal aboard!”
“What would Mr. Lindsay say?” she could not help thinking. Only four hours had passed since Tom had been placed in her charge, and they were separated. She cared little or nothing for Tom, or her welfare, but for her own interests, which were likely to be seriously affected, she cared a great deal. She was to have a comfortable annuity as long as she kept Tom safe in custody, and that was at an end unless she could manage to get her back.
She went into the station-house, and inquired when the next train would leave. She learned that several hours must elapse. Having plenty of time, therefore, she went back to the saloon, and recovered the change due her, taking an additional glass of whiskey, to drown her chagrin and disappointment.