Sam drew up beside the platform and, for a moment sat quite still, evidently cogitating.
"No such thing! The train ain't gone!" said Martha, as if he had maintained it had. "It's only five minutes to one."
"It might have been ahead of time."
"Did you ever know one was?" inquired his wife.
He got out and made his way to the waiting-room. A moment and he was back.
"There's been delays back along the road. The train's two hours late. It won't be here till three, or after."
"Well, what do you think o' that!" said Martha.
The next instant she was dragging Ellen Hinckley into the waiting-room, through it, and on into the telegraph-operator's booth.
"Say, young fella," she addressed him bluntly, "this party here's in danger of her life. Me an' my husban' is gettin' her out o' harm's way, which he's hot on our track. He'll be along any minute. Think o' your mother, if you ever had one. An if not, think o' some other female o' the same sect, only younger. Lend a hand, anyhow, to help us out, will you?"
The youth eyed Mrs. Slawson dubiously.