Left End Edwards

ing act. If any two travellers by land or sea ever received their money's worth in food it was Steve and Tom. They took the menu card and briskly demanded everything in order, and when, having fin

on, they dragged themselves back to their own c

on where other trains whisked in and out with amazing frequency. Then on again, and they were suddenly dipping into a tunnel, conscious of an unpleasant pressure against their eardrums. Tom's expression of bewildered alarm moved a kind-heart

o Steve's ear, "he thinks we're a couple o

ind the office of the baggage transfer company quite bravely. For a minute they had only to follow the hurrying throng of fellow-passengers, but soon this throng divided and went separate ways and Steve and Tom, resting their arms by depositing their hand luggage on the lower step of an apparently interminable flight of broad stairs, looked about for someone to question. But everyone seemed in a terrible hurry, and when, at last, Steve ventured to

fer company's office as to the best method of reaching the Grand Central Station, and the directions had sounded quite easy to follow. But now the feat didn't look so simple, for the man had told them to take a car going in a certain dire

cars in this town run on

they run

you wait

ee o'clock and our train goes from the

s large as New York that block of street was strangely deserted. A team or two passed and an el

wrong street. Maybe there are tw

more leisurely, and when he reached the corner Tom was talking to a policeman. It was all very simple. They had made the mistake of leaving the terminal by a wrong exit and had emerged on to a cross-town street. After that it

Tom, clutching a strap and narrowly avoiding a seat in the

city. Even when, owing to a blockade at one of the street intersections, it became evident that they could not possibly make the three-fifteen trai

we'd be lost for fair and never would get to Brimfield. When

ed "Information" elicited the announcement that the next train available for them would not leave until three-f

teve eagerly. "Let's check our bags

lost! No, sir,

such a scare

ght here and wait. You can leave your bag and I'll look after it. Only, if you don't

suspiciously, his glance finally falling on Tom's left-hand neighbour, a youth of perhaps nineteen years upon whose good-looking face rested an amused smile. Instantly, however, the paper he was holding was

llow next to you! I

sit over there where it's lighter." Whereupon he gathered the bags up and literally fled across the waiting-room, Steve at hi

those bags every minute. I'll be right back, though. Want to see my paper?" And Steve handed an Eve

d "Brimfield" was not among the list of stations enunciated through the trumpet. It was after he had sunk back with a sigh of relief on finding that a train for "Pittsburgh, Chicago and the West" was not his that he discovered that an empty seat at his right had been occupied during his strained interest in the announcer. Glancing around he saw that the occupant was the well-dressed, good-looking youth who had been seated next to him before. The youth seemed very interested in the paper he was reading, his gaze being apparently fi

team this year," he observed genially

s," h

e other. Tom dared a quick glance at

sation before selling them counterfeit money or leading them to gamble away their savings. Tom's eyes darted anxiously about in search of St

n, after a short pause: "Say, I've met you

his feet convulsively against the bu

ht perhaps you were from T

t was, he reflected agitatedly, absolutely marvellous the way these f

dn't, though.

s a fine town.

d energetically.

hat such he was-seemed disappointed. But he wasn't d

inking then in a fr

phia," he

Pennsylvania Terminal. I guess you're a stranger here, eh? Tell you what I'll

sperately, sending an appealing glance toward the

ould carry a suit-case, but that might be only an attempt to avert suspicion. The bag held the inscription "A. L. M., Orange, N. J." Probably the bag had been stolen. Tom fixed that inscription firmly i

w did he know

. M." looked very youthful to be such a deep-dyed villain and Tom felt a bit sorry for

oderated his voice and leaned toward Tom. Tom, turning his head a trifle to follow the other's gaze, felt one of the bags between his feet move and made a grab toward it. But th

ath. But the policeman, although he undoubtedly followed the youth with his gaze for a moment, failed to act, and Tom was not

ly infirm. He clutched a basket of fruit and an ivory-headed cane and seemed quite oblivious to everything about him. New York, reflected Tom, with something like a shudder, must be a terribly wicked place! And then, while he was still striving to discern signs of depravity under the gentle and kindly exterior of the elderly confidence-man, a young woman, leading a little boy of some three or four years of age and bearing many bundles

lf. But his steps got slower and slower as he approached the gate and when he reached it he set the bags down, got his ticket out and waited. After all, it would be a pretty mean trick to leave Steve. At least, he'd wait there until the

train, son?" as

e. Then he stopped and shook his head. "No, I guess

ateman, punching the ti

mfie

bly settled. Tom took his bags and hurried back to the wai

Tom savagely. "Then I'll go. And-a

the hour Steve appeared, a little flus

ust around in the next street! Seven engines and a hook-and-ladder and hundreds of hose-carts

going to Brimfield on the four-twelve.

as well wait and see the fire out. There's lots of time, anyway

off if you think it's any fun for me sitting around here and

ou didn't w

nger. "I didn't want to go. But that's no reason why you should leave me alone for th

Steve. "We haven't done an

ost two

here's another at t

longer," declared Tom peevishly. "Take up your bag

t? Haven't

t w

said Ste

ed Tom disgustedly, indicating the suit

e looked at the bag in Tom's hand and

in stupefied amazement

the legend: "A. L.