lantern.

"It's getting pretty close to time, Major Honeywell," he said with
some concern. "You're sure he'll be here?"

The man addressed, who stood leaning lightly on a cane and whose
soft dark hat and clothes indicated his military calling, showed
similar concern, but replied confidently:

"We have nearly fifteen minutes. Young Napier has a reputation for
never failing. I'm sure he'll be here in time."

"Here's the telegram," interrupted young Alan Hope, as he drew a
yellow sheet from his pocket. "It is from Youngstown, Ohio, and
says Ned's train is on time. He left Washington yesterday and if
everything is all right he reached the Union Depot a half hour ago.
He'll be here."

"Well, you know we can't wait, much as I'd like to," replied the
conductor. "You'd better have everything ready."

"She's dat, sah," interrupted the fourth person of the group, a
young negro, who, as he spoke, placed his hand on the side door of
the car, and moved it on its easy running bearings.

"You see, there isn't much time left," continued the sympathetic
train official. "We're coupling up." And he nodded toward the
gloom beyond the train shed out of which the big compound locomotive
was already emerging. The military man with the cane became more
apprehensive.