Beryl did not answer, and after a moment the agent added:

"That is Gen'l Darrington's nick-name all over this section."

"When will the next train leave here?"

"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