The Argosy — page 92: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Sivess of Weather. 79 Dolman looked in amazement at his opposite neighbour. Mr. Podbury laughed cheerily. “Good gracious! Cats and dogs, I dare say, insnow form!” A great swirl of wind drove the snow hard against the glass as he spoke, and, for a minute or so, the windows were blinded. Slower and slower moved the train, and finally stopped. “ What now?” cried Mr. Dolman, as he and Mr. Podbury thrust their heads out of opposite windows, and as suddenly drew them in again. <A guard plodding his way along, and bending to the tempest, showed the most remarkable instance of railway-official-forbearance on record, for he waited to hear and answer the two gentlemen, who now tried to thrust their two heads out of one and the same window. “Why have you stopped, guard?” asked the one. Why don’t you go on, guard?” asked the other. * We're fast in a drift, sirs, and can’t get no further.” At this astounding news, the questioners became momentarily dumb ; even from Mr. Podbury’s cheerful face the light died out. “It’s disgraceful !—to-day of all days, guard !—TI shall be too late, after all!” burst forth Mr. Dolman inangry reproach. But the guard passed quietly onwards, and the gentlemen shut up the window. The only one of the three who wore an air of comfort and com- posure was Mr. Weaver. He read a short paragraph in his scientific journal, and murmured to himself. ‘¢ Most interesting! Wonderful!” “ What is, sir?” testily inquired Mr Dolman. “Our being stuck in the snow?” Mr. Weaver glanced up from his reverie with a mild remark. ‘I have been engaged for some years in the study of the Glacial Period, sir. As it wasin the past it will undoubtedly be again. I see a beautiful corroboration in the scene around me of the evident near approach of the extraordinary cold phenomena we are led by ‘the most learned of our men to expect.” “Every one to his taste,” cried Mr. Podbury, shivering. ‘I hate ice myself,” and he drew outa well-filled pocket-flask. Mr. Dolman, evidently put out by some private, serious complication, frowned and glowered silently. The snow was getting uncommonly deep, and presently the guard appeared again. ‘No chance of moving, gentlemen, till we can get some men to dig us out. Nearest station just one mile off.” And away he went. “Does the fellow think we can walk?” demanded Mr. Dolman of Mr. Podbury. “No, no. We must grin and bear it.” “T can’t bear it, sir!” said Mr. Dolmanunreasonably. “If I don’t get to Paddington in an hour, my niece and my niece’s fortune will be lost to me for ever.” “Good gracious!” exclaimed Mr. Podbury, with keen pleasure at the chance of a little amusing scandal, “‘how’s that, sir?” Even the Glacial Period man looked across with mild interest. cConmiclooo! SS (CO)