The Argosy — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

42 The Night Boat from Boulogne. service from Boulogne. She, too, would take it. What did luggage matter? She had her money with her; she had only to do what her companion did. As to the result of her pursuit, she did not pause to consider. She: felt that she might perhaps have made a discovery, and for Frank’s. sake she would do her best. She followed the gentleman at once to> the ticket office. Several persons were taking tickets but there was no. press and she managed, still closely veiled, to get behind him. ‘Second class ticket, via Boulogne,” he said, and=Janet held her breath to make sure of his words. What if she should make a mistake ?” When he had passed she repeated his remark. ‘¢ Second class ticket, via Boulogne.” The ticket official looked up at hearing a woman’s voice; why,, Janet could not imagine. “Via Boulogne ?” “Yes,” said Janet decidedly, and apparently her decision prevented. further questioning. She was safe now, at all events ; she had the same ticket and she would be in the same train as that man. Mechanically she followed him and his Gladstone bag into the wooden pens which are so trying to» the Englishman’s love of liberty. Once here, in the same place as the supposed thief, Janet began to. cool down and all kinds of dreadful suppositions filled her brain. Had she not promised Frank to stay at the hotel till she heard from him ; might she not just miss the real good of her staying behind by thus chasing a wild idea? She hardly dared look toward the stranger, who, standing near the door presently to be opened, took no notice of any other traveller. By the time Janet had made herself miserable, the door was. thrown open and the travellers were bidden to come forth. Janet noticed that there were but two women and several children besides herself and that they staggered under great bundles, whilst she carried nothing but a reticule and a small shawl. She noticed nothing more till she saw the man enter a smoking-carriage and then she hastily got in with the women and children, feeling less afraid now she was sure of a friendly fellow-traveller. The deed was done and she was in the train on her way to Eng- land ; it was no use regretting anything and she even smiled at the idea that Frank could not guess where she was or what she was doing.. Very soon the train shot forth into the gathering darkness ; lurid clouds brooded no good to the travellers, and very soon the rain began ; thick blinding rain that looked intensely dreary. Janet shivered and the woman looked kindly at her, wondered she had not brought more wraps, and offered her one. Janet accepted gratefully and listened to a long story about the woman’s history: her husband was waiter at an hotel and she was going to join him. The children were in great trouble about crossing the sea. ECORNIELOO KS, (EC) mn