Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

166 A FIGHT WITH FORTUNE. be had while ez route. She will trust to his judgment in the matter, and do whatever he advises. In a very short time he appears, accompanied by his wife, ready for traveling. On the way he ad- dresses a few words to the clerk, telling him to hold their trunks and rooms until he hears by wire what to do with them. “*Now for the carriage.’ In another minute they are off for the station, just seven minutes after train time. “lve known of trains in Virginia that were de- layed half an hour in starting. These single track roads can never be depended on,’’ remarks Joe, consolingly. ‘“That would be too good luck—don’t count on it. You’ll find we have to depend on ourselves pretty much for everything gained here,’’ answers Bob, who gave over long ago trusting to fortune. And he 1s quite right, too. Reaching the station, they find that the train has started exactly on schedule time. Can they hire a special to take them to Gordonville? Such a thing astonishes the official in charge. A special on this road is rather an unknown quantity, and they are hardly prepared for it. | He endeavors to appear as though such a demand were a daily occurrence—these railway officials do not like to be looked down upon, no matter if they represent a line five miles long. He assumes a thoughtful air, glances over some files and books of accounts, and consumes at least six or seyen minutes before he shakes his head, Gomichooksrcom