Three People | Page 7

traveler, and really
did not so much mind the fatigue; but he was a man accustomed to
carrying out his plans and intentions to the very letter, and it jarred
upon him to have even snow and ice audacious enough to interfere.
There were other travelers that night who had no fur-lined cloaks. One
in particular, who sat near the stove, and made such good use of the
dampers that Mr. Hastings had no use for his cloak, even after
unstrapping it, but flung it into a great furry heap on the nearest seat
behind him, and knew not then, nor ever, that the insignificant little act
was one of the tiny links in the chain of circumstances that were
molding Tode Mall's life.
Tode Mall started on a journey that very evening. He didn't pack his
valise, nor take his overcoat, nor ride to the depot in a carriage. In fact,
his father kicked him out of the cellar like a foot-ball, and bade him
good-by in these words:
"There! get out. And don't let me ever see a sight of your face again."
Tode rolled over once in the snow, then got up and shook himself, and
made prompt answer:
"All right! I'm agreed."
He then stuffed his hands into the ragged pockets of his ragged jacket,
and marched off up town, and because he happened to roll over and
come up with his face turned in the direction of the depot, is the only
known reason why he walked up town instead of down.
Apparently he didn't take his father's late treatment very much to heart.

"He's drunk," he said, philosophically. "That's what's the matter with
him. In about two hours he'll be over this part of the carouse and be
snoring, then I'll slip back all right, if I don't freeze beforehand. Ain't it
cold, though. I must travel faster than this."
On he went aimlessly, reached the depot presently, and followed the
crowd who crossed the river, for no better reason than that a great many
people seemed to be going that way. Following a portion of this same
crowd brought him at last to a platform of the departing train, just as
the steam-horse was giving a premonitory snort, and the official called
out for the second time:
"All aboard!"
"No, we ain't exactly," said Tode. "But it wouldn't take long to get
aboard if that is what you want, particularly if you've got a fire in
there."
And he peered curiously in at the drowsy passengers. It was just at this
point that Mr. Hastings threw his furry cloak away from him, and
settled among his other wraps for a night's rest. The action caught
Tode's eye.
"My! ain't that fellow comfortable?" chuckled he to himself. "Got a
wolf there that he don't appear to need. If he'd lend it to me I wouldn't
mind keeping him company for a spell. S'pose I try it?"
And suiting the action to the word he pushed open the door, and walked
boldly forward among the sleepy people, halted at the stove, and while
the delicious sense of warmth crept slowly over him he kept one eye on
Mr. Hastings until he felt sure, just as the train got fairly into motion,
that the gentleman had fairly commenced his nap, then he slid himself
into the empty seat, and used his hands and his wits in so disposing of
the "wolf" that it would cover his cuddled up body completely, and at
the same time look like nothing but an innocent cloak thrown carelessly
on the seat; and he chuckled as distinctly as he dared when he heard the
conductor's voice calling "tickets" to the sleepy people, and presently
the door opened, and shut with a slam, and the silence that followed

showed that he considered his business with that car finished.
"He didn't ask Wolfie for his ticket," giggled Tode. "I reckon he don't
know he's alive, no more don't the man that thinks he owns him. I say
now, what if he gets a cold streak, and wants to borrow Wolfie for
himself after a spell? Poh!" he added after a minute, "it's easy enough
to get out the way I came in; but it will be time enough to do it when I
have to. I ain't going to keep doing it all night. I vote for one good
warm nap, I do--so here goes."
And Tode went straightway to the land of dreams. The night wore on,
the restless traveler near the stove dozed and wakened and attended to
the dampers, thereby all unknowingly contributing his mite to Tode's
warm journey. The train halted now and again at a station, and a few
sleepy people stumbled off, and a few wide-awake ones came on,