He found the guard and the engine driver awaiting events in the station-master’s office. They were quite willing to follow him to the carriage in which Susie sat. They listened with deep emotion to the story which Tom told them. It was exactly the same story which he told the sergeant, except this time the bridegroom was a battalion commander of the Irish Volunteers whose life was threatened by a malignant Black-and-Tan. Susie sobbed as bitterly as before. “It’s a hard case, so it is,” said the guard, “and if there was any way of getting the young lady to Dublin----” “There’s only one way,” said Tom, “and that’s to take on this train.” “It’s what we can’t do,” said the engine driver, “not if all the girls in Ireland was wanting to get married. So long as the armed forces of England----” “But they’re not armed,” said Tom. “Michael.” said the engine driver to the guard, “did you not tell me that them soldiers has guns with them and tin hats on their heads?” “I did tell you that,” said the guard, “and I told you the truth.” “My impression is,” said Tom, “that those soldiers aren’t armed at all. They seem to be a harmless set of men off to Dublin on leave, very likely going to be married themselves. They’re certainly not on duty.” The engine driver scratched his head. Susie, inspired by a wink from Tom, broke into a despairing wail. “If that’s the way of it,” said the engine driver, “it would be different, of course.” “Come and see,” said Tom. The sergeant and his men were sitting in their compartment smoking cigarettes. Their heads were bare. Most of them had their tunics unbuttoned. One of them was singing a song, in which the whole party joined: “Mary, Jane and Polly Find it very jolly When we take them out with us to Tea--tea--tea!” There was not a single rifle to be seen anywhere. “There now,” said Tom. “You see for yourselves. You can’t call those men munitions of war.” The guard, who had seen the soldiers march into the station, was puzzled; but the engine driver seemed convinced that there had been some mistake. “I’ll do it,” he said, “for the sake of the young girl and the brave lad that wants to marry her, I’ll take the train to Dublin.” “Well, hurry up,” said Tom. “Drive that old engine of yours for all she’s worth.” The driver hastened to his post. The guard blew his whistle shrilly. Tom seized his wife by the arm. “Hop into the carriage with Susie Farrelly,” he said. “Dry her eyes, and tell her I’ll spend £5 on a silk blouse for her, pink or blue or any colour she likes. I’ll explain the whole thing to you when we get to Dublin. I can’t travel with you. The guard is only half convinced and might turn suspicious if he saw us together.”