Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-12-12

her face grew red as she spoke.
II have lost my shoes in the sleeping
Car. I put them on the window sill,
and they fell out"
The driver shook his head sympa-
thetically.
Sand / want you to drive me to the
hotel where my father isputting up.
cannot this minute remember, but drive
out Of this crowd to where it is quieter,
and I'll recall the name"
"Yes, Miss" he said, and mounted
his box and drove into Madison avenue.
There he descended and stood once
more ut the door.
"Tell me the names of some hotels, y
she said. sDe
He mentioned four or five. She was
sure the last was the right name, and
said so.
ASK for Mr.. Brandon, y she said; and
away they drove again; but she had
made Q mistake. Mr.. Brandon was NOT
at thcst@tel. ~
"Wen, where now, Missp" asked the
driver again at the door; but Belle was
helpless. The tears were streaming
down her cheeks.
II can't remember she said. "a
can't remember. What shall doP My
shoes are gone; my trunk checks are
gone; my money is gone, and ean'i
find my father. SS
One item of this horrible recapsula;
tion alone struck the driver. . M
: "Ha'n't you got no money!" he in
CURED. ~
= .sNot a cent" sobbed Belle. ~
6 Ibid you keep your money in youi
shoesp" satirically inquired the driver.
NO." sobbed Belle; "the bag went
too"
"Then I'm beat out of my farer'
said the driver. 'Step out, if you
please. you wasn't female I'd give
you in charge of an officer; Cor 1 believe
you're lying. Get out.
Belle obeyed; she hurried across the
sidewalk and stood in tho afTiendly
shadow of a high porch, sick with ter.
ror The shades of evening We're de-
scendlng; people gazed at her curiously
Never, in all her life, did Belle forget
the modification of that hour. Yes, q
whole long hour poor Belle stood in
that corner, on those little red stocking
feet, trying not to cry, and praying in
wardly for help.
'No shoes on! No shoes on! No shoes
onH' people whispered, or seemed to
whisper, as they passed. Everybody
looked at her suspiciously.
At last, from the door in the big
house against the wall of which she
stood, emerged man, who not only
looked as the rest had done, but who
advanced and spoke
Madame" he said, in gentlemanly
accents, 81 see that you are in some
trouble. have been watching you fol-
some time; and l hope you will excus,
me for addressing you. But is Their,
anything that can doP"
The girl looked at him. He was 9
young man, and rather handsome; but
above all, he seemed kind. She tolC
him her story at once. He evidentl,
did not doubt it, as the cabman haC
done.
"And, oh, siry' she said in conclusion
'.how shall 1 find my fatherP Wha
shall i dop"
He looked at her more kindly thar
before.
IF you will let me help you," h,
said, "you shall find yourself safe.
have little sister out West, and 1 will
do for you exactly what / would wisl
some other fellow would do for her
You must have some shoes ut once.
will leave you in the janitor's office, an,
find some for you. Then we will find Mr.
Brandon, If we go to every hotel i'm thu
city. assure you we will find him, i
you are sure he is at a hotel"
'Oh, yes" said Belle, feeling great,
comforted.
She sat in little room, hung abou
with keys and riddled with speakin.
tubes, for some time; and her new-fount
protector went away. He hurried TO
shoe store near by, and asked the pric,
of ladies' shoes. The cheapest made
hole in his only five-dollar bill, but h
bought them. He carried them back Z,
the janitor's room, and Belle, witt
thanks that came from her soul, pu
them on. She was herself again whel
the buttons were fastened, and did no
even remember what the French teache
would have thought of her position. Sh
took the offered arm of her escort, an,
they went out into the twilight.
"What should have done if you ha,
not found mep" she said. Papa, will
be so thankful to YOU"
The young man answered properly
and they walked to the hotel which wa
nearest.
Rooms were not engaged there, TO
Miss Brandon, nor was Mr.. Brandon
there, nor had he been there. At hal
q dozen other places the same answe
was received. Then il occurred to he
escort to telegraph TO the rest of tn
well-known hotels. He did so. Hi
money went by quarters. It. was al
gone, and no favorable answer had beoI
returned. Bell watched the coming 4
of the replies, and grew paler at eael
negative.
"What will he think of meP" nov
mingled with her thought of "Wha
shall I dop''
She knew his name. She had seen
written many times. 1t was Perciva
Perry.
What pretty nnme!" she said t
herself.
When he left her for few moment
in the telegraph Office she had no sus
picion of what he was about to do
How could she guess that he went T.
pawn his watch In order to continue hi
search for her fatherp
He returned with the money in hi
pocket, and with tho aid of the direc
tory every hotel in tho city was tele
graphed. Mr.. Brandon was at none O
OF them. What should he do with thi
trembling, frightened, weary little girl
She was so sweet, so young, so limo
cent, that he could not grow impatient
but what was he doP A young man
who had arrived in the city in search O
position some two months before, VIII
had not found one yet, and who had not
lady friend in the great metropolis, or an
money beyond the remnant of the sun
brought by his pawncd watch. He ais
was growing desperate. 1t was no,
eleven o'clock, fast going on for mid
night. Suddenly possibility occurre,
to him.
"Let us go back to the depot" h
said. "Your father may have como TO