The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1892-12-24
money enough. What

ward III one OF Cne regular coaches.
Miss Raymond finds enough in her
purse to pay half fare to Buffalo and
hands it to the train conductor.
During the scene Jack has been in
tently looking out of the window in a
decidedly uncomfortable frame OF
mind. His heart is not by any means
broken at the prospect of losing the
company of the little girl, but when he
thinks he sees Just a suspicion of a
glisten under Miss Raymond's down
cast lids, with their heavy, soft lashes,
| he can stand it no longer.
Jack (producing his one five-dollar
bill with the air OF Il millionaire =
".Allow me: Miss Raymond. Here,
CONDUCTOR"
The parlor car.conductor takes his
money without the slightest scruple,
returns Jack So and passes on.
devotes the next ten minutes
to assuring Miss Raymond that
it isn't of the slightest consequence;
the least bit in the world, etc.
Miss Raymond sayss she will send it to
him the next morning and asks his
address in Buffalo. When she finds
he's going through to Chicago she is
more distressed than ever, and de-
clares she will get this dreadful 50
from her uncle that very night when
he meets her at the depot. OF course
her distress gives Jack an opportuni-
,ty to say a great many things OF a
sort suited to the circumstances, and
he feels like hueging-the little girl. 1t
is really O. very interesting converse
that is interrupted by the appearance
of a brakeman and sound that resem-
bles Observation-Disclosures.
Jack, thinking he will get his 50 at
Buffalo, asks if he may get them some
Refreshments" They decline, with
thanks, He C himself, invests
in q sandwich, O. cup Of coffee, and a
package Of cigarettes-4O cents. He
then hunts up the sleeping-car con-
ductor and pays him 50 for the berth
he had engaged, leaving 70 cents in the
treasury. lie then draws the parlor-
a conduc or aside.
Conductor, l have a berth in the
sleeping car and two young ladies in
my charge have seats in your a as
far as Buffalo. I'd like to sit
with them and see that they get
rOu safety.
Sorry, sir, but if you sit Ill the
parlor-car you'nhave topay. But it's
only SO cents"
Jack hands over5 so cents and rejoins
Miss Raymond. The little girl goes
to sleep; also the passengers. Time
flies with a vengeance, and all too soon
the train rumbles into tine depot at
Buffalo. They alight to meet Miss
Raymond's uncle. The uncle kisses
Miss Raymond with affection s.but
looks inquiringly at Jack. Miss Ray
mond introduces Jack. The uncle is
not what one would call cordial. Miss
Raymond is distressed beyond meas
ure-"rattled." Jack relieves the tell
sion by taking formal leave of Miss
Raymond, nodding to the uncle, and
seeking his berth in the sleeper. Time,
1890 a. M; distance from home, sew
eral hundred miles; cash in the exche-
quer, 20 cents.
1t is a charity to draw a veil over
the next day-l5 cents for coffee and
a sandwich for breakfast at Sarnia;
five cents for a glass OF milk for dinner
at Marshall, Mich, noted for its fried
chicken, it's cold roast beef, it's hot
rolls; the s o'clock supper at the DE
Long mansion in Chicago that fright
ened his mother and astonished his
father.
A week later a dainty letter, post
marked Buffalo arrives. Jack
opens it and finds a 50 bill and q con-
ventionally polite note of thanks, re-
grets for any inconvenience, etc. 1t is
signed, yours sincerely, Isabel Ray
mond." But Jack thinks he can read
between the lines, for below is "No.
173 Rhodes avenue"
Thanksgiving day again. Abadiday
for travelling, but John DE Long OF
Chicago does not lookas heregarded
it a hardship as he gets off the Chicago
express at Buffalo. And this fragment
OF conversation has rather q sound OF
thanksgiving than otherwise.
"Do you remember, Jack, how you
stalked away that night in the depot
at Buffalo? l never expected to see
you again. You looked positively
savage. l fairly hated my dear old
Uncle Rob-"
"He was a tri1e chilly. And then
to see yon waste a kiss on him and
peek out of the corner of your eye, as
much as to say: Don't you wish-?"
II didn't-and s'pose l did,"
SPY the way, how much do you
suppose l had in my pocket when [
said goodbye"
81 don't know. You put on airs
enough for q millionaire"
"Just % cents"
"Why, you poor fellow, you must
have starved! 1t served you right,
though, scraping acquaintance with
strange girls on q train. You won't
do it anymore, willyou, Jack? There!
there!-will that repay your"
"No; you'll have to take that very
same trip with me tomake it square,"
"But Jack! DO take more than %
cents-there'll be two of us, you
know"
Taking a much worm letter from his
p%ocketbook, opening it, and produc-
ing a 50 bill, Jack said: "Isabel Ray
mond, did you ever see that before?"
"Yes-no; | don't know"
eyes you do. Read what's written
right under yonr name in this letter"
Isabel, reading hereby dedi.
cate this filthy lucre to a dinner for
one, to be eaten at Marshall, Mich,
the oneto be John DeLong and Isabel
belong, his wife. ID. W"