The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-08-09

he suspected her and snatched her
bundle and ran.
When at last she was seated on the
train, with the big bundle in her lap,
feeling fairly comfortable for the first
time, her eyes fell to scanning the
newspaper that inclosed the precious
gown. Suddenly they were caught
by the notice of the lecture. Heavensl
1t was to be ut 2. 30, and che was then
on the 1.30 train. She had never
been to Orange before; she knew no
one; she had no idea where the liter
ary lady was TO be found. If she was
not at the station to meet her, all was
lost.
She looked out eagerly when the
conductor called her station, but the
literary lady was not to be seen. She
struggled across the platform with her
bundle.
''Drive me to-the club" she said
desperately to the cabmau who came
to her assistance.
"What clubg" he asked.
"The Ultras," she said.
ooh, the hail." he aswered, and she
tnOuBnt Sne was saved.
She pictured vaguely the consterna-
tion she would create by bursting into
the hall in the midst of the lecture
possibly, but by this time she was
physically exhausted and mentally
blank. She paid the cabman intuitive-
ly and had started up the stairway be-
fore which he had stopped when she
thought she heard voices calling and
heavy step running toward her. At
last she was pursued. But save
the gown she must and would. Spring
ing up the stairway she burst open the
door into the hall. The platform was
empty, but there was noisy hum of
expectancy running through the
crowd. At first she heard nothing
distinctly. Then a heavy hand was
laid on her shoulder, and voice be-
hind her said:
'Give me your bundle, miss"
She looked up at the blue coated
policeman, who had come up behind,
and fell in a faint at his feet. When
she revived she was lying on rug in
n little white plastered room. The
window was open, the cold snow-laden
air from without was blowing on her,
and a sweet-faced, gentle woman was
bending over her, holding a bottle of
smelling salts to her nose.
''Are you the matron?" she asked,
feebly.
"The what?" asked the woman.
"The matron?"
"No."
She waited moment. "Then were
you put in, tooy" she said.
''In WHAT" the woman asked
''In prison." she said, shuddering.
''Why, this isn't prison, child"
the woman said with smile. why
did you think you were in prison,
pray?"
''For stealing that gown" said the
girl.
"Why, you didn't steal the gown,
did you?" And the woman burst out
laughing.
''No, but thought they thought I
had, and the policeman arrested me.
"How very funny" the woman said,
still laughing. "Why, he was only
getting the gown to take to the liter.
ary lady, who was waiting at the mill
liners across the way to put it on.
She saw you come and got him to run
after you. But how very funny"
'But where's the gown nowy" the
girl asked.
"Why, the lady has it on and is
speaking away; don't you hear her?"
"Thea for heavens sake let me get
out and report her." said the girl,
struggling to her feet.
'Not before you've had this cup OF
chocolate and sandwich, the woman
said, putting them before her.
81 am hungry" she said.
''Of course you are; that's why you
tainted"
When she went out by and by and
saw the literary lady in all her glory
'arrayed like one of these" she felt
repaid for her excitement over the
gown.
That night when she got back to
town she took in her "stick" to the
Office, and credit for that amount was
duly given her on the books. But
somehow one of the men in the Office
had gotten hold of the adventure. so
he made full column story about it,
with picture of her with her big
bundle just as she fell at the police
mans feet. So, to put it mildly, her
fortune was made. Philadelphia
Times.