The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-09
Under False Pretenses.

are lacking. Ragley says there is no use
in resurrectiRg buried sorrows, and no.
: body has ever had courage TO ask his
wife to tell the story.
She gave Bagley back the ring, at any
rate ana ne left Lexington, as he said,
for good and all There were no tears
/ shed on either side. and not even her
/ dearest friends ever learned what the
trouble was. Bagley simply disappeared
Then things began to happen. The
girls father died. He didn't leave any
money. but did leave two smaller child
rem, an invalid widow, and the girl, to
take care OF themselves. The death Of
her husband and the ensuing poverty
were too much for the widow She found
a resting place under the blue grass
within two months. But the girl was
equal to the situation There was the
old place still left, with its big white
pillars in front and the room where
Henry Clay slept She sold II, making
only the stipulation that the purchase
price be paid over in cash Then, be-
fore any OF her friends had suggestion
| Of her plans, the girl, her small sister
| and brother and the 5000 disappeared
from Lexington. They left no address
behind. Bagley, working in Chicago,
heard the story
But he. like the rest had no clue to
her whereabouts.
INC NGy IodSiG1 IOQe up 10 the tWelIIn
story Of one Of the skyscraD ers to see a
friend. tt was o'clock. and the Novem-
Der darkness was already beginning TO
! add its gloom to the gray of the smoke
! outside. He found that Johnson had left
his Office and gone up to call on a man
on the sixteenth cor. Bagley was in a
hurry and decided to ride up and see
him without delay. He went out in the
/ hall and stood in front Of the elevator
frg-1 Eez :As,
/ he was waiting car shot down without
/ girl
Bagiey took the next car to the ground
] floor, cursing the elevator man for his
| slowness When he rushed out Of the
! car al the bottom she was gone. He
] looked al through the corridors without
/ success, and a glance up and down the
] streets outside met with no better result
At any rate he knew she was in
! Chicago. He searched all through the
/ skyscraper where he had seen her with
/ out getting the slightest clue He had
wild ideas Of appealing to the police for
assistance, but he finally made up his
mind to simply wait and keep his eyes
| oDen.
One night in December he was kept
in the office until late. When he caught a
car 1t was packed with people, who
were anxious to get home out of the
drizzling rain. Three blocks down State
street the girl came out of a store and
climbed on the back platform of the
trailer where Bagley stood in the crowd.
lie had time to notice that she had no
umbrella or macintosh and was even
poorly dressed before she saw him.
Even then she looked straight through
and beyond him. But Bagley was de-
termined that she should not stand I'D
on that platform. He forced his way In
side and persuaded a messenger boy to-
give UP his seat on payment Of small
bonus. Then he went outside and spoke
to the girl. It was the first time ihe
had spoken to her in more than a year.
Miss Buford," he said, "there is
seat inside for you"
Thank YOU. sir" said the girl, ct pre-
fer to stand"
Then she looked through and beyond
him again, and a couple of boys on the
platform laughed at the rebuff.
Bagley rode a mile beyond his board
Ing place, waiting for the girl to Get
off. At any rate he would not allow
her to go home in the rain without an
umbrella. Finally she dismounted. and
Bagley with her
Allow me-" ne said. raising his UNI
brella over her head. She walked bAs.Sa
him without word. Finally she smoke.
Mr. Bagley," she said. It have all
can look after now on my hands. and 7
trust you win not bother me with vour
attentions. must ask you to leave me-
here and I cannot see you again"
Bagley stopped. There was nothing
else for him to do He knew the giri
100 well TO attempt to argue with h
she went on alone. and Bagley. for the
nrst time in his life, played The part Of
a sneak and followed her IF she was
as ne feared, in poverty and distress
he must find some way to HELM her
Openly offered assistance ne knew would !
be refused. He saw that she entered a
poorly kept fat building far out on fha
Southwest side. and then he turned and |
came back TO the city The next even /
ing ne went out to call She was at I
home with the two children. They were /
glad TO see him, but she was careful 10 I
make IT clear that she could not receive /
him. It was simply a case of blue grass /
pride, and he made I'D his mind at once 1
week later Bagley found rooms in /
the nat building where she lived He was /
determined to be within helping distance /
st least Then he made friends with 4
an old Irish woman who took care If 1
some If the flats and kept a watchful /
eve out for the children From her /
he learned how hard pressed the Httla
mistress Of the upper fiat had been 10 /
meet her expenses
Christmas week came at last Barley
wanted to send some gifts 10 the child /
rem He wanted to do it without hurt
ing her feelings, and he wanted. most
Of ALL Of course. TO make The eiri
Christmas present Of himself There
was no one else at hand to con75e IN.
so ne talked IL over with Bridget
The conspiracy came to head on the
night before Christmas
"She Uuz cryin'" said Bridget when
she started down town after dinner to-
night. She's got mighty little 70 give
the childer ~ and besides
she's almost afraid TO leave them alone
at night 7 heard her say tonight 3ust
before she left: Nov. Dick. # any ore
Taps you're not TO let them IN you IN
derstsnd, It makes no difference who II
is
"Then Htue Mary spoke NJ. sister
che said ff Santa Claus c-mes while
You're away we can let him in cant
we2'
she was trying hard not to CRY when
she answered: oh yes she says. you
can let old Santa in but 7 don't think
he'll be calm on rs tonight
II CANA Ike an inspiration 10 BaTlav.
He went ont 70 Tire little Gerusn cos
tuners around the corner and made The
necessary purchases Bridget heInef 4
him make ID when ire work vas done
the ola woman heaved 2 sish
~ we only had me old goat now 70
play reindeer she said. the th5ng
would BE complete
He went I'D and ra0pe8 IN ere door
Bridget hi5ir~ out of sight ~ 'he lan7-
inE oaiow Dick answered the zap
WHO'S thsre9r he said.
CTS Santa claus" answered Baeiev
Then p5es threw the front door rre-