The Jennings daily record., 1902-08-11
The Ransom Of an overcoat.
BY JAMES BUCHANAN.


(Copyright 1902 by Daily Story Pub Coz
MIR. E. Wilbert Marsh sailed forth
one morning, with brand new light
overcoat thrown jauntily over his left
arm About half way between his
lodging house and the station where
he was wont to climb up to that
abominable Inconvenience, the "ele-
vated," he observed a young lady
dart down the front steps OF one OF
the most imposing and least faxed
Of the veneered brown-fronts. She
carried a letter in her hand. On her
head was nothing but great glo-
rious mass of piled-up saffron hair.
She was strikingly pretty and strik-
ingly conscious of the fact, IT one
might Judge from her makeup and
manner 1t was evident that she was
bound for the nearest letter-box.
Hardly, however had the little kid
slippers of this pleasing damsel trip
ped along the pavement dozen
yards when, with the exasperating un-
expectedness which nature sometimes
displays in her most perverse moods,
1t began to rain. The attractive fig
ure stopped short. wavered mo-
ment and then turned back-just in
time to meet young Marsh, struggling
to raise his umbrella over his $25
overcoat
With silvery laugh and apparent
ly the most perfect unconsciousness
of any impropriety in thus accosting
a stranger. the girl exclaimed:
How sudoen!'
NTilbort March croi1o5 and
ed his hat with gratified blush.
Would you have the kindness to
drop my letter in the first box you
pass?" asked the girl, putting the
little square missive into the young
mans hand, and gathering her skirts
preparatory to fight. The next in
stant she fled, rustling and laughing,
back to the shelter of the brown stone
front, and E. Wilbert Marsh found
himself saying With pleasure!" to
the empty air. The young lady look
ed back as she was vanishing and
nodded. II wonder if she would rec
ogniZe me, if she met me again."
mused Marsh. Then he walked brisk
ly on.
The rattle of an approaching train
w
reach the station and catch it. There
would not be another train for five
minutes, and it happened that he was
somewhat late that morning. With an
inward vow that he would mail the
young lady's letter Immediately on
leaving the car, he made wild dash
| for the stairway and rushed upon the
| platform OF the nearest car just as
the guard was closing the gate. Then
he slipped the letter into his over
coat pocket, and straightway did what
! all men do under such circumstances
| forgot it.
Presently another young man left
his seat, came up the aisle, and stood
smiling down upon Marsh. Going to
the ball game, this afternoon" he
asked.
why. hello!" replied Marsh, recog-
nizing chum in whose company he
had aforetime done his part toward
hoarsely eulogizing the national
game. Yes, l want to go. Shall. if
l can get away. You going?"
Not much chance of it. Two hun.
dred and fifty pieces in last nights
NALL Don't know how much larger
this mornings mail will be. But say,
Will, if you can go, you want to. It's
going 20 be great bali. Hutchins will
pitch for our fellows. The champions
play us, and are only just notch
ahead, You know"
BY the time z. Wilbert Marsh left
the car his head was completely full
of the great game which was to
| corno off that afternoon He was
| ~