Cañon City record., 1902-12-25
By Luiie Wells Smith


and to allow a girl seated
at one OF the car windows
n better view OF the snow covered
landscape and the little patchwork Of
houses about the station. Then II lum-
bered on again. The new passenger
took seat beside the girl at the win
dow because II was the only vacant
one She continued to gaze at the
white fields for time.
merry Christmas. What a mock,
sryr' she thought bitterly. Then she
stole n glance at her new companion.
His face was hidden by the newspaper
~ was holding close to his eyes In a
vain struggle to read by the fast fnd-
ing light When he threw II down In
disgust, she iearied forward and asked
umidly;
May look at II a momentf want
b sec II there is any later news about
the Pochunk bank robbery"
He handed her the paper and watch
cd her curiousiy as she bent over II
and with eagerness read the frst page.
"Did you find out what you wanted
To know he asked when she handed
. thc paper back TO him.
mo. for there Is no trace OF the
thieves or the money ycti' she an
swered. with a great deal OF feeling.
"Did you have any money in the
bank r he asked after n pause.
Every cent that own In the worldf
she answered. lifting her handkerchief
to her eyes aud bursting into tears.
81 am sorry" The man spoke with
an embarrassment that seemed out Of
harmony with his rough features. She
wiped her eyes and with a little n
tempt at bravery said:
"Oh. I know l ought not TO dotbis-and
of course you do not understand. When
the doctors ordered papa out here. be
put 5000 In that bank. and after-be
died-lt was all I bad. Now Il IL gone
and I. oh. l am No helplessi And here
h is Christmas time" She wept afresh.
and the man moved uneasily In bis
sat. lifted his paper and turned the
leaves ncrvously.
In few minutes she dried her eyes
and leaned weariiy against .hc back
a her seat She had not slept for two
Nights. md soon her eyes cio~rd un-
eunsciously. and she sank heavily
asninst the straight. uncomfortable
side OF the ear. With y sudden iurch
Of the train she swayed TO the right.
then back again. and finally fell in a
Ettl. unconscious heap upon the strong
shoulder OF her compan niou. He looked
heipicssiy. hesitntinEly. at her mo
ment. then, quietly moving In his seat
tipped OF his coat. made Il Into \
eap and left II beneath Der hend- The
ht from above family outlined her
icntciy shaped face against the
tx coat. her small white hand was
,wn In chiIdlike trustfulness above
giistcninr masses OF golden hair.
Bending quickly over the sleeping
.ri he fumbied a few seconds with
he coat under her head. then drew
lack and pulling his hat over his eyes
pcrrcd from under the wide brim into
the darkness outside. Several shrfii
whistles came from under the chr
window. q lantern flashed up and
thsre was q muttered oath. Az the
ear moved o6 he ran wildly down the
aisle.
The noise Of the engine increased
and the girl opened her eyea She
bsoked up into the face Of the man
sanding over her and started. Could
- be the samef Was abe dreaming
Surely her seat mate did not wear n
nustache. yet these seemed to be the
ame piercing black eyes. the same
broad shoulders.
She stirred stupidity and thought the
ache must be vagnry. Then her
eyes fell on the coat under her head
and she fnitered:
Thank you so much for putting II
there hope you haven't come to
your station"
The man smiled knowingly. Yes.