Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-15
DAILY SHORT STORY
His Lucky Fare.
Copyright, 1902. by the S. S. Mcclure
Company.l
ssrTin0-a linQ-aIiupv'

Company
''Ting-aling- alingy'
Jerry pulled the strap savagely. A
bitter expression sat strangely on his
frank, open face.
The girl looked wonderingly at him
as she held out her hand for the trans
fer. But his scowl only deepened.
She was like Mary-the Mary who
had disappointed him.
The girls face made his grievance
fresh again, When he went back to
the platform, he lived again through
the last nights quarrel. Till then they
had been so happy in plans for the fu-
ture as to be almost content with the
enforced waiting I'VE won't get mar
ried till we can set up housekeeping
right" Mary had said, and he had ac-
guessed.
But last night he had felt as If he
could wait no longer and had proposed
a hasty marriage.
II won't marry in debt" said Mary.
And she broke down and cried.
Her tears touched him, still touched
him, but now, as then, pride put aside
the picture of the forlOrn little figure.
She had refused to marry him, after ali
their plighted troth. The whole world
looked upside down to Jerry Lannigan.
He stopped the car mechanically as
he saw u wildly waving figure ut the
next crossing. 1t proved a stout, over
dressed woman, who founced into the
car and nearly annihilated the girl as
she jammed into n seat by her side.
Jerry stepped forward for her fare.
She kept him standing there for sew
eral minutes while she looked leisure
ly through her shopping bag for the
change. Then when he was half way
up the car she called him back.
"Sec here, young man; what street
do get off ut for 110 Columbus?'
~ don't know. It's not on my line"
he answered shortly as he backed off.
The stout woman became indignant.
and her voice followed him.
Don't know? Why don't you know?
You are a nice sort OF person for
conductor? What do you suppose you
are here forT'
Poor Jerry was I'm no mood for ar
gument, and with such an unreasOna-
BILE creature rs n woman. he knew
the futility of II. His face flushed as
he said holly, ITO know my own busi-
ness and mind It."
The woman sank back with an eJac-
ulatIon. When she had recovered her
breath, Jerry could hear her mutter-
ing about "insolence" and reporting"
He was ashamed of his answer before
| il had fairly crossed his lips. The girl
had heard him. But cold chill check
ed his words of apology as his eyes fell
upon man sitting farther down the
car 1t was Inspector Burke, and he
was putting q number down In his
book Jerry knew what that probably
meant-a dock for impertinence ut the
end of the run. He Strengthened up
proudly 1t was his first offense, and
there had been provocation. But they
could do as they pleased. What did
he care2 What did anything matter
now that Mary had gone back on him?
Yet. rs he strobe back to the plat
form, the girls eyes seemed to look
pityingly at him, and somehow II did
not hurt so much. Mary would have
looked like that-before last night.
A mist seemed to pass before his
eyes. He brushed his hand roughly
across them. When he looked into the
car, the girl was standing up. She
wanted to get off at the next crossing.
He stopped the car and helped her
carefully down the step. She looked
up at him gratefully.
THANK your she said. "Don't wor-
ry about the inspector. Perhaps can
put I'm good word for you"
He looked down at her in speechless
wonder. In his bewilderment he did
not notice that cab had driven up to
the curb and that between the cab and
the car a deputy fire chief was racing
down the street to fire.
The girl saw, but it was too late, for
the horse was almost upon her. Her
cry warned Jerry. Instinctively he
grasped the side rail of the car and
leaned forward. Throwing his arm
about her, he eXerted all his strength,
drew her to the platform and fairly
threw her against the gate on the 9th
er side. AS his grasp relaxed the re-
coil swung him round and out, part
of the buggy caught In his side pocket,
and he was dashed to the pavement,
but behind the flying wheels.
When he awoke, 1t was in corner
drugstore, and the inspector and the
girl were leaning over him.
He tried to sit up, but fell back dir
lilly from the pain in his right arm.
! He forgot that he was not alone. I'm
out of my job sure now" he groaned,
my right arm must be broken"
Then he remembered and flushed
. shamefacedly as he saw the look of
pain on the girls face. Its all right
miss" he said cheerfully. 1T was all
, my fault, because ought to have seem
1 am only glad that you are safe"
The girls eyes were shining with
tears. "You are n brave fellow.
might have been killed--we might have
both been killed." she murmured. "But
{ you saved my life at the risk of your
own. shall not forget, and father