Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-10-16
ASSISTING CUPID
copyright, 1909, by the s. S. Mcclure
Company,1

[copyrigh., 1902, by the s. S. Mcclure
Company.1
Every business morning for more
than year Amy Preston had taken
the $3.50 train from Rossland. She was
a stenographer In the law offices of
Bingham, Wurthington & Hatch, and
the 1859 landed her at her desk ten
minutes before 10. Every morning
Harris French caught the Ss42 from
Chatham, which enabled him TO reach
his office in the brokerage firm Of Az
cry, Ellis & Co. at FIVE minutes before
10. incidentally It my be mentioned
that the S:42 from Chatham was the
$3.50 from Rossland.
French was member Of the Ross
land Progressive Euchre club because
Amy Preston was also a member
After that they occupied the same
seat George King. who was the
conductor on the train, had grown so
used to seeing the two together that he
was surprised to see French board xhe
train one morning and make direct for
the smoker. Aren't you going back,
Mr.. French?" he asked as he punched
his ticket.
French shook his head savageiy.
'.No; I'm going to stay here" When
Amy Preston did not board the train
at Rossland, King understood that
there had been kink In the course of
true love. Later on Appel told him
that Miss Preston was coming into
town on his train, which reached Ross
land at Sal It was through train
and did not stop at Chatham.
The cause of the trouble was simple
enough. He had been playing with
Amy at the euchre club and had
been in wretched form. She, on
the contrary. had been winning stead
lily, and on the last game she and
Mrs. Lane and Alice Stanton We're tied
for first place. She had glanced at
French's card when she moved up to
his table and noted with surprise that
he had but three games credited to his
score. You'll have to do better than
that, Harry" she said, '.if you're going
to play with me, or won't be able to
play off the drive"
There had been slight panic on the
street that afternoon, in which stocks
had taken unaccountable drops and
the excitement had brought on head
ache that left French unfit for playing.
Amy's remark only added to his confu-
sion, and the result was that he took
her king with his ace and sacrificed
the winning trick.
While the other leaders were decid-
ing on the prizes French, in his befud-
died state, had said things more sharp
ly than he had intended. with the re-
suit that he had driven back to Chat
ham with Amy's engagement ring in
his pocket He resigned from the club,
and for five weeks neither had seen
the other. Each was too proud to write,
and while Amy cried softly to herself
as she sat in the SAL, French smoked
stronger cigars than We're good for him
and tried to grow interested in card
games in the smoker.
King took a fatherly interest in the
commuters under his charge and noted
with some surprise the persistence
with which Amy kept off his train. But
1t is not for train conductor to regu-
late the love affairs of his passengers.
1t was the middle of the sixth week,
when, to his surprise, he saw Amy
standing on the Rossland platform as
the train pulled in. For the first time
since the estrangement she had missed
the earlier train and had to choose be-
tween the $50, which would get her to
the Office on time. and the GIG.
you're quite stranger" he said as
he punched her ticket, but she said
nothing.
He hurried through the train back to
the smoker. Miss Preston is on the
train" he said as he passed French.
The latter went red, then white, and
half rose from his seat. Then he ap-
peared to change his mind. 81 suppose
she has right to ride on this train" he
said shortly as he sank back into his
seat, and King passed, shaking his
head
Try as he would he could not get the
picture of Amy's wistful face out of his
mind. When the engine whistled Car
rollton, which was the last station be-
fore they reached the ferry, he made
up his mind to make one last effort.
"Only ten minutes to town. Mr..
French" he warned. "Miss Preston is
in the second car behind. I guess she's