Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1902-08-07
The Ransom of an Overcoat.
BY JAMES BUCHANAN.

~ oOS4l1hAN1A4N
/ Copyright 1902. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
MIR. E. Wilbert Marsh sailed forth
one morning, with a 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 letter in her hand. On her
head was nothing but a great glo-
rious mass of piled-up saffron hair.
She was strikingly pretty and strik-
ingly conscious OF the fact, if 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 a dozen
yards when, with the exasperating I'm
expectedness which nature sometimes
displays in her most perverse moods,
it 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 s25
overcoat.
With silvery laugh and, apparent
ly the most perfect Inconsistencies
of any improperly in thus accosting
stranger, the girl exclaimed:
E. Wilbert Marsh smiled, and rails
ed his hat with a 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 flight. The next in
slant she fed, rustling and laughing,
back to the shelter of the brown stone
front, and E. Wilbert Marsh found
himself saying with pleasurei" to
the empty air. The young lady look
ed back as she was vanishing and
nodded. 81 wonder If she would rec
ognize me, If she met me again?"
unused Marsh. Then he walked brisk
ly on.
The rattle of an approaching train
fell on his ear. He had just time to
reach the station and catch 1t. 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 a 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 a chum in whose company he
had aforetime done his part toward
hoarsely eulogizing the national
game. Eyes. want to go. Shall, if
can get away. You going?"
mot much chance Of it. Two hun
dred and fifty pieces in last nights
mail! Don't know how much larger
this mornings mail will be. But say,
VIII, if you can go, you want to. It's
going 70 be great ball. Hutchins will
pitch for our fellows. The champions
play us, and are only just a notch
ahead, YOU know"
By the time E. Wilbert Marsh left
the car his head was completely full
of the great game which was to
come off that afternoon. He was
planning how he could get away. He
kept planning all the morning. In
the early afternoon he got away. He
just went.
1t was glorious day and a glorious
game. The rain had let up. Every
body was there. The grand stand
was damned. The bleachers groaned.