The Washington times., 1902-02-02

replied; made such hit there al first
This made Miss Hodson think a little.
She was used to hearing such bits of in
formation, but not from railroad fremen
at little station at the foot of the Blue
Ridge. So she did not reply to what had
been said, but looking again at the engine,
said:
1T must be very fine riding up there -
"Oh, you soon get tired of it," he re-
piled, and before she could speak be was
out on the step and had invited her up
In fact. before Miss Hodson coulG speak
her new friend had reached down and was
helping her up the iron steps into that
newest of-all places to her-the cab of
an eight wheel locomotive. He was very
polite and gracious, and with as little
awkwardness as was possible, took the
bundle of waste out of his overalls'
pocket, wiped off the oilcloth seat. and
then pointing to IT. said with a low bow:
Now, you can sit down where the en-
gineer posts himself"
Miss Hobson had perfected that art of
making ones self at home, and she hoped
up on the seat, leaned out OF the window
then leaned back again and took a good
look al all of the polished steel and brass
about her.
Where do you ring the belI?" she
asked
'Oh, that's over on my side he re-
piled with smile, and intuitively taking
ir the meaning of her question, again
took out the waste and brushed off the
oil-cloth cushion on the left hand side
She noticed what he was doing and
jumped down and moved over to the seat
He looked at his watch nervously, opened
the furnace door. slammed it shut again
and then began a very searching exami-
nation of the water gauge.
Miss Hodson continued her survey.
Presently she uttered a most pronounced
"Oh" and before he looked around she
exclaimed:
Now, / understand why you asked II
we were going back to the Comique."
He did not reply, but his eyes met hers
and then both pairs were turned on
picture which, pasted on none too clean
lid of Il cigar box. was directly over the
window that faced the fireman's seat,
II was one of those full page pictures
one sees in magazines. and it was the
picture of Miss Hodson.
Not only did 1t reveal that young lady
in her becoming stage gown, but under
it was the line The Girl with the Beau
tiful Shoulders" and under that some
more matter about Miss Hodson and the
furore she had created.
Il thought you'd know who that was"
he said with shcepish grin.
Well should think So" she replied;
but where on earth did you get it?"
Then. after a pause: II didn't SUPPOSE
you were a reader of dramatic affairs"
II cut it out of a magazine" he said
slowly. The newsboy on the train had
it sitting upon his basket and he
paused again, and then another long
pause.
Go on" she said. not the least embar-
rassed.
Well, you see It's this way: had
seen you so often that | thought | would
like to keep the picture
Saw me in the show, | suppose" she
remarked.
Yes. just twice. but lot of other
times" He had the waste out OF his
pocket this time, and was picking out the
threads in "A boyishly- bashful fashion.
WHY you used to ride home on my
train every night"
On your train" she interrupted him.
Yes, my train; | amt been down here
long / used to run an engine on the l.
in New York. | had Harlem train and
we used so pick you up every night at
Thirty eighth Street Don't you rcmcm-
ber you were always with little girl
with short. black hair
Well" she said. "if this isn't the
strangest thing that ever happened to
me. Why did you leave New York;"
He did not answer. but looked steadily