The Coconino sun., 1903-02-14
Etiquette by Telephone
" AHx1I xA,mroz losxsz1.
CROWD of suburbanites

"A swarmed toward the waiting train. On its outermost fringe came the Little Gray Nun, as the Young Man had already named her; but she was not meek or holy, or nun nish at all, and only her clothes and her hat were gray. She walked light ly, springily, on her toes, and she was radiant and smiling. To look at her, one would say she might be bride or young mother with . baby waiting out there in the sub urbs somewhere. But the Young Man refused to entertain either of these suppositions. She was the Little Gray Nun. spinster. He had been watching her for IS minutes.
 Suddenly he saw the radiance of her face tarnish and a minute be- ginning of horror dawn in her eyes for he was an observing young man. He saw her searching her chatelaine bag. then her gray skirts, as if . pocket might have been hidden in them by mistake. Then he saw the horror itself spread from her eyes over her piquant little face. The Little Gray Nun, then, was fin trou- ble.
 ''She has lost something" the Young Man sighed, as if the loss were his own. He took two giant strides forward. then stopped. The Little Gray Nun was talking to the conductor. He could not hear her voice, but the conductors was strident, and might have been boom ing through megaphone.
 Sorry, miss, but it can't be done contrary to our rules m regula- tions. Sorry can't put you through"
 Whatever the Little Gray Nun an swered was lost in the echoes from the megaphone. but as she turned away the offended dignity of her carriage was marred by the tremu- lous fiutter of her small, gray-gloved hands. She walked now, heavily, on her heels.
 "l beg your pardon" The Young Man raised his hat courteously. ''But if that fellow in the brass buttons back there said anything in sulting, there's just time for me to break his bones for him before the train starts. Beg pardon, but you'll have to tell me quick"
 "Oh." dimpled the Little Gray Nun, in spite of herself. "Oh, no, please don't! He only told me that-that- why, that"
 "Yes?" tapped the Young Man i'm patiently, though the courtesy of his lifted hat and interested face was perfect. But there was so little time it takes time to break fellows insolent bones for him. The engineer was already awaiting the conductors signal.
 "He only said he-couldn't let me ride home without ticket. I've lost my purse. but of course I should send back the money tomorrow. I'm not a tramp!"
 '"The brute! I'll have him reported at headquarters-it's going!"
 And I'm not on it!" groaned the Little Gray Nun. And this is Chub- by's birthday, and always frost his cake!"
 Then there was baby out there where the train was going? It was not Little Gray Nun, spinster7 But the Young Man held his ground val iantly. She was a woman, anyway, and in distress.
 Hut that conductor will be just as horrid as this one. I wouldn't ask another conductor to let me ride free if had to stay away from home all nigbt-except-oh. l forgot poor lit tic Chubby! could do almost any thing for Chubby"
 There's another train leaves in three-quarters of an hour," he said, encouragingly.
 That was always the way with young mothers. The Young Man felt the romance of thin1s sliDpin0