The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-17
oNTHE REAR PLATFORM.

1t occurred 10 Polly the other evening as
she and Tom started downtown for an
impromptu little supper that il would be
great fun 70 ride on the rear platform
of the elevated. While they were wait
ing at the FTfty-first street station she
divulged this bright idea 70 her escort
and received with marked indifference his
objections to the proposition
The fact that the rear car Of the next
train was a smoker did not deter her
from walking into it, bound for its rear
platform. Tom followed, in duty bound.
There happened 10 be not more than a
dozen men in the coach. but they stared
as one great eye during Polly's trailing.
blue haloed passage through that smoky
interior.
Five minutes after they had closed the
rear door behind them and while Polly s
rapt interest in The mild new moon was
still holding her in thrall, Tom spoke.
I'll just pull a cigar. if you please.
and do some thinking OF my own while
your interest in that thing up yonder still
holds Now. please don't bother
Whereupon Tom withdrew 10 the darkest
corner of the platform and Polly shifted
restlessiy from one foot to the other.
It was at Indiana avenue that the three
young men who figure in the rest of this
tale got or. Naturally. as proof of being
of age, they made for the smoker, and
on entering fell against each other in ex-
aggerated amazement. Far beyond them.
through tantaIizing glass doors. they be-
held a gorgeous white hat and a shimmery
gown and a most lovely young woman,
whose interest happened at that momenI
to be diverted from the cold and change
full moon and to be fastened on them.
They stopped and conversed audibly
with many gestures and discussed the fas-
cinating situation. Then with their hands
on one anothers shoulders they made a
bold dash down the aisle. single file, and
dropped heavily into the seats at the ex-
IRENE end of the car. To their absolute
delight they found the young woman $
attention was still fastened on them and
they began to settle an evidently much
mootsd point. while the other passengers
looked on with amusement. The young
woman still surveyed them. as they
thought. it might be with mild interest, it
might be with mild encouragement.
Finally the youth with the lightest hat
and the most rigidly correct tie pulled
quarter from his pocket and held 1t
up to the eyes of the man next to him.
Then they Tipped. The goddess side OF
the coin fell to the owner of the quarter
He grinned. Strengthened his tie and
rose. Still the passengers looked on In
UNQUALIFIED delight. and still the young
woman surveyed them with manner
that was tantalizing in the extreme.
arousing as it did a question as to just
how far her interest went. whether IT
Law in the situation or in the young men
before her.
With his tie Strengthened and his hat
at a knowing angle the winner OF the
first chance laid a vandal hand on the
rear door and made ready to seek the
outer air. The girl was still there and
was smiling He grinned cheerfully at
her and turned TO reply to last bit OF
counsel from his friends. Then he turned
back TO stare heavily at something dark
that was leaning against the door.
broad, muscular masculine, well tailored
back Nothing more. He gasped and
stammered and then dropped into his
seat. while the strange passengers and
his false friends sent roar after roar or
derision crashing through the bell rope
aperture TO the platform without
Make up with me, Tom" said Polly,
cheerfully. ut was worth it."
THE thing 1 mind, Polly" said Tom
lis not this particular incident so much
as the fact that you invariably walk
ahead into anything without knowing
what it Involves. Suppose L hadn't been
with your"
But you always tag along after me,
Tommy" said Polly. contentedly. so It's
ALWAYS all right Chicago News.