Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-02-16
DAILY SHORT STORY
Tickets for Two.


'lowE,r'' for Chicago. Just ahead of
him was a very pretty girl, and he
could not help overhearing the CONVEX
sation. She, too, was ibuying a ticket
TO ChiCago,and wanted berth as well.
She had made mistake in the
amount necessary tolsecure sleeper,
and when. they ticket seller called for
the additional S$2 she discovered that
her purse Nwastempty. 1t was an en-
barrassing position for the girl, but
there Was no help for it, and she took
her RAILROAD ticket and passed on to
the waiting room.
Rod could not help noting the out
come. He boaght his own ticket and
then saw 1.-THE girl standing in the ad-
Joining room examining her empty
pockefboAh-
His sympathies were aroused; she
lookedAso fOrlorn, and he thought of his
own little sister and wondered how she
would,feel Mnder similar circumstances.
That settled it. He walked quickly
toward er and, raising his hat said:
Pardon Tue. but could not help see
ing the trouble you wereSin at the tick
ct window. Won't you allow me to be
your bankerfin the emergency"
She lookedAup at him shyly. He had
good, honest kface.
"Oh, thankl you; but don't like
"Of coursetyou don't" said Rod; 'but
I'll give youtlny card. and you can send
the money back to me when you get
home"
| Her face Enlightened up. You are
very kind My father was to have been
with me, bart was detained at the last
moment. Thought had all the moneS
L needed to- get home"
"Well, l fortunately have plenty"
said Rod, "so,let us get the ticket
OH course lie saw that it was in the
same car, andtit was natural that they
shouh occupy'the same seat
| 1t was all too soon for Rod when the
berths had to be made up, but he ar
ranged that they should have break
fast together.
Rod says he, will never forget that
breakfast. He never did know what
he ordered, but he Toasted upon pair
of gray eyes which took shy glances
across the little table. All the time
he wasNtrying to summon up courage
TO tell how much he wanted to meet
her again.
Another hour and they would reach
their destination. the pleasant tete-a-
tete would be over. and he did not even
know hertname. Rod was getting des-
perate.
by the,way, do you expect any one
/ 90 OF n nr
"Oh, yesS papa said he would wire,
So you see,.I won't have to trouble you
any more"
Trouble! 1 know you don't mean
that. 1t has been great pleasure to
me, and 1 only wish could
Don't say anything more, Mr.. Scott.
1 am under many obligations TO you,
but papa will write you when he re-
turns
Poor Rod! He wanted to say more,
but potiteness prevented him from
pressing a matter which he felt might
lembarraSS her.
When the, train pulled into Chicago
and he saw her affectionately greeted
by an elderly lady, he awakened to the
realization'that his pleasant day dream
was over.
Rod was assistant freight agent ON
the B. and A. road, with headquarters
at Omaha. He spent week in Chica
go, and on his return home he found
the followingl letter awaiting him:
Dear Slr-My daughter has given me
your card andAasked me to thank you for
your courtesy TO her when she was
turning home. 1 inclose draft for So,
which will reimburse you for the amount
you expended on her. The general freight
old friend of mine. Kindly remember me
to him, and whenever you are in Chicago
I will be glad to have you call on me.
Yours truly, JOHN II. MASON.
1t was astonishing how much attep-
ton the Chicago end of the 3. and A.
road required. Rod found it necessary
to make weekly trips there, and he
never failed to call and inquire for
Mr.. Mason's health and incidentally to
accept the hospitality of the Mason
home.
Alice, she of the gray eyes, always
welcomed the guest with such winning
smiles that he thought he was in para
disc. On one such evening she was
singing an old Scotch ballad with the
refrain, "Lassie, could you lo'e me?"
he stopped over her as she sat at the
piano, and, looking into the gray eyes
that were turned toward him, he whis-
pered, alice, dear, could you lo'e me?"
He read his answer there and sealed
it with kiss.
Six months later carriage was be-
ing driven toward the station. A few
stray kernels of rice still chung to the
steps.
The carriage stopped, and the occu-
pants went hurriedly to the train
which was starting for the east.
ooh, Rod, you haven't got the tick
etsp'
Haven't I, sweetheart? When 1
travel with somebody, 1 always make