River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-07-02

Clear through
Didn't you know the city editor
of your paper was aboard?"
mo! Didn't expect him back until
tomorrow. Which car is he on?''
asked Jim, mentally cursing his luck.
"He is on the first Pullman. Come
back to the car with me, and if he
Identifies you, it's all right"
Jim followed without hesitation,
resolved to bluff it out; besides, every
second on this flyer" was taking him
nearer Lucy.
On through car after car they
passed, until the conductor paused
before a section in which sat dis
tinguished-looking man.
why, halloa." called Jim, affect
ing the easy tones of Brooks.
Thought you weren't coming until
| tomorrow"
The man addressed looked confused
for moment; then he said:
"Oh, they telegraphed me to come
to-day. I thought you might be on
this train, and was just going
through to find you"
81 see it's all right" said the con-
ductor. "He told me he was on your
paper and had lost his pass. WANT
ed you to identify him. and handing
Jim check, he passed on.
I'm sure 1 don't know how to
thank you,'' said Jim "Of course,
you know I am beating my way, and
it was awfully good in you not to
give me away"
Don't mention it," said the man,
while an amused smile stole over his
features.
"Now, whatever possessed him to
do me good turn?" thought Jim, as
he passed on to the smoking COM
partment to enjoy one of Lewis
Brooks cigars.
He had telegraphed Lucy of his
coming, and she and her friend were
at the station to meet him. Lucy
awaited his coming with some little
anxiety as to his appearance. Not
on her own account. for she was
staunch, sensible little body and
would have welcomed Jim even were
he attired in his overalls and blue
shirt, but she didn't want her friend
to underestimate him.
But when Jim, so a la mode came
towards them, she gave glad, little
cry and her friend, welcoming him,
wondered what manner of farmers
they had out in TribletOn.
She insisted on his accepting her
hospitality that night, and the next
day. Someway in stepping into
Lewis Brooks shoes he had stepped
into that individuals ease of man
ner, for after all, there is no incen-
tive to good department like ire
proachable clothes.
The next day was a red letter one.
Late in the afternoon Jim and Lucy
took a train to Tribleton. When jim
arrived at the farmhouse, everyone
was in bed. He went into Lewis
Brooks room and restored his
clothes to their original place, ex-
cept the linen, which he deposited in
the already well-filled laundry bag.
The following afternoon the fish
ermen returned from their jaunt.
'Missed us, Jim?" asked Brooks.
''What have you been up to-"
"The city," was the laconic re-
Spouse.
Brooks and his companions stared.
"Where did you put up?" asked
one of them.
81 stayed with friends"
"Oh, out on the boulevard, / pre-
sume," said Brooks, with wink to
the others.
eyes, on the boulevard. At the
Van Norman's."
Brooks looked incredulous.
''Jim's young lady friend" ex-
planned Ma Harder, met Miss Van
Norman at school, and has been Wis
iting her. They asked Jim to stop
there, too"
This was a poser for the boarders.
Lewis tried to picture Jim in his
store clothes at the Van Norman
mansion.
When the city men returned to the
city, they met mutual friend who,
after some preliminary conversation,
remarked:
81 must tell you an incident that
happened the day l returned. Just
out of a little standardization, l
think-the conductor came to me, fol-
lowed by a good-looking fellow, who
greeted me as if l were an old friend,
and said he thought [ was not to re-
turn until the next day.
81 told him I was day early, and
observed that I was just coming to
look him up. At that the conductor
said it was all right; that the youth
had represented himself as report
err on the Times; that he had lost his
mass and so he had brought him to me
for identification.
"When the conductor had passed on
the chap thanked me warmly for help
ing him beat his way and went back to
his car"
s'Who was he and why should the
conductor bring him to you for identl-
fication?" asked Lewis.
s'Why, 1 had borrowed your city
editors pass, and when the young
fellow came up and pretended to know
me, I had to lay low and see what was
coming. I concluded he was some
Young fellow on the Times, all right,
and that he would give me the laugh
when the conductor had gone. When
he told me he was beating his way
and thanked me 1 did not let on was
travelling under false colors myself.
i NJ