The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-30
nHER GRACE

| at O'Clock 70 interview a more or less
prominent citizen on a more or less inter-
| eSiing subject 1t was one of those bit
| teriy cold nights of recent memory. The
prominent citizen Was not at home and
! Edwards chased MIN vainly for some
hours. Finally, just before IL o'clock
ne was captured, only to declare that he
knew nothing at all about the matter un-
der discussion
Edwards teIephoned to his office and
| was told to come in He started for
! the Lake street L" Just in time to see a
train pulling up at the station. IN the
| full glare Of one of the coaches lights
| sat young woman. 1t was but glance
| of her that Tom got as the train pulled
to make him utter an OATH She was the
| most loyahle looking creature that he
| lad ever seen. and he had always made il
! s point 10 see all the beauties on the
| thoroughfares of Chicago. The thought
! of seeing this fair vision closer gave an
added impetus to his limbs. but he ar
rived at the gates only 10 see the train
pull out for the city. There was Moth
| ing To do but wait tor the next train-a
matter of thirty minutes.
+ The ticket seller left his cage and came
outside to occupy a chair pulled up close
| TO roaring stove. Edwards pulled up
! second chair and the two fell TO talk
| ing. Edwards happened TO recall in the
| course of the conversation that several
ticket sellers on the L. roads had been
| held up by daring thugs and robbed OF
the contents of their money drawers
Il should thing you'd be afraid They'd
come out after you" said Edwards You
| are in a lonely neighborhood here"
| We'll, I've got a big revolver in the
money drawer. I'd pull that, guess, and
! let him have it,
| Yes. l know; but your gun is in the
money drawer. suppose rebber should
catch you out here like you are now?
| Suppose he should stick his gun under
! your nose and order you to shell out
| You wouldn't run for the money drawer
and try to dodge the bullets he'd fire after
/ You, would you now?'
| "No-o-o-o," said the ticket seller glanc-
| ing hard at Edwards. Il don't know as
| would if teller got the drop on me
/ that way. But I'm pretty careful
| Just then Edwards was seized with a
sudden desire to blow his nose. His
handkerchief was in his hip pocket and
! his overcoat and coat were both tightly
/ huttoned.
! AS he put his hand to this pocket the
ticket seller screamed, jumped from his
chair. and ran TO the cage inside which
was his money drawer.
! Instantly he pulled open the drawer and
=
weapon he projected through the gar
| in his cage and covered Edwards with
/ it.
Hands up. yourself he ordered.
Edwards obey, but too late. Grimes, the
! ticket seller. had pulled the trigger in
his excitement. The right arm of Ed
wards which had gone up too slowly
came down swiftly TO his side. Before the
seller could get TO him, Edwards had sunk
! n q he CT hi &c
ally strong nerves and he tainted. 1t was
! but for moment. however.
On coming to. he explained to the as
| tonished ticket seller who he was and
| where he wanted to be taken, but Grimes
would hear nothing of such an arrange
\ ment. Picking UP the wounded reporter.
he carried him down the stairs ana across
block to his own home. Edwards had
| 10 more than touched the coverlet till
he was off into semi-conscious sleep.
| The next morning when he awoke, he
| felt tightly bound band around his
| hpdy. He started to turn. when the irri-
| tation of the fresh wound caused him to
| cry out in pain. AS though the cry had
| been call. Grimes eldest daughter APP
| peared at the door.
! The doctor says that you are not to
i try to move for day or two, sir
| The tones were sweet and soothing. A
! gentle pleading accompanied them.
| Another cry came from the bed. The
/ tones had proved tempting and Edwards
| had attempted to turn again
/ Elisia's pretty face contracted as though
/ she Were suffering the pain ana she hur-
| Tied from the room. Her bashfulness had
overcome her better intentions. The night
before she had help to dress his wounds
and had held his head, but then he was
asleep and the eyes We're closed The
iCea of love for this man did not worry
| her. She knew a great deal about the
! subject, and it was pity for his wounded
| condition that she felt. Moreover, she had
many other things to think about. In
! the room next to the sick mans lay her
| eleven-year-old brother with a broken arm,
and SCARED face. He must be looked
after. His ambition had been his ruin.
| While selling papers for the crowded
| thoroughfare he had been knocked down
| by the Blake carriage. He had been
! brought home by Miss Blake and she
/ had come to see him and bring him dain-
! ties every day since the accident.
Edwards was looking out the window
| as he lay in bed about noon that day,
| when a magnificent carriage rolled up to
the house and stopped His curiosity was
excited. and was more than satisfied when
/ he saw Her Grace as he had thought
of her of the elevated train picture of the
night before. step from the carriage and
come toward she Grimes cottage.
That afternoon, after many visits TO the
room, Elisha was Urawn into conversation
I with Edwards. He made bold and called
| Ter around to where he could see her.
They talked on many things. or rather he
| did. IT was pleasant for him to Law and
/ talk of his many newspaper scoops" and
/ experiences while his eyes Toasted upon
| Elisia's simple beauty. She said little.
| hut held her eyes OIL the floor until he in
quired Of the lady IN the carriage, and
I then she told him ALL paying a glowing
| tribute to Miss Blakes goodness.
by George. but she's sweet" meditated
! Edwards. adding as an after thought
SO is that Miss Blake
Elisa and Tom had many talks after
| chat, and the only damper on their hap
piaess was the cold treatment which his
mother, who called every day Aor visit.
/ showed toward the ticket sellers daugh-
| ter.
| 4 week had passed. The busy little
doctor had Tom all ready for his trans
! ference in the ambulance to his home.
1 His wound had knitted. The ambulance
I had been ordered for ten. but at eleven
| it was still not there Elisha and Tom
/ cared not. They were talking together.
/ and he was teasing her about her prom
/ Use to come and sec how he was getting
along
At twelve the ambulance was still not
there. but Miss Blake came and the little
/ doctors suggestion that she take Mr.
| Edwards home met with consent Snug
! gied up in one corner, with Miss Blake in
/ the other. they we're driven away The
doctor had gone in his own carriage Ed
| wards said nothing. but only sazed at
l Her Grace" Left alone with strange
man. she became VEN 6iSnified.
Tom was feeling intentionally still
when. on turning the corner leading 10
: his home, their carriage ran sideways