Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-07-30

ing huStTs uHlH lne CONDUCTOR came
in. His cry of 'Tickets!" caused her
TO take it down, and she looked up at
him with the most woe-begone coun-
tenance l have ever beheld.
Your ticket, Madam!" he said un-
f~eelingly, as he stopped over her.
"Oh, l haven't any! 1 haven't anyl"
she began, looking at him beseech-
ingly. MY cousin took it to get my
trunk checked, and the tain started
without him!"
The conductor was a brute. He
heard her fearful story without a
spark of sympathy, and then re-
marked coolly: 1.-The rules of this
road require passengers either to
hand up theiT. tickets or get off and
and walk"
"But what am Y to do?" she cried
helplessly; Il haven't any money, at
least only forty cents in my bag, and
l simply must get to Wichita to-
night"
THAT won't go down. returnedth
impudent rascal; you'll pay your
fare or you'll get Off"
This was more than human nature
could stand, and with my blood boil
ing l rose up in my wrath and said:
"This lady has told you precisely the
truth! l myself witnessed the whole
thing! l saw the gentleman take the
ticket"
The face that turned to me was
sweeter than an angels. The tears
stood in the beautiful eyes, and a
high color had risen in the poor little
white cheeks.
\ sob, thank you, Sir! Thank you!"
she cried; show good of you to come
to my assistance!"
You must allow me to actually
come to your assistance" I answered,
drawing a roll of bills from my
pocket and ~subtracting the fare
from Kansas City to Wichita.
"Oh, you are too good!" she ex-
claimed, drawing back; ''but, really, l
couldn't"
81 cannot take no for an answer
I returned firmly: II insist upon do
ing this for you, Madam"
She blushed ever so sweetly, and as
soon as the leering wretch of a con
ductor passed on, she began thanking
me in the most charming way
possible.
''Such a dreadful thing never hap
pened M BEFORE" she began, with q
little lisp that was too fascinating for
words. II have never been anywhere
alone in my life. I am 20, but being
an only child, papa treats me as if
l were but ten. He cannot realize
that | am a woman!" Here she drew
herself up and assumed an immense
amount of dignity for so small a
person.
I was perfectly carried away.
The long journey, the ever;jolting
cars the dearth of beauty among
the passengers, and then this bright
apparition were quite as dazzling to
me as the first ray of sunlight to the
man who has dwelt in caves. She was
a most enticing little creature, and
the more L gazed the more l realized
it. Her complexion was pure pink
and white, and the simplicity of her
dress only added to her charms.
DO you know" she said frankly,
after she had told me about being
20 and never having travelled alone,
II feel as if you are an old friend.
But" she went on, her eyes brighten
ing and smiles playing about her
mouth, "if you are not an old friend,
you certainly r a good one! Why,
truly, | am not under such obligations
to any one else in the world"
/ begged her not to mention it.
Then she went on again: "You
really must tell ne your name-it
isn't proper for me to ask, is it!-be-
cause just as soon as | get to Wichita
| want to return the money you have
loaned me-"
1 handed her my card, and she read
aloud:
"Mr. Shirley Hall. Why, what a
pretty name! 1t is quite romantic,
isn't it? Shirley is like the names
you read in novels, and Hall is nice,
tool"
you are very kind" l said, feeling
tremendously f1attered.
IL suppose I ought to tell you my
name in return, so you will know
whom the money comes from?" she
asked with her head ON the side.
"By all means!" I answered with
out loss Of time.
amy Dyer" vas the reply.
"Oh, that's pretty, too" l cried.
mot as pretty as yours she
argued.
Eyes, yes, much more sol" I in
sisted.
Would you mind, Mr.! Hail." was
the next question, "if I should ask
where you r going?"
"To La Junta,"I responded.
"Oh, DEAR" she exclaimed, 81 vas
in hopes you were going to Wichita,
too! Why"and she turned her bright
eyes full on me-"why don't you
come on there? 1t isn't so awfully
far from La Junta!"
For an instant the mad impulse to
do so overcame me, and my hand
sought my pocket to extract the ex-
ira fare. But my common sense re.
turning, I withdrew it firmly. My
business was in La Junta; in fact, I
had appointments there from the
hour of my arrival, and there was
absolutely no reason for my going to
Wichita. / did not know a soul nor
a stick nor stone in the place.
Moreover, the doctor had recon-
mended Colorado air for me.
He had not said a word about Kan
sas.
II should love to-" l returned, "but
indeed I cannot. However," and I be-
gan to tremble Is I put the question,
perhaps, on my way back, you will