Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-06-19


longest ride for one fare?
You may take me to the nearest
elevated station she explained to
him, sweetly. but with nervous. i'm
passable decision, ''but no farther.
The-the friends with whom I am to
spend the night live too far out for
me to allow you to go with me- es-
peclally as 1 am sure you must have
an engagement for this evening. L
L shall be met al the other end
Vaguely he OWNED some misfor-
tune, but was helpless. He accom-
panied her TO the platform, through
the turnstile. TO the door of the
South Side car. Then. bowling and
Smiling. he said good night as the
face her despair.
Surprising the cars should not run
all night, or that an ''all out at the
next station accident should hap
pen? And would the little heap of
small change in her pocket book last
until daylight? And after daylight,
supposing she got so far in safety,
what then?
She rode to the end of the line,
changed cars and rode back to the
city. Twice she repeated this pro-
gramme, then decided, for no par
tieular reason, upon taking the
Douglas Park line. At the end of the
run-it was after II o'clock, the
night was as bitterly, chilIingly cold
as only a March night can be, and
the station platform but poorly light
ed-her heart sank suddenly. She
sat still in the car, until the guard
approached her.
End of the line, miss he said, re-
gardipg her curiously.
She looked up a him with wide eyes.
out of which she could not keep the
tears.
CT want to keep on riding" she
explained, miserably. Twelve got
SO little money, and I've nowhere
to go. But I think I can pay car
fare until the morning, if you'll let
me stay"
The guard, after a moment of
silent, surprised scrutiny, went back
to the end of the car and shut him
self outside it. The girl. her courage
utterly vanquished, dropped her head
on her breast and sobbed wretchedly,
although under her breath. She was
still sobbing when Bruce Darke dashed
up the steps and in to the train just as
it started. He saw and recognized the
melancholy, solitary figure on the in
slant; two minutes later, the troublous
truth in HIS possession. he was cast
ing about for. ways and means of as
sistance. To lend her money would
be useless. even would she accept it,
for who would take her in at this
hour? The touch of the little hand
he was holding, quite unconsciously,
neryed him to great efforts, but how
to expend them? And then, as if in
direct answer to his urgent thinking,
the door of the car was once more
opened, and man and woman-his
sister and her husband-came in.
'''Look out of the window" he soft
~ commanded poor Esther. I'm
coming right back"
Down in the vacant seat beside his
sister he dropped.
''Sir, DEAR" he murmured, softly,
''do you truly love me just as much
as you ever did 90
whats the matter, old boy?" in
quired the loving but practical sister.
What do you want me 20 do?"
THAT girl there murmured
Bruce, indicating Esther by minute
gesture. us a dear friend of mine,
sis, and the girl I'm going to marry
if she'll ever give me chance to
propose. She's alone in the city,
she's got no money, and she's trying
to ride up and down on these trains
all night because she's no place to
go. l just happened on her, acct
dentally although L saw her down.
town earlier in the evening, and
wormed the truth out of her. She's
the incest, dearest, sweetest of girls,
sis. and"
She can come home with me, of
course, sonny" said the impulsive
Mrs. Sangster, returning his affec-
Tomato hand-pressure with interest.
I'm sure it will be all right, won't
it. jim - appealing to her husband,
who from her other side, had lis
tened to the story in calm and impas-
sive silence.
Yes he said. with the air of one
who delivers a weighty judgment. Its
all right
a moment later the soft swish of
silken skirts attracted Esthers sur
prised attention, and the sister slipped
a warm. tender. reassuring hand into
and about her own
My brother tells me you have
missed your friends and lost your way
and money" said Mrs. Sangster, using
her kindly-and brilliant-imagi gina
ton freely. Now, my friends are my
brothers friends. and his friends are
mine, so-youn come home with me
until the morning, will you not?''
Long and hard-earned habits Of self
control stood Esther in good stead at