Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-21
FAVORED BY
MISFORTUNE
By CLINTON DANGERFIELD
Copyright, 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles.l

Copyright 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles.l
Jerry Brannon studied her delicate
profile eagerly, through the medium
of one of the dingy, narrow, mirror
panels set in the car. Hitherto he had
always considered these panels as
weak trucking to feminine vanity.
He now perceived their intrinsic value
and blessed the man who had con-
ceived the idea
1t hurt him seriously to think that
she would pass out of his life when
they reached Louisville. He ragged
against the conventionalities which set
a barrier between himself and the un-
known.
A gray-haired, stately old gentleman,
whom he correctly supposed to be her
father, sat beside her, and was just
strewing her lap with magazines
bought from the train boy.
"No earthly chance of an introduc-
tion," groaned Brannon to himself.
Not soul here who could possibly
help me-"
His eyes involuntarily turned with
disgust on the other occupants of the
little car.
1t was a mixed train, running from
far beyond Anchorage, and it carried
half a dozen owners of small tobacco
farms on the way to attend the Louis
vile auction, and some equally bucolic
females, several of whom were bur
dened with restless, sticky children.
The fair unknown shone the more
.I,,,, H.,
compared her exquisite grooming with
the frowZy condition of a middle-aged
and solitary female who sat just across
the aisle from him.
There was a huge basket on the seat
beside her. Over its top was tied a
white cloth, which occasionally bulged
up fiercely in bumpy spots, while
smothered sounds of inarticuate wrath
issued from within.
The owner of the basket detected
Brannons glance To his horror she
nodded, smiled, arose, and coming
across, dumped herself down beside
him, smoothing back her thin hair
with cotton-gloyed hand.
Il seed you a-lookin' my way" she
said, with great friendliness, and
knowed you wuz jest spilin' to find out
what's in that there basket"
Pardon me-" said Brannon, freez-
ingly, 81 had not thought of the bas-
ket. l would not have you put your
self to any trouble in explaining.
am not the conductor. you know"
Good land!" chuckled his self-found
friend. Did we think | took ye for
the conductor? Why, he's dressed a
sight smarter than you. Bright blue,
and brass buttons on it, Std of gray
Not but what you look real nice" she
amended. hastily. That there suit fits
you to a figger and sort of agrees with
your style | dunno but mebbe you
look better in that than you would in
his blue and brass"
Thank you" said Brannon, with an
irony totally lost.
Jerry was no snob; but the familiar
manners of the owner of the basket
made him rage lest the unknown, sit
ting several seats ahead, should regard
her as belonging to him. He assumed
pose of quiet iciness, which was quite
undetected by the friendly dame be-
side him.
His Indifference as to the mystery
of the basket had the usual stimulat-
ing effect. She lowered her voice to a
confidential PITCH determined TO inter
est him.
Conductor, he knows there's poultry
I'm that there basket" she said, in a
half whisper, but he don't know all"
Jerry remained silent
"They amt no common chickens.
They are thoroughbred games. I'm
a-takin' EN- in 10 a young feller in
town. I'm afeared he's goin to fight
the cock, but husband he says 'taint
none OF our affair"
Jerry looked out OF the window.
"That there cock" pursued she. has
got the wust temper in Kantuck an
the hens they amt much better"
Jerry tried another tack.
"Then you had better stay by them
and watch them" he suggested artful.
ly. you shouldn't leave them alone.
That cover looks loose {"