The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-06
THE EVENING STOR Y
When Elsie Was Lost.
(By Morris Cooke.)

| prehenSively at the CROWDED CAR
Easy" laughed Taylor. Here in
New York we don't call a car crowded
until there are people sitting on the
roof" He helped her aboard the plat
form and stepped aside to let. two
other women on, swinging himself on
to the step just as the car started
Elsie looked back nervously at Tay-
lor and called warningly: do not
get lost Tom
He waved reinsurance and then,
some one in leaving. forced her to step
we'll into the car. This prevented her
| from knowing that Taylor had dropped
off the car step to let some passengers
alight, and that the conductor nad
given the go-ahead signal before ne
could swing himself back on again.
Two other men regained the step, nu.
Taylor was left in the street saying
things about the traction company ana
all its employees.
All unconscious, Elsie rode until
the end of the run was neared and the
crowd thinned out before she was able
to see that Tom was not on the car.
She backoned the conductor.
There was a gentleman on the rear
PLATFORM she said.
Lots of EN-" agreed the conduc-
tor.
but this one had blue tie and a
derby hat. Do you remember where
he got OFF," :,
blue ties" he said Grossly. A crowded
run is not conducive to poEteness.
"Where do you want to get OFF,"
That's just the trouble she ex-
planned. You see my aunt moved
this morning. There was fire in the
apartment house in which they lived
and they had to change. It's uptown
somewhere, but my cousin did not
have time to tell me just where He
Better go over to the police sta
ton" he counseled. your folks will
send out a general alarm probably and
then word will come to the station.
Maybe there's some one where they
used to live that can tell you"
That's So" she said. Frightening,
cts on Central Park West"
She named a number and the con-
ductor rang the bell Take down
town car to One Hundred and Twenty
fifth street" he said. Transfer south
on Eighth avenue. That's in the six
ties somewhere
Elsie dropped off The car with a
word of thanks and hailed a car com
ing in the opposite direction. Not
until the conductor stood in front of
her did she realize that she had given
Tom her hand satchel containing her
pocketbook.
than the first one and refused to ac-
cept her story. There was no one else
in the car and with crimson face she
alighted. She did not know how far
it was. but she had general idea OF
the direction and she started bravely
out.
The wind blew coldly from the river
and she drew her coat about her as
she plodded along Six blocks ana the
lamp post told her that One Hundred
and Twenty fifth street had been
reached. She paused undecidedly then.
with sudden determination she hailed
passerby.
Eighth avenue?" he repeated.
Keep going. It's the street with the
elevated on You can't-Is this Elsie
Linton?" he broke Off
''Will." she cried in sudden recogni-
ton. IT did not know you with that
mustache on. And you're older, too"
ST ought to be- he said grimly. BE
tween having to get out and hustle
and losing the girl 1 loved"
ST suppose you have made up poth
losses" she said.
"Only the first" he corrected. I've
lust this minute found the girl love.
But what are you doing here, alone p
he demanded. Been visiting and got
lost? ?"
RAPIDLY she explained the situation
and his brow clouded.
sThe Bellevue burned last night"
he said. Pretty we'll Quilted. There
may be caretaker who VIII know
where your aunt went. Let's go over |
and see.'
He whisked her on board the car
and she settled back with sigh OF re-
lief 1t was so comfortable to be |
taken care of again and there was a |
new briskness in Will Benton's man |
ner that brought comfort.
When the Benton Milling company !
had failed he was an idle and none |
too resourcefu1 fellow. Now he spoke |
and acted with decision and she was
sorry that she had said mo" when |
he had put the all-important question |
to her.
her day dream and as they |
changed to the Eighth avenue car he |
became more laxative. He sketched |
for her an outline of his struggles,
bare outline of his experience to which |
her own mind added the embellish-
ments. and almost before she knew ii
he was signaling the conductor
The Bellevue stood a smoke-stained
and oaunt wreck of what had been a |
fashionable apartment house. and
fire patrolman in the lobby was the
only sign of life.
laughed "They were in too much of
tor thought of that. The others just
went to the hotels or to friends. The
furniture is all here. They had insur-
ance and they can't move it until the
adiusters get through Try the post
office
The sub-station gave no better re-
suit. The carrier declared that he
would not be permitted to give an ad-
dress, but admitted that as yet he
had received no instructions for for
wa riding mail.
At the police station the desk ser
gaant telephoned headquarters, but no
alarm had been registered yet."Maybe
II will coma in he counseled. why
don't you go and get dinner and come
hack? 1 may have something for you
then"
'TThat's so,' laughed Benton. You
must be pretty hungry after all this
walking. Let's go down to the circle