The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-06-12

found her purse was missing. she re-
membered that some one had crowded
her as she got off the ferry boat, but
that bit Of news didn't AFFECT the hack
man at all. He was married man
with family of seven, and he had to
assist in supporting five different sa-
looms, so he wanted cash on the nail.
There were tears, but they didn't move
him. He had often seen them at home
when he had reeled in on Saturday
night without cent in his pocket.
Miss Jackson couldn't pay the cab
man, and she couldn't buy ticket to
Hastings and for ten minutes she felt
as helpless as child She was about
to give the cabman diamond ring as
security when a young man of twenty
five stepped into the breach. He had
the long hair that some professional
men affect, and he had the rusty
clothes that other professional men af-
feet; but, as for his heart, that appar-
emily was pure gold. He stepped for
ward, paid the cabman and told him
to be gone. The cabman smiled and
winked and drove away. Then the
young man introduced himself as Pro
fessor Nordenfelt of Columbia college,
professor of languages. He asked the
inestImable privilege Of buying ticket
to Hastings for the young lady. He
asked it because some one had rescued
his sister from just such position Id
Chicago few days before.
AS soon as the young man an
nounced that he was professor Miss
Jackson drew long breath of relief.
She had met but few professors in her
life, but she knew them to be all right.
Like sensible girl She leaned on this
one. She wasn't even surprised when
he said that he was on his way up to
Irvington and would take charge OF
her as far as Hastings. She might
have opened her eyes had she seen him
pay for both tickets out Of her lost
purse, and she might have been most
unhappy had she known that he had
her diamond brooch in view, but as 1t
was she felt nothing but glad relief.
They sat together on the train. Miss
Jackson told the professor all about
Columbus, and he told her all about
Columbia. He spoke seven different
languages and was learning seven 9th.
ers. The girl had always heard that
professors were profound, absent
minded and tactiturn, but she did not
find this one so. He had given her an
address SO that she might return the
money he had loaned her.
When Hastings was reached, her
gratitude became profound. She in
sisted that he stop over one train and
allow her aunt to thank him. He
smiled in a curious way, thought over
1t for a moment and then accepted the
invitation.
The aunt was no spring chicken, and
she was puzzled over the professor. AT
first she set him down as a confidence
man, but his knowledge Of Columbia
college and the seven languages upset
this theory. His manners were good
and his conversation confirmed his as
sertions. He was finally accepted. re-
paid the loan and invited to call again
The police will never be able to salts
facforiIy explain to themselves why
Jimmy the Kid, as his photograph
In the rogues' gallery was labeled
should have made second and third
visit to the house on the Hudson. II
couldn't have been from spirit OF
bravado, for Jimmy was sly. He
couldn't have been hit" for he was
the one who had robbed the girl on the
ferryboat and was still making use OF
her money.
For his second call Jimmy had
dressed up bit 1t helped him in one
way and damaged him in another. He
didn't look SO much like a professor in
his better suit, but it did help his looks
as caller. He was still interesting
too, and an hour passed away. When
he had departed and the women had
criticised him favorably, the aunt said
to Irene:
"a professor Of languages must get q
big salary in college,
Surely he must"
"He must be received in the best OF
society"
"Of course"
"And he is probably rich"
II don't doubt it.
"Irene, wouldn't it be funny, wouldn't
1t be odd, wouldn't it be romantic, if
something were to come of this?"
what kind of something, aunt?'
asked the girl, without blushing. There
was man in Columbus. To be sure
he was not professor but
Jimmy's third appearance was his
last. He announced that he had mas
tered one more language and would
soon be ready to tackle the ninth. He
said something about his having helped
to raise $4,000 to erect new depart
ment at the university, and he men,
toned that he had received an auto
graph letter from King Edward. These
things were not stated in boastful
way They simply crept in inciden-
tally. 1t could not be, said that Jimmy
was seeking to make an impression,
but he made one for all that, and IA
II 4 " -. rIs~ - =