The Cairo bulletin., 1907-08-28
THEIR BRANCH LINE
TO PARADISE
BY JAMES BRAyNE


dinin' kyar ong"
Lambert looked at the car occupied
only by himself and Miss Fulton and
agreed. A diner would have been a
useless luxury. 1t was only a 100,
mile branch, and they were supposed
TO do II in five hours
The conductor was on the steps,
putting AZ cigar, and Lambert sat
down beside him.
How far are we to the next sta
tom he demanded
We're In a station now" explained
the conductor. It's on the other side
of the trains
! DO you suppose could get some.
thing to eat over there?' he asked.
ITS store was the noncomnit.
tai answer = remember we put off
/ ~ box Of crackers last week."
Lambert dropped to the dusty road,
bed and strobe across the strip OF
sand. The store was closed and dark.
| bat the light shone from the kitchen
in the rear and srumhllngly the pro
prietor consented to accommodate the
stranger.
The stock was small and uninviting
Hog and homny. 7 the staple foods.
We're produced locally A barrel Of
flour, a small cheese and limited
stock Of canned goods constituted the
grocery department, but search dis
covered can of Vienna sausages.
some canned peaches, some soda
crackers and cheese, aud the store
keepers wife promised a pot Of cot |
fee
Lambert sat on the steps and |
Smoked while he waited for the cor.
fee and pondered the situation.
All winter he had sought an intro |
duction to the girl who was his one
fellow passenger In the parlor car. He
knew that her name was Jessie Full
ton and that she lived down south Be
yond that his information did not 20.
A dozen times he had run across her
IN the city, but the opportunity for an
Introduction never came.
Here they We're, joint occupants Of
the parlor car and blocked BY a /
wreck that promised TO hold them for
hours, II not all night. The freight |
had gone up in the forenoon and had
broken through rickety bridge A
bridge must be built be-
fore they could go ahead.
The porter came across the road
and smiled as he saw Lambert '.Ahm
lookin' for some sandwiches for ma |
lady,, he announced. She done |
offer me a dollah"
IN give you the dollar" he prom
lsed. You 90 back and rig up table
ri be right there"
The girl looked expectantly as Lana ,
bert entered bearing aloft hts plum
der. With your permission" he
said. with a bow. I'VE will have sup
per such as it is"
The porter promised to get me |
she protested.
Il have cornered the food supply Of q
he town, he explained III my com I
,any is" $
Not at ALL she fastened to pro-
est. 1T will be more pleasant this =
way"
Lambert laid out the food together
With the knives and forks he had Dor.
owed, and opened his various cans.
Hunger gave them appetites even for
he coarse fare and the girl was soon
hating merrily
Your face seems familiar" she
aid, the faint color mounting to her
heeks :
4 worked in the building where YOU Z
Ised to call on your lawyer" he ex-
lained readily. Il have seen you ia Il
he elevator more than once" o
1T seems almost like knowing you p
o meet down here in Georgia" she 50
aid. smilingly "
Lambert beamed To think that. -
fter seeking her all winter, he :
hould find her down here and under
circumstances that made for success
eemed tco good TO be -un. al
- sent the porter back with the n
ishes GaG st.lcd down to entertain G.
ne girl. II was almost midnight be- =
)re they realized how time had been a
wing and he arranged with the poT- Z
sr for a makeshift bed for Miss Full &
IN in the drawing room, while he oc- q
upied the smoking room. n
They were just drawing into the ter
linal station when they met in the
forming.
1T seems that we are out OF trouble
last" he said in greeting. The T,
'ack was cleared about five o'clock" j.
Il am rather 81 ~ for IT," she con-
'ssed. 1T has spoiled our picnic"
Lamberi's face glowed
Il am glad you enjoyed e." he said
Perhaps We may arrange
mother picnic here before | 10 back
orth. | have a title to look up. II -
ay take week. ] rather think Il n.
ill.," u
Il shall not wait for the picnic she
sisted. 4 am going to have you at
ar house to breakfast, II you will Al
me
II / will come" he repeated with IL
happy laugh. Why Miss Fulton.
thing could hold me back. DO Won -