The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-08-08
When Elsie was Lost

II
word or tl1anks'Aiid hailed cnr COM
Ing In tbs oppositc direction. Not un-
I'll tho conductor stood ii front OF her
did ahe realize that she had given rom
her hand satchcl containing her pocket
book.
This conductor was lass pleasant
than the first one and refused to he
cept her story. There was no one else
In tho car, and with crimson face she
alightcd. Ghe did not know how fur
II was. but ehe had q general idea of
the direction. and she started bravely
out. 4
The wind blew coidly from the river.
aud shs drew her coat about her al
she ptodded along. Six blocks and tho
lamp post told her that Ono Hundred
aud Twsnty.hfth street had bpen
reached. she paused undoubtedly;
then. with sudden discrimination. she
hailed q passerby.
'.Iciahth ayenusy' hs repeated.
keep going ffs tho street with tho
elevated Oh. You cen't-is this Elsie
Lintour' BIO broke on. *
"wni!H she cried 10 sudden recognt
tion. II dsd NOT know you with that
mustache On. And you're older too"
II ought 70 be.sehe said grimly. "be
tween having to ast out and hustle and
losing the girl loved"
'T suppose yoss have made up both
LOSSES" Rho said.
"only the ilrsk" be corrected. "i've
Just this minuse found the girl love.
But what are you doing here alonefs
he demanded. ''Reen visiting and got
loatY' Sa5
Rapidly she explained the situation,
and his brow clouded.
'The Bellevue burned last night"
he said. Pretty well gutted. There
may be n caretaker who win know
where your aunt went. Let's 30 over
and see
He whisked her on board the car,
and sho settled back. with sigh OF
relisf. II was 20 comfortable to be
takdn care Of again. and there was d
now briskness In VIII Benton's man,
ner'that brought comfort.
When the Benton Milling company
had failed he was an Idle and none toe
rcsourceful fellow. Now he spoke and
acted with decision, aud she was sorry
that she had said mo" when he hna
put the all important question to her.
Their arrival at the transfer point IN
terrupted her day dream. and as thcS
changed 10 the Eighth avenue car he
became more laxative. He sketcheJ
for her an outline OF his struggles. 4
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
Tho Bellevue stood n smoke stained
aud gaunt wreck OF what had been a
fashionable apartment house, aud O
fre patrolman In the lobby was the
only sign of life.
'"rhey didn't leave no address," be
laughed They were In too much OF a
hurry when they left Only the doctor
thought OF that The others just went
TO the hotels or to friends. The fnrni-
ture Is all here. They had Insurance.
and they can't move It until the adjust
ers get through. Try tho postofiice."
The substation gave no better result
The carrier declared that he would not
be permitted TO give an address, but
admitted that as yet he had received
no instructions for forwarding mail.
At the police station the desk ser
geant telephoned headquarters. but no
alarm had beon registered yet, MAY.
be II will come In" he counselei.
"why don't you 20 and get dinner ana
come backf ! may have something FOR
you then"
That's so." laughed Benton. "Yon
must be pretty hungry after all this
walking. Let's 20 down to the circle
and have something to eat 1t will do
lis both good"
Across the table Elsie's depression