The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-12-19

aRlNN ASAAN w ANthtS HtANtN
A boat was about 70 start, aud he
rushed on board, the pemplratlon
streaming fl'eln his face, lie still car.
rled Frances NallSe aud his own heavy
suit case, Flslnecs could not leave any
ferry house without the vallse. for Il
contained her money and her friends
address, She could not apply TO the
old address 70 fnd out where her
hostess had moved, because the house
had been torn down, She must wait
Tor him,
He dashed through the exit and
through the waiting room, searching
both floors, but there was no trace of
the Girl, He was about 70 70 10 the
street and question the carriage agcnt
when the do0rman. who had watched
hls actions curlously, came up.
"Are YOU the chap that lost a lady"
he demanded, III you are, told her
10 80 back 10 the Jersey side and wait
Tor you, She followed a man she
thought was Won aud got on the wrong
coat"
Chris pressed coin into the mans
hand and sprlnted down the slip Just
as the boat was pulling cut He hare
ly managed 10 leap aboard before tho
gates were closed, and he stood on the
forward deck to c0ol or
When the boat should make the Jer-
sey shore this worry would be at an
end. SO he regarded the panorama Of
river life complaeently.
He was the first passenger on the
boat aud out on 10 the concourse. but
neither an the eoncourse nor In the
waiting room could he find her, though
he searched both, She must have
boarded the Cortlandt street ferry, 50
for second time he made for the slip,
catching the same boat that had ear
Fled him across before. One OF the
deck hands regarded him curlously as
he passed.
"Am't you the fellow what raid lly
fare 70 me to stay on the boat 4 couple
9f trips agoy' he demanded.
Chris nodded, and the man grmncd
4 thought you was" he continued
There was a lady down here looking
Cor you this last trip. remembered
gou went right back. and | sent her On
10 Twenty-thlri street. She didn't
have the price OF her fare" he added
neanlngly, and again the grateful
Chris passed out a coin,
Funny you didn't see her" unused
the man as he slipped the money into
his pocket. 'She was on the boat
when We landed, I told her to take a
look around and then make for the
rwenty.thlrd street slip.
Il was looking In the waiting room
for her" explained Chris. Il guess
TIN be all right now"
But things were far from all right,
When Chris leaped from the boat at
the uptown landing. the doorman who
had spoken to him before laughed
loudly as he caught sight Of the pant
Ing and perspirlng traveller.
II told yoH to walt on the Jersey
side" he cried "The girl came back.
and | told her you were down there
waiting. The man on one OF the cort-
andt street boats sent her up here
while was sending you back. | told
her to sit there in the shed this time
FOR an hour and I'd find you some
now. Better stay on this boat The
fares 8 cents. You owe a ticket for
her too, She didn't have any money"
Chris passed over a dollar, keep
the change; it's worth It." he said, and
he went back on the boat.
Fifteen minutes later the crowd
surged of the boat In a rush for the
rains, and Chris went with the tide Of
humanity until Il separated toward the
various gates.
As be turned to search the seats n
pair Of soft arms went about his neck,
and he looked down into Frances
,rimson face.
II didn't mean to do that" she cried,
but was 30 afraid I'd lose you again
L didn't grab right hold Of YOU
81 like II, ? declared Chris. u thought
/ never should lind you"
'That's the way II seemed to me-"
she confessed. Il never was 80 glad to
see any one IN my life. A fat woman
came In between US, and when look.
Cd around to find you there were two
men who looked so like you that
wasn't certain which was really you.
They were both going toward the up
town boat, and followed them"
Chris transferred the yalise to the
hand that carried his suit case, and
with the other he grasped her arm.
I'm not going to lose you this time"
be announced. Il don't want ever to l
lose you again, Fanny. May keep
you--alwaysT"
What he saw in her eyes caused him
to lean over and kiss her.
Everybody kisses everybody else at
the railroad station" he explained as
he led the way to the boat. "And they
haven't half my excuse. I've found
Won tVica fnaida ~ fvvo hot1raU