The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-29
The EVENING STORY
Finding Frances.
[By Carl williams.l

[By Carl Williams.l
Miss Pollard! This is a surprise in
deed! I supposed that you were out
west"
Christopher Brooks. boarding the fast
train in Philadelphia. motioned to the
| porter to place his suitcase in the sec
ton occupied by Frances Pollard, and
sank into the seat beside her in re-
Spouse to the mute invitation in her
| eyes.
IT am to visit old school friends" ex-
| planned the girl. 1T is my first visit
| to New York"
And you never let me know that you
| were comingi" ChriS's tones were laden
| with reproach.
| How could II" defended the girl. sIn
| spite of the fact that you did not an
swer my last letter. wrote you that
| was coming east and that should
be glad to have you meet me at the
| station in Chicago and visit between
trains"
"Chicago!" echoed Chris. "I went to
New York six months ago. I wrote you
| OF the change, and as you did not re-
| ply / supposed that you were lost in
| the social whirl and did not care to
waste time in writing when I was so
far away"
You should have known me better
than that" The words were simple,
| but the look accompanying them was
| eloquent. 1t seemed to tell Chris that
| only through faint-heartedness had he
| failed to win his fair lady, and that
there still might be a chance.
1T seems to be a muddle all around"
| he said. 1.-The firm were rather angry
at my going, though 1 gave them two
| weeks notice, and they knew that
was betting myself.
THE chances are that they did not
| forward your letter to me, and did not
mail my letter to you. I remember that
dropped it into the office mailbox.
| The cashier was petty sort or person
| This may have been one of his re-
vengeS."
The many changes which had come
| to both since their parting furnished
| theme for conversation. and the train
was pulling into the terminal at Jer-
| sey City before it was exhausted.
ExultingIy Chris felt that the mis-
he told himself that 1t would not be
his fault If Frances did not return
| home an engaged girl
| will your friends be here to meet
| you?" he asked as the porter took their
| handbags.
| AZ told them not to bother" explained
| Frances. "Bessie's mother is an inva-
| lid, and Bess works downtown some
where I'll just take cab to the house.
It's uptown, the address is in my grip
| / always carry everything in my grip;
| then only have one thing to watch In
stead of a valise and a purse and per-
haps a couple of bundles.
That's sensible thing" cried Chris
| admiringly. Only you mustnI iose
your yalise."
Il should say not" agreed Frances
laughingly "I should find myself with
| out money, and worse yet, without even
Bess's address, since she had 10 move
| last week because their old house was
torn down"
"I'u look out for the valise," prom
ised Chris as he helped her down the
steps of the Pullman. Better walk pc
hind me and let me force the way: m
more used to New York crowds" he
explained with the pride OF a new resi-
dent.
Now. at Jersey City, the concourse
opens on three ferry slips, all leaolng
to various parts OF Manhattan. Snlts
headed for the downtown ferry, Whicn
would bring them near the subway, ana
not until the boat was reached did ne
turn to see if the girl was still fol-
lowing.
the boat was slowly passing out OF the
sin when he made the discovery that
Frances had not followed his instruc-
lions.
She was not in the tail of the crowd
that had been hurried ABOARD py illpI
tient gatemen, nor did careful search
of the boat reveal her. and Chris nope
that she might have been swept ABOARD
by the other gangway was dasneo.
He made the return trip on the same
boat. railing at the delay, and AFTER d
hurried scrutiny of the concourse de-
cided that she must have taken the up
per ferry to Twenty-third street.
A boat was about to start and ne
rushed on board, the PRESENTATION
streaming from his face. He still car
ried Frances valise and his own heavy
suitcase. Frances could not leave any
ferry house without the valise, Tor IL
contained both her money and ner
friends address. She could not apply 70
the old address to find out where her
hostess had moved, because the house
had been torn down. She must wait
for him.
He dashed through the exit and
through the waiting room, searching
both floors, but there was no trace Oh
the girl. He was about to go TO the
street and question the carriage agent
when the doorman who had watched
his actions curiously, came up
Are YOU the chap that lost LADY,?
he demanded. IF you are told her 10
GO back to the Jersey side and wait Tor
YOU. She followed a man she thought
was you and got on the wrong boat"
chris pressed a coin into the mans
hand, and sprinted down the slip just
as the boat was pulling out. He barely
managed to leap aboard before the
gates were closed, and he stood on the
forward deck to cool Off
when the boat should make the Jer-
sey shore this worry would be at an
end so he regarded the panorama OF
river life complacently.
He was the first passenger off the
boat and out onto the concourse, but
neither on the concourse nor in
the waiting room could he find her.
though he searched both. She must
have boarded the Cortlandt street
ferry SO for a second time he made for
the slip, catching the same boat that
had carried him across before. One of
the deckhands regarded him curfously
as he passed.
Amt you the fellow what paid his
fare to me to stay on the boat a couple
of trips ago?" he demanded.
Chris nodded and the man grinned.
'I thought you was" he continued.
There was a lady down here looking
for you this last trip. I remembered
you went right back, and sent her on