Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-04-18
T air Means
Or Foul.
BY JANE LEE.
Copyrighted. 1905. by NJ. NJ. Cunningham


There may have been Il time when
the rain came down in greater quanli-
ties but certainly hot within the mem.
ory pf the shoppers ON Broadway one
day early IN February
Some few without the saving grace
OF faith had almost persuaded them
selves that a second food was mmi.
nrut. lille others plodled through the
su>hy rivers in cutters too wide to be
jumped with no feeling save dumb
misery
Ghe wind blew with such velocity
that lt was impossible 10 hold an nm.
brr'a and broken ones mad been
thrown into the cutters. giving the ap
pearanee ~ q lleet o. hIuk ships as
they whirled ana finally stopped al the
corner sewer Women who were forced
by circumstances To Ice ont held their
skirts with one hand and took a firm
grip On their hats with the other
AMONG the few straggers the police
HHtlH AttfttAf ~ tAAf ltNAtt ~ - NHAii% EAi
who hard passed him several times now
pccr.us over the curb as II fascinated
by The Glib and How Of the stream
Her clothes We're al good cut and
material Her curly locks were much
bedrassIed and a tiny green stream
WAS running down one cheek thanks
20 tie combination Of rain and green
r. ION upou her hat The man In uni.
form and brass buttons stepped 10 her
Side as She hesltated AZ d rather peril
ous crossing
Had day miss" said he as he offer
cd % hcip her across the street
Hads should say It was Aud In
lost my purse and nm visiting III
Hayvl.ie. have not even money
enough 90 eet back 20 the house ex-
raincd the girl as She looked up hcll,.
lessiy At the policeman
lie eyed her Susplciously To his
ears such stories We're not uncommon
"That- i good story. AN right sure
rs trUr. are YOU" he said.
Just then the tai figure OF NAN.
With his hat pulled down well over his
yves passed them The girl frightened
as she saw him
"Oh all tha; man please DO" She
cried ms tAr tai. figure strode on Hes
from BayAllle too"
The policeman ran over and touched
the iuau ga the shoulder
"ialt over there wants You sir"
rhc man glanced back. ana then.
with one agile leap across the gutter.
he was NJ her side.
Miss Merrill can II be you: What
ou earth are you doing out IN this pour
Ing rain" The questions fc.l thlcE
and fast ana without pause FOR answer
Lot lis step into this drug store and
do tell me what ! can DO foi yon''
They entered the store and friend
y crrh offered them chairs and then
politely retired 20 the rear 81 the store
Helen Merrill tried to adjust Il stray
ock and Turned her blue ewes 10 meet
her companions Interested gaze
1T was awfully good ~ YOU 10 say
ynu knew me That policeman was
hurrd ma | thought you'd remember
having seen me In unclc's trap"
How could fail to see youT unused
the man and the girl hlushed as she
resumed her story
II anne la town 70 do some shopping
aul I've lost my purse II was only
showing this morning and could not
fore-"c this awful wind and rain storm
dropped my purse as | was crossing
hr street and. though I've looked and
looked the whole ength ~ thar dirty
gutter annot find IT," she explained
" him IT, offered 40 response He
was apparently lost ta studying the
e,'hs ~ the blue eyes before him
"Oh won't you send me back home
MFR Marshall; ! know Uncle John
w.l consider II neghborly courtesy.
C.uy ton Marshall smiled and glanced
AZ his watch
II am awfully sorry TO hear about
your plight. Miss Merrill and OF course
I win take YOU home az once We
have just time to catch the 23O train
thu' IS, unless you would rather have
a bio 90 eat first"
Eaf. size cIled. ieel ike
drowned rat and must look like one
No restaurant would admit me Hun
CRY rs am, fear that home is the
place FOR me" Helen replied But"
she continued, N you will put me on
the rain # will be quite sufficient
Surely your office is not closed so
early"
Marshall protested aud finally won
the day He called hanson. and to-
gcther they took the train for Bayvllle
They telephoned In advance. aud the
fumily carriage was at the depot 10
meet Helen.
Uncle John can thank you better
than t." she said as they parted
Think SOP asked Marshall And
then they both laughed
The leading papers the next morn.
ing contained a large aud conspicuous
advertisement: Lost. gold mesh
purse containing bills. gold pencil and
q.