Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-01-08

lust as he passed her berth he heard
his name called In anxious tones.
Dick, oh, Dick!'
He stopped.
"Dick," urged the voice, "come clos
er, I've got something dreadful to tell
you!"
His heart thumped as he sided up to
the curtains. Her lips must have
touch his ear almost, for he felt her
breath on his cheek.
"Dick. my pumps are goner'
Though her tone was tragic, he could
hardly restrain a laugh.
Nonsense" he replied through the.
slight aperture in the curtains, 81 guess
they're under the berth where the por-
ter put them after polishing them"
mo, they're not" she declared. .The
porter gave them to me a moment ago.
and l was Just admiring them when
they both slid out of the windowl Oh
what shall l do?"
Try as he might, Dick couldn't keep
back a chuekle.
well, I've certainly won that bet.
Christinei' he said with conviction.
'That bet?" she repeated incredu-
lousy. what on earth are you talk
Ing about?"
You know well enough" he rejoined.
81 said you'd go stocking footed into
Washington before l proposed againFs
An impatient rustic behind the eur
tains followed this sally.
"This is no occasion for clever re-
.,.o ~. ntaIr5s Cbo AhcarvoJ aol11u
Maybe you don't realize 1t, but I'm In
' very embarrassing predlcament. l
rant get out of the berth without any
shoesl"
There was silence for a second. Then
her tone was softer.
ooh. Dick. what shall do? Can't
you help me?'
"Sure! | might lend you a pair of
mine," he suggested, the smile stilD
lurking on his lips. They're not so
abnormally large"
Don't be absurd" she protested.
''Think of something practical-if you
can. There's no time to lose-we're
going into Washington nowr'
Don't get nervous, Christine" he
cautioned. serious now. ut is early
yet, and you car remain in the berth
for an hour or so. When We get into
the station, I'll go out and buy you an
other pair of Shoes"
evil your?
Certainly"
"Oh, Dick, l could kiss you for it?v
Don't get firtatious again." he said
sharply. Just tell me the size of your
slippers"
"Three," she answered
''The last?"
Double A."
"All right" he commented, jotting
down the numbers, IF you'll keep calm
for half an hour I'll return with some
thing or other in the line of boots!'
Then he hurried out, for already the
train was in the station. In less than
ten minutes he was talking to a clerk
avenue.
II want the n~eatest, daintiest pair of
pumps you've got in the house, he
declared. "Size three, last double A"
"What color?" asked the salesman.
For q second Dick was stumped.
Then he remembered that the lost
pumps he had been fortunate enough
to get a glimpse of were brown, a
light, delicate brown.
Brown he said. "Prettiest shade of
brown you've got. I'll leave it to YOU"
The salesman smiled. "All right" he
replied, 'Tve got something that will
suit you, I'm sure"
Don't reckon he's been married
more than a week." the man thought
as he pulled a box off the shelves and
opened 1t.
Dick surveyed the pumps. Neat,
stylish and pretty they surely were, if
he was any judge.
'Tll take them," he said"
In another ten minutes he thrust a
bundle between the curtains of the
berth that be hoped still contained
Christine.
"Here they are" he volunteered.
He heard her tear open the package
and toss the paper aside.
ooh, Dick, they are simply beautiesr'
she cried. MY, but you are a dearr'
A few minutes later they left the
Pullman together.
Dick she asked sweetly as he
helped her down from the platform,
what can l ever do to repay your"
The chance, he thought, was now,
and he seized it.
"By letting me buy your shoes al
ways, little girl" be pleaded quietly.
"All right, l will, Dick!" she whis-
pered. "For l don't know anybody
who knows how betterr'
Wanted to Warn Him.