The Cairo bulletin., 1909-07-24
The DEAR FRIEND FROM FRANCE.

up the receiver.
"Hello-Russell? VIII you do some
thing for me?1
The young broker could barely dis.
tinguish the words. on account of a
bu2zing on the wire. but concluded il
TO be his partner with some leftover
business. Sure he replied
No sooner was the Affirmative spok-
en- than the confusion cleared and in
stead of his partner he heard girlish
voice plunge into flood of directions:
"Mademoiselle reaches Jersey City
at 7:l0 Pennsylvania Please bring
her to the EX Moor, third floor front,
We've just moved. I'm all alone and
cant go"
You've the wrong" began Rus
sell politely.
No, I'm sure of the train.' insisted
the sweet voice. She will have a blue
ribbon, too. Isn't that fine? You're a
darling to so"
Before Russell could launch into ex-
plantations, a faint click came as the
speaker hung up the receiver
Public station. party gone said
the telephone girl blandly, when the
broker franticalIy rang up central.
Russell sank back in his chair
aghast, when he realized that there
was no alternative. He pulled out
his watch. Sixiifteen. Just time to
meet the train He ran over the frag-
mentary directions, smiled apprecia-
lively AS he remembered the girls
concluding remark: You're a darling
to go" She did have a nice voice.
Then he snapped his desk shut and
left the office.
Sc that gent" announced a station
guard, as the evening crowds forged
through the train gates toward the
New York ferries. Detective watchin
fer a criminal"
"Youse don't say So And the sec
ond employe joined the loiterers in
curious observation Of the nice look
ing young man who approached cau-
tiously every foreign looking woman
aud scrutinized her costume
Russell mopped his brow This was
hard work For an hour and a half
he had watched for belated trains. He
was beginning to feel ridiculous. The
only decent thing was to report his
failure at the EX Moor, 50 he crossed
the ferry, located The house in a di-
rectory. and was soon on a Broadway
car.
When he stepped from the elevator
on the third floor, the boy directed
him three doors down a dim corridor.
While he was cropping for the electric
button the door swung open and a
futfy-haired girl stood poised on the
tip of a wave Of light
Il knew you would do it," she de-
clared gladly.
Il beg your pardon" began Russell.
The girl drew back in dismay at the
strange voice issuing from the dark
corridor
The French woman didn't come
The frank stare from the young
woman rather disordered his nicely
chosen words. but Russell houndered
on
You phoned-I met all the trains
but could not find French woman
with a single blue bow"
"A French woman?" The pretty
forehead wrinkled up in most en-
chanting fashion. "Why--the only
time / phoned was to Russell to-
I'm RUSSELL" smiled the young
man
The girls blue eyes looked frankly
into his But | mean Russell Towne,
she said.
Now we have it. The phone calls
got mixed. Baker Towne & Co. have
Offices next to ours"
I'm awfully sorry"
I'm not Except for the French
girl. II only YOU could have seen me
watching the gates for ladies with
blue bows"
Oh cried the girl incoherently,
'Mademoiselle-"
She must have been depending on
her husband, probably. thought Rus
sell-the (nicest girls always were |
to meet a dear friend from
France
y will find her" he offered quickly
she may have gone to a restaurant
for dinner"
The girl dropped into a chair; in the
dim light Russell saw that she shook
as If in a paroxysm of grief.
Il will find her, Mrs. Towne,' he
promised eagerly. Anything TO stop
these ptiful sobs.
The girl lifted her head Her eyes
were full of tears, but the shine and
twinkle there were not of sorrow.
French woman; Mrs. Towne!" she
cried with little ripples OF laughter,
that left the man nonplussed. Why;
is my blue ribbon span
iel and Russell is-my cousin!'
The mans face cleared by magic.
lets find Mademoiselle," he sug-
seSted ouietiy "to introduce us"