The Press., 1909-05-19
Pudding In Distress.
By FANNIE MEDBURY PENDlETON.
1908, by Associated
 fterarv PraSz


 Perhaps it was fate that belateC | Cartwright and caused him to rusl across the station platform just al the last passenger climbed aboard thC train. If so. then fate was materially assisted by a little old lady ovel whom he nearly stumbled and who wildly clutched his arm.
 She was very much out of breath and her hair had blown free from hel bonnet until the stray locks stood out in the wintry winds like a silver halo
 "Oh," she cried breathlessly. my granddaughter has forgotten the Christmas pudding! She's on the train. Win you please give 1t to heri Her names on the wrapper"
 Cartwright mechanically accepted the pudding thus thrust upon him. | Promise to put it into her own hands, pleaded the little old lady anxiously.
 | Cartwright nodded as he clutched the railing of the last car and pulled | himself up. As the train swept around the curve he caught last glimpse of her face. Her eyes were fixed upon the package under his arm.
 "I actually believe she thinks want her old pudding," grinned Cartwright. ''She doesn't trust me- The train. which was the last local for the city. was crowded with would 1 be shoppers with homegoers and n;t was occupied. At last Cartwright found a place beside a young woman who obIigingly made room for him and immediately resumed the study of the snowy landscape through which the train was rushing.
 Cartwright glanced casually at her voluminous brown veil: then his eyes fell to the travelling pudding, and he turned over the package to find the name.
 It was written in a fine, old fash toned hand and read. Mary Lang. 1919 Essex place."
 4 pucker appeared between his eyes and bade fair to develop into a scowl when he became conscious that the gaze of the girl was fixed likewise upon the package.
 Pardon me-" he cried impulsively; you don't happen to be Miss Mary Lang, do you?' s....
 The girl turned a very pretty and astonished face toward him.
 'YOu sec" he continued eagerly, "I don't know a soul at the station where got on-changed cars there and near ly got left. Just as I was making for the train a lady requested me to deliv- CT this. It is q pudding" he explained impressively, ''and from the evident value set upon it by the maker judge that it Is a good one and that my re- sponsibility is vast
 There was a responsive twinkle in the girls eye.
 'Sorry I can't help you out" she said. ''Why not ask the conductor? He will know who got on at that sta ton. I did myself, but we had to hurry to catch the train, and I didn't notice my fellow passengers"
 Tickets, please"
 ''can you tell me who got on at Alton Junction?" and he explained the prob lem of the pudding.
 The conductor grinned.
 "There was the lady two seats ahead" he answered, "the one with glasses"
 Cartwright inspected her with comic dismay.
 "I'm a shy man." he announced, "and If 1t be she perhaps you had better tackle her. conductor 1 don't want the job.
 "Well, there's the fat lady in the vel low waist with buttons, and the girl in the front seat, and the family just behind. and'-
 ''You don't know even if she's grown up, do yOuY' queried the girl. who had become quite interested in the proceed lngs.
 ~'That's so," assented Cartwright rue fully. But l feel by the pricking of my thumbs that she's homely as a hedge fence, cross eyed and at least fifty"
 ''That may not interfere with her ap- petite for plum pudding" suggested the girl mirthfully. She had put back the enveloping brown veil, and her dark eyes gazed straight into Cartwright's.
 "I wish you were Mary Lang," he said, with decision.
 ''pm very we'll satisfied as am," she answered, dropping her eyes demurely. The conductor had returned
 ~'Lend me the precious pudding" he suggested. Guess I can help you out"
 He walked to the front of the car and faced about.
 ''1s there a lady in this car by the name of Mary Lang?" he shouted above the roar of the train.
 There was much turning of heads, but no response. The conductor dis appeared into the car ahead. while Cartwright wiped imaginary drops of precipitation from his forehead.
 ''This suspense is awful he ob- served. With hands clasped dramat- ically he awaited the outcome.
 The door opened. 4 giggle came from the girl and n groan from Cart wright as the conductor returned. bearing before him the pudding. still unclaimed He dropped 1t into Cart wright's hand Sorry" he chuckled, "but there's nobody on the train who will own to being Mary Lang and thus become the proud possessor of the pudding"