The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-01-19
lsF''3F
Pudding In
Distress.
By FAME MEDBURY. PENDLETON.
Copyrighted, 1903, by Associa,
Literary Press.

4 " 1920 = = = y = = = y
Perhaps 1t was fate that belated
Cartwright and caused him to rush
across the station platform just as
the last passenger climbed aboard the
train. II so, then fate was materially
assisted by a little old lady over
whom he nearly stumbled and who
wildly clutched his arm.
She was very much out of breath,
and her hair had blown free from her
bonnet until the stray locks stood out
in the wintry winds like silver halo.
"Oh," she cried breathlessly, my
granddaughter has forgotten the
Christmas pudding! She's on the
train. VIII you please give it to her?
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.
II 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
be shoppers, with homegoers and
guests bound cityward Every seat
| was occupied At last Cartwright
found place beside young woman
who obligingly 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.
1t was written In fine, old fash
toned hand and read, "Mary Lang,
1919 Essex place"
A quicker appeared between his eyes
and babe 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 impulslvely;
''you don't happen to be Miss Mary
Lang, do your"
The girl turned a very pretty and
astonished face toward him.
t'You see," he continued eagerly, Il
don't know soul at the station where
got Unchanged cars there and near
" got left. Just as l was making for
the train lady requested me to deliv-
er this 1t is pudding" he explained
impressively, land from the evident
value set upon it by the maker l judge
that it Is good one and that my re-
sponsibility is vast"
There was responsive twinkle in
the girls eye.
s'Sorry 1 can't help you out" she
said. ~'Why not ask the CONDUCTOR
He viii know who got on at that sta
ton. / did myself, but we had to
hurry to catch the train, and didn't
notice my fellow passengers
"Tickets, please"
'.Say, conductor" cried Cartwright.
"can you tell me who got on at Alton
Junction." and he explained the prob
lem Of the pudding.
The conductor grinned.
'NThere was the lady two seats
ahead" he answered, "the one with
glasses"
Cartwright inspected her with comic
dismay.
'Tm shy man." he announced, land
If it be she perhaps you had better
tackle her, conductor. 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"-
'sYou don't know even If she's grown
up. do your" queried the girl, who had
become quite interested In the proceed
fngs
~'That's So" assented Cartwright rue
fully. 'But 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 APP
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.
II wish you were Mary Lang" he
said, with decision.
'G'm very wen satisfied as am" she
answered, dropping her eyes demurely.
The conductor had returned.
%'Lend me the precious pudding" he
suggested. "Guess can help you
out
He walked to the front Of the car
and faced about.
ats there a lady In this car by the
name of Mary Lang7" 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
perspiration from his forehead.
"This suspense is awful he OBJ
served. With hands clasped dramat-
ically he awaited the outcome.
The door opened. A giggle came
from the girl and 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"
"It is not pudding" declared Cart
wright resentfully, 'It's an old man
Of the sea-" And he leaned back,
with the look Of martyr. The girl
watched him with twitching lips.
"There is the address," she sug-
gested. you can send 1t when you
reach the city"
"But l promised" said Cartwright
wrathfully-'I promised the woman
to see it delivered In person, and now
1t is my fate to go on still hunt Tor
this horrible woman, this gorgon. I'm
very much afraid that Maud Cart
wright's dinner viii be late if she
waits for me-" He added the last
wrathfully.
"Ohr" said the girl sympathetically.
"Still." she continued, "the poor WON
an is probably mourning the loss OF
her pudding, and you can figure as
the restorer Of happiness. She Is like
ly one of these timid souls and didn't
dare own up to her name or-I have
iti-sbe is probably deaf and didn't
hear the conductor"
The train pulled into the station,
and the passengers gathered up their