The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-20
THE EVENING STORY
When Betty Was Lost.
IBy Lulu Johnson.

watched with lazy interest the tiny fig
ure of the child toiling up the hill He
was fond of children, all sorts and va
rieties, but there was an elfin dainti-
ness about this Independent young way
farer that appealed most particularly
to him.
she carried herself with a knowing lit
tie air that belied her timid eyes and
her rosy, quivering mouth, while her
smart froek and fetching hat indicated
comfortable circumstances.
He forgot that Danvers was half an
hour late for their appointment. He
even neglected to think about a certain
girl whose image for the past week had
filed his thoughts almost constantly.
To his dismay, as the child was OPP
posite him, she sat down upon the
steps of. a high-stoop house, and began
to cry. not loudly and with wild dis
play of grief, but quietly, as if she
sought to keep back the tears that
trickled down her cheeks.
In an instant Strang was out of the
car, and knelt on the stoop beside her,
seeking to learn the cause of her grief.
81 guess I'm losted," was the plain
tive reply. ''an' there isn't any police
man to find me-"
Perhaps I'm as good as a policeman"
he suggested, as with shudder he
thought of this dainty child's spending
the day in some dingy police station
How were you lost and where do you
live?"
explanation. -She coined in on the troll
ley an when we changed, l was losted,
an then I tried to find Aunt Mollie's,
an guess she's losted. too. I can't
find her either"
Where do you live? In the country?"
he asked hopefully. If they used any
particular trolley it might be easy to
trace her people.
''On the gween trolley" assented the
child. I'VE live way out, most to
where they STOP"
81 guess We can find you then" de-
c1ared Sidney cheerfully. You jump
into my car and I'll take you out along
the line. We're sure to see the place
then. Is your house right on the line
of the cars
But you'll remember the corner
where you took the carp" urged Strang
and this time she nodded an assent.
Only one suburban line boasted green
cars. These ran out to Mount Holly, a
distance of eighteen miles. BY follow
ing along the road which, for the great
er part of the way paralleled the tracks,
he probably would enable the child to
get her bearings.
She was old enough to recognize a
familiar neighborhood, even IL she was
too young to be able to call the suburb
by name.
He made her comfortable in the seat
beside him, and presently they we're
whizzing through the side streets to-
ward the belated Danvers, but he could
been haunting his memory. AS they
rushed along her image came back
afresh, to him.
Somehow the child, with her flower
like face, reminded him tantalizingly of
that older girl whom he had seen, sitting
in a box at the theater a week before.
Strang had questioned several of his
friends between acts, but no one SEEM
leisure time since then in trying to find
some trace of her.
He was not permitted to enjoy his
thoughts long, for the child soon forgot
her troubles in the delight of riding, |
and her very evident pleasure delighted
Sidney, who even dared arrest to let the |
speed out another notch when the child |
begged to go faster.
) But when they had come to the end |
of the line and she had not recognized |
any familiar landmark the situation
turned serious.
Perhaps even now an hystericaI
mother might be clamoring at the po-
lice station for her child, and general |
alarm sent out at once, might cause |
him to be apprehended. With an anx-
ious face he turned to the child for
suggestion, and the self-possessed 1T
tie one promptly replied.
1--WE might look for Aunt Mollle. She
lives close where you found me. She
can tell where live. If you stop where
the cars stop you can get TO ner place
Sidney Strang accepted the eugges-
ton thankfully and after treating the
shivering child to hot soda he headed
the car for town.
He sent it along at the best speed /
limit. wondering how he would explain
this standardization should the police
have been warned.
He breathed more freely when they
entered the city again, and presently
they were at the transfer point for
suburban trolleys. From her seat in the
car the child seemed able to pick up
her landmarks, and presently, signing
with regret. she pointed to a house
which she declared to be her aunts.
Sidney drew to the curb and aighted
to lift the little traveller down.
"It was a terrible nice ride" she de-
clared at wisht I lived miles an miles
an miles away"
Sidney scarcely echoed the wish. but
he patted the cheek that was offered
for caress, and turned to climb into thei
car.
At this instant he heard an exclam-
alton of surprise, and turned to look
nto the glowing eyes of the rosy girl |
ne wanted to know, the girl OF the I
She had caught the child up in her
arms, laughing and crying simuItan-
eously, Sidney decided that she was
he tAunt MolIie" for whom they
1ad searched, and raised his hat.
'HThe kiddie lost her way" he ex-
"I ran out to Mount Holly in
ocate her home, but the effort was
and at last she remember
ID that she could find her way from
he transfer station to your house"
''LostI'' The girl laughed nervous
v. Betty" she added, "do you mean
o say that you made this gentleman
AXE you out to Mount Holly ?" Il
child nnddnd her head and {