The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-07-06
The DEAR FRIEND FROM FRANCE.

sell. Charley russell lmpatlently TOOK
| up the receiver.
"Hello-Russell? VIII you do some
thing for me?''
The young broker could barely dis
tinguish the words. on account of a
buzzing on the wire, but concluded it
TO be his partner with some leftover
business. Sure" he replied
Ne sooner was the affirmative spok-
en- than the confusion cleared and in-
stead of his partner he heard a girlish
voice plunge into food 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
can't go'
You've the wrong" began Rus
sell politely.
mo, I'm sure Of the train" insisted
the sweet voice. She will have a blue
ribbon, too. Isn't that fine? You're
darling to go"
Before Russell could launch into ex-
plantations, a faint click came as the
speaker hung up the receiver.
Public station, party gone said
tie telephone girl blandly. when the
broker frantically rang up central
Russell sank back in his chair
aghast, when he realized that there
Was no alternative. He pulled out
bis watch. Six-tfteen. Just time to
meet the train. He ran over the frag-
mentary directions, smiled apprecia
tiyel, as he remembered the girls
concluding remark: You're a darling
10 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 Il criminal
You Sc don't say so" And the sec
ond employe joined the loiterers in
curious observation of the nice look
ing young man who approached eau
tiously every foreign looking woman
and 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 10 feel ridiculous. The
only decent thing was to report his
failure at the Elk Moor, SO he crossed
the ferry, located the house in 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
huffy-haired girl stood poised on the
tip OF a wave of light.
Il knew you would do it," she de-
clared gladly.
II 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 fioundered
on
You phoned-T 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"
Pm not. Except for the French
girl n 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 INCEST girls always were
married. 10 meet dear friend from
France.
II will find her." he offered quickly.
She may have gone to a restaurant
foI dinner"
The girl dropped into a chair; in the
dim light Russell saw that she shook
as if in a paroxysm Of grief.
81 will find her, Mrs. Towne," he
promised eagerly Anything to stop
these pitiful 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; |
Mademoiselle is my blue ribbon SPAN
lei and Russell is-my cousin"
The mans face cleared by magic.
81 at'e find MadaTnpfgalIa - ha suP-