Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-11-26
CHAPTER II.

| CHAPTER II.
! The London train due at Sandbeach at
4:10 P. m. had just disgorged the con-
tents of its carriages and luggage vans
on to the platform. There were porters
wheeling trunks of baggage, smart WON
en- with tiny beribboned dogs under their
arms, harassed looking ladies' maids
loaded with dressing bags and shawls;
COMMISSIONERS in gold-lettered caps
hurry, noise and confusion everywhere,
and with it all, mingling with the smell
| OF coal, CRIME and grease inseparable
from railway station, there was golden
sunshine and a faint fresh salt Whit
| of the sea.
Where are we going, Nan? What a
noise the people do make, and how they
push! I'm tired, want my tea" said
Gerry Oliver fretfully.
She hung with all her weight on her
elder sisters arm, while Anne, with Pills
help, was trying to disentangle the one
shabby tin box that contained all their
! possessions from the mountains of lug
gage heaped upon the platform.
That's all, miss? Only one box? Shall
l call a cab, or will a true do2" asked
the rosyfaced porter attending on them
! Poor Anne hesitated
CT don't know she said. The pros
pect of driving about in fly until they
could find suitable lodgings was fraught
with terror, owing to its probable cost,
yet to hire truck to take their box,
she knew not where seemed equally dan
gerous.
"The truth is l cannot tell you where
to 90 until | nave found rooms. | won
der if we could leave the luggage here
for an hour or two until we have looked
about? Is Sandbeach very full, do you
knowY" she inquired in desperation of
the porter.
Packed like 'errings in bar'l, miss"
replied that true descendant of Jobs
comforters, smiling "All the apartments
on the front an the 'otels is iammed !
It's holiday time, yer see, an fine
weather inter the bargain. Shouldn't be
surprised if Sandbeach was ter come in
for one of its reel old -fashioned seasons
this summer, if the rain keeps off; an
then regatta time there'll be folks pay
in ten shillings a night for a bathin'
machine ter sleep in, an glad to get it
too. That's nothin' when the place is
full | can tell YOU.
Little Anne's pale face grew shade
more wistful as she listened Evidently
the sea and its manifold delights were
not for her, or any one without pockets
lined with gold.
81 suppose you could not tell me of
any little cheap place-of course it must
be clean and speetable-where | and
my little brother and sister could have
beds and tea she hazarded. eve shall
be returning to London again tomorrow
am afraid. If Sandbeach is so full we
could not afford to stay, but we cannot
go back tonight"
Back tonight?" echoed the porter.
"Bless We. miss, askin' yer pardon, but
whatever do ee want ter go an do that
for? There's plenty of little lodgings
round by the Backwaters an such like,
where you and the little miss an master
could live cheap an comfortable enough.
I'd offer to take We in myself, but my
missus has let our two rooms to a trav-
elm dog show, an never knew it till the
party came in with family o. five, and
the dogs in hampers, barkin' their 'eads
off. Ere, l say. JIM" he broke off to
make a hasty signal to big burly po-
liceman on duty just outside the station
ward. COW about you mothers cottage
down there beyond the quay? Here's a
lady an two little 'uns wants cheap,
tidy accommodation for the night an
longer if it suits 'em. Is Grannie Burns
let do ye know?"
81 don't think So" responded the blue
clad emissary of the law slowly rubbing
his chin with a meditative air. while
scrutinizing the rather forlorn trio lin
gering on the now deserted platform. Il
see her card in the window as / come
mast his mornin', but any way t won't
take long to find out. Likely enough
mother could recommend the young lady
somewhere if she happens to be full her
self. There's two or three cottages down
that wav besides hers, where they take
in dodgers. it bein' so near the sea and
the single is no objection, miss" he con
tinued, talking to Anne.
The three tired travellers felt them
selves literally treading on air as they
followed in the wake of their friend the
porter brisklv wheeling the tin trunk
containing their worldly possessions on
his truck through the narrow Sandbeach
streets; Phil struggling manfully along
beside him with the shabby violin and
banjo cases that were too precious to be
carried by any hands but his own; and
Anne and Gerry bringing up the rear.
It was Just the hour when the fashion
able population of Sandbeach was
throngEng the sea front and the little
pier. A military band had been playing
there that afternoon, and the sun shone
on the mems red coats and on the gilt
tering brass Of their instruments az they
passed one by one through the turnstiles
Caily-dressed women and children were
fbronging in and out besides, end
troupe Of niger Ministries in white hats
and enormous collars had just taken up
their stand few PAGES further on. and