The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-08-18
:hen I'm to do the same for you. Too
bad. though. for I'd thought we might

personal gossip and ambition, and our
tastes run about the same way. and
yet I've never seen you and don't
know whether you're short or tall,
lean or fat, heather or Y. M. G. A.
or whether your mustache is still to
sprout or your white hair is dropping
out from old age. Queer world, isn't
it, Kauf? But say, believe I'll run
down and spend my vacation with
you. There's no other place l can
think of, and we can see how each
i other looks and talk and smoke and
There was a quick. protesting click.
"Don't you do it, Kiefer. What is your
name anyway-the whole of it? Kiefer
is $3.50 unceremonious and blunt.
| But about the vacation. You mustn't
visit me now-mustn't. Why, it's i'm
possible! IL haven't the accommo-
dations, and-and I'm so busy, and'-
There was a call from the home Of
fice and with hurried explanation to
| Kaufman he flashed in an acceptance
| OF the prOnered leave of absence, took
and answered the call, made few
final arrangements, then bent over to
| SO1IAAuC luC NO1f CASoI1Ou, nCS4LdICu
and swung back from the instrument
II won't do it." he chuckled. ''Kauf's
likely ashamed of his looks, baldhead-
ed or fat or one eyed or something and
don't want me to know. I'm going to
visit him on the next train, and I'm
not going to give him a chance for any
more excuses. Ashamed! Great Scott!
Don't we like the same books and mu-
sic and everything else? What do l
care how the old chap looks? He
ought to- know my regard rises above
such petty considerations. And be-
lieve he thinks just as much of me.
His personal condolences prove it. I'll
just drop in on him so suddenly and
affectionately that he can't help tax
ing me in his arms"
So when the through freight slowed
at the water tank Kiefer swung him
self into the caboose with a generous
outfit of tobacco and books and a
brand new pack of cards ordered up
by the freight conductor. And this
same friendly conductor when they
reached telegraph station Is obligingly
slowed the train so Kiefer could drop
into the white, yielding sand. the ia
miliar, unvarying landscape Of his own
station.
Recommendations" he chuckled as
he strobe eagerly toward the open
doorway of the little building. cts
got two rooms like my own, and that's
plenty Of accommodations for any rea-
sonable man. But perhaps Kauf was
used to big house at home. Hello!
Window curtains and flowers at the
end Of the house, and-LOrd!'
For young woman, pretty and neat
ly dressed and with lips and eyes that
were meant for smiling. but that just
now were sober with inquiry and con-
sternation, had suddenly appeared in
the doorway. Kiefer had not seen q
girl in over three years, and such a
girl as this one appeared to him never.
His mouth opened and shut without
sound.
"Well?" the girl inquired at last.
isis Kauf in? How's Kauf? Well?
T-tell Kauf I'm out here to see him."
answered Kiefer dazedly.
''Im Kauf-Adalia Kaufman" said
NAC Sill. AuC4 NAC uLlCI O1duhucSS LII
the face before her seemed to restore
the girls equanimity, for she smiled.
you're Kief, suppose-er-Mr. Kie-
fer, mean," she said. Didn't wire
your
Il wouldn't take it," miserably. "1-
thought it was some foolish excusine
of man who wasn't used to visitors.
heard the instrument calling and rec
ognized your touch, but wouldn't lis
ten. After that first time I kept my
back turned and lodged out soon s the
train came in sight" He looked to-
ward the track as though to see if the
train were still waiting for him, but all
that was visible of it was a dark line
trailing into the white horizon
'Train's gone," he said tentatively,
"and it's fifty miles to the nearest
house, and there aren't any more trains
either way until tomorrow. Now, if
I'd brought some food I might walk
the fifty miles or start off one way or
the other to meet train, but it's been
eight hours since had breakfast, and
fifty miles You see," deprecatingly,
II felt so sure that Kauf-I beg your
pardon, Miss Kauf-Kaufman, 1 mean
-I-1-it doesn't seem possible there
Isn't any real Kauf after all the talk
ing wiring-we've done"
you've camped outdoors a good
many times, suppose, Mr. Kiefer. All.
western men have"
"Of course" inquiringly. Then, with
an odd note Of eagerness coming into
his voice, you mean can camp right
here by the track until a train comes:
1t won't be presumptuous after-after
my density?"
II control only the station, Mr.
Kiefer, and you have right to camp
anywhere you please out of doors.
But what wish to say is that I'll be
glad to have you take supper with me
and all your meals until the train
comes. At home l was considered a