The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-22
THE EVENING STORY
Julia the Connauter.
By John R. Thompson.

gloves. Once outside the Office door
she would slide nervously into the first
elevator and descend to the street and
hurry over to the station to take the
first train for Willow Dale. By the
time all this was done the ten minutes
that elapsed between FIVE ard train
time were quite exhausted and the half
minute that would have added compa-
rative ease to the task of train catch
ing was not to be had
What made it most distressing to
Julia was that the five-ten train to
Willow Dale didn't always make up on
the same track. and she was in daily
dread of taking the wrong train and
being carried to some unknown sub
urb far from home. Julia had never
done this but she did not feel secure
until she discovered Davis Blackwell.
Julia didn't know it was Davis
Blackwell at the time. In fact, she
didn't know the man at oil but merely
the overcoat-a substantial stalwart
sort of overcoat that passed every
night ahead of Julia with even strides.
Julia soon learned that if she followed
this overcoat she would board the right
train without taking the time and
trouble of looking at the signs in the
train shed. Also, Julia learned that if
she reached the station in the wake of
this ovcrcoat she was sure to catch her
train. Naturally she began to look on
the overcoat with measure of ap-
prevail that soon warmed to positive
liking.
The overcoat, Julia observed, re-
NAMED in the train after she got off at
Willow Dale. This meent that it's
owner lived at Bradley, the only sta
ton beyond. Bradley was a commu-
nifty of aristocrats among commuters
and from this fact and from the nat
ural good looks of the coat itself Julia
inferred that its owner lived on a large
20 Ia oh x,1a
and went yachting on holidays when
she was at home in her llttls boarding
house.
On Friday afternoon Julia, tired and
cross from hard days work, left the
office at three minutes after five. She
rammed her hat pins into her hat
without looking to see whether it was
on right or not and went out of the
Office door with her coat unbuttoned
and her gloves half on. By a special
effort she reached the station in time
to see the familiar sight of the over
coat a hundred feet ahead. She sigh
ed with relief and hurried on. The
office clock must have been fast. The
overcoat was never late.
With childlike trust she followed the
coat into the shed, through the surg
ing crowd, past guards and conductors,
into the train. She sank down into an
empty seat. For minute she merely
gazed blankly out of the window at
the walls of the station. It few min
utes more the train Wes off. Julia
didn't suspect her mistake until the
conductor. portly and lusty-voiced,
came through calling for tickets.
Julia held her Communication book out
mechanically.
This ticket only takes you as far as
Willow Dale. madam" said the con-
ductor.
Julia looked up alarmed and then.
catching sight of the overcoat two
seats ahead, she was resssUred. She
smiled UP at the conductor with all
the good nature of one perfectly sure
of herself. OF course. 1t was the train
for Willow Dale and Bradley or he
wouldn't be on it.
I'm going to get off at Willow
Dale she said 1.-THE train always
stops there. you know"
You have made a mistake This is
not the Willow Dale train. It is an ex-
press straight through It doesn't
stop for fifty miles"
Julia was dismayed. What am to
do?'' she asked meekly.
You'll have to get off at the first
station and go back" said the con-
ductor.
Julia had been looking steadily at
the overcoat, hoping somehow that as
it had led her into this fix it would
get her out. She also funabled in her
purse for the necessary money to pay
her fare. Suddenly the color rose in
her cheeks. 1t was Friday night-the
day before pay day-and Julia had
only twenty-five cents left in her
purse. She explained this to the con-
ductor. who was unflinching.
Just then the owner of the over
coat turned his face on Julia.
cant I be of help to you?' he
asked.
Julia's blush grew deeper. Didn't
you think this was the train to Willow
Dale and Bradley ?'' she asked.
NO." he said, smiling. az wasn't
going to Bradley tonight. I am going
out of town for the weekend
20. are YOU" sighed Julia reproach-
1T was taking an unfair advantage
of you,' he said. ''if led you into the
wrong train
BY this time Davis Blackwell had
come over to Julia and paid the con-
ductor her fare. Then laughing he
forwarded her enough money to take
her safely back to Willow Dale. Ju-
las gratitude was mingled with hum
BILE reproach at first for having led her
astray and then with a self reproach
for having followed him Davis, in his
desire to help. took his seat beside her,
and together they laughed and talked
till the first stop, when Julia got Off to
go back to Willow Dale Davis adj
mitted that he was sorry the trip was
so short.
The next Monday evening Julia slip
ped up to Davis Blackwell in the
crowd at train time and timidly put
the money he had lent her into his
hand, and then before he had had
time to detain her she was gone.
Upon these two interviews Davis
Blackwell based what he was forced
to acknowledge a decided liking for
the little stenographer. Tt was Xix
ing that made him long to see her
again.
But strangely enough she was not to
be found on the Willow Dale trains.
He made guarded enquiries Of people