The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-08-05


Dempsey rose from her typewriter
desk. pinned her hat on at the most
becoming angle and slipped into her
coat and gloves. Once outside the
Office door she would slide nervously
into the first elevator and descend to
the street and hurry over to the sta
ton to take the first rain for Willow
Dale. By the time all this was done
the ten minutes that elapsed between
i've and train time were quite ex-
hausted and the half minute that
would have added comparative ease
to the task of train-catching was not
to be had.
What made Il most distressing to
Julia was that the ive-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 suburb
far from home. Julia had never done
this, but. she did not feel secure until
she discovered Davis Blackwell
Julia didn't, know 1t was Davis
Blackwell at the time. In fact, she
didn't know the man at all, but merely
the overcoat-a substantial, stalwart
sort of overcoat that passed every
night ahead of Julia with even strides.
Julia soon learned that II she fol-
lowed 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 II she reached the sta
ton In the wake of this overcoat she
was sure to catch her train. Natural
ly she began to look on the Overcoat
with a measure of approval that soon
warmed to positive liking.
The overcoat, Julia observed. re-
manned in the train after she got on
at Willow Dale. This meant that its
owner lived at Bradley. the only sta
ton beyond. Bradley was q commun-
ity 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 q
large estate, rode horseback and
played golf, and went yachting on holi-
days when she was at home In her
little boarding house.
One Friday afternoon Julia. tired
and cross from a hard days work.
left the ONCE at three minutes after
five. She rammed her hat pins into
her hat without looking to see wheth-
er 1t was on right or not and went out
of the ONCE door with her coat un-
buttoned and her gloves half on BY
a. special effort she reached the sta
ton In time to see the familiar sight
Of the overcoat a hundred feet ahead,
She sighed with relief and hurried
on. The ONCE clock must have been
fast The overcoat was never late.
With childlike trust, she followed
the coat into the shed. through the
surging crowd. past guards and con-
ductors, into the train. She sank down
into an empty seat For a minute
she merely gazed blankly out Of the
window at the walls of the station.
In few minutes more the train was
or 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
conductor.
Julia looked up alarmed and then
catching sight of the overcoat two
seats ahead, sha was treasured She
smiled up at the conductor with all
the good nature of one perfectly sure
of herself. OF course, it was the train
for Willow Dale and Bradley or he
wouldn't be on it.
I'm going to get on at Willow
Dale" she said. The train always
stops there, you know"
you have made a mistake. This
is not the Willow Dale train. 1t is ar
express straight through. It doesn',
stop for fifty miles,"
Julia was dismayed. What am
to do?" she asked meekly.
You'll have to get OF at the mrs
station and go back" said the con
| ductor.
| Julia had been looking steadily a
the overcoat, hoping somehow tina
as 1t had led her into this TX 1t woult
get her out She also fumbled in hel
purse for the necessary money to pa,
her fare. Suddenly the color rose II
her cheeks. 1t was Friday night
the day before pay day-and Julia hal
only rs cents left In her purse. sh,
explained this to the conductor. VIII,
was unfinching.
Just then the owner OF the overcoa
turned his face on Julia.
Cant be of help to your b,
asked.
Julia's blush grew deeper. "Didn'
you think this was the train to Willov
Dale and Bradley" she asked.
NO." he said. smiling. II WASH
going to Bradley tonight. am goinJ
out of town for the weekend"
"O ara vou 30 si0hod Tu1to -