The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-01-25

beautiful girl in the car. and to hear
the music Of her voice.
How could he best set about to find
her? She might be, like himself. q
visitor in the city. But there was the
touring car. Well. she might have
run in from one of the suburbs. He
could think OF no better plan than to
call that evening on the Wallinghams
and describe the unknown to Bessie
and try to get her assistance. Bessie
would divine the situation. and she
would guy him numerically. he knew;
but he would face even that for an
other glimpse of the girl Of the car.
And at that moment he was start
led by a sharp explosion. He looked
to the street There was the black
car, humping along with one fat tire.
The girl threw on the brakes and
came to a stop.
In an instant Orme was In the
street. II he thought that she would
not remember him, her first glance al
tered the assumption, for she looked
down at him with a ready smile and
said: You see. do need you again.
after ALL
As for Orme. he could think Of
nothing better to say than simply: Il
am glad" With that he began to un-
fasten the spare tire.
81 shall watch you with interest"
she went on. Il know how to run .
car-though you might not think it
but don't know how to repair one"
That's a mans job, anyway" said
Orme, busy now with the jack, which
was slowly raising the wheel from
the pavement
Shall l get out?" she asked. Does
my weight make any difference?"
Not at ALL" said Orme: but never
theless, she descended to the street
and stood beside him while he worked.
81 didn't know there were all those
funny things inside" she unused.
Orme laughed. Her comment was
vague. but to him it was enough just
to hear her voice. He had got the
wheel clear of the street and was
taking of the burst tire.
I'VE seem fated to meet" she said
Orme looked up at her. Il hope you
won't think me a cad." he said, III
say that 1 hope We may meet many
times"
Her little frown warned him that
she had misunderstood.
do you happen to know the Tom
Wallinghams?" he asked.
Her smile returned. 81 know q
Tom Wallingham and q Bessie Wall
ingham."
They're good friends of mine
Don't you think that they might intro
duce u.s."
They might" she vouchsafed. I'll
they happened to see US both at the
same time"
Orme returned to his task. The
crowd that always gathers was nov
close about them, and there was little
opportunity for talk. He finished hi!
job neatly, and slowed away the ole
tire.
She was in the car before he coult
offer to help her. Thank you again.
she said.
IF only You will let me arrange 1
with the Wallinghams." he faltered.
Il will think about It" She smiled
He felt that she was slipping away
GIVE me some clue" he begged.
Where is your spirit Of romance? ?
!, she rallied at him; then apparently re
lenting: Perhaps the next time w
meet"
. Orme groaned. With a little no,
like that which had dismissed him a
the time of his first service to heI
> she pulled the lever and the ca
moved away.
Tumult in his breast, Orme walke'
, on. He watched the black car threa'
| its way down the street and disappea
around a corner. Then he gave him
t self over to his own bewildering re
, Elections, and he was still busy wit
: them when he found himself at tn
D entrance of the Pere Marquette. H
had crossed the Rush street bridg
!. and found his way up to the LAX
:. Shore drive almost without realizin
1 whittier he was going.
Orme had come to Chicago at tn
: request of eastern clients to meet hal
e way the owners of a western mimi
q property. When he registered at tn
Annex he found awaiting him a tell
d gram saying that they had been d.
9 tainei at Denver and must necessar
r ly be two days late. Besides the tel
t gram, there had been a letter for hil
q "a letter from his friend. Jack Ba.
q ter, to whom he had written Of hi
a coming. Jack had left the city o
$ business, It appeared. but he urge
4 Orme to make free of his North sid
4 apartment. So Orme left the Anne
n and went to the rather too gorgeou
O but very luxurious. Pere Marquett
l. where he found that the STAFF ha
been instructed to keep q close ey
4 on his comfort. All this had ha
Il pened but three short hours ago.
!, After getting back to the apartment
r Orme's first thought was to telephor
- to Bessie Wallingham. He decide
d however, to wait till after dinner. Il
!" did not like to appear too eager. S
n he went down to the public dinin
. room and ate what was placed befol
n him. and returned to his apartmel
e just at dusk.
e. Ina few moments he got Bess
2 Wallingham on the wire.
IS why, Robert Orme!" she e
claimed. wherever did you con
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