The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-09-25

"No. IL" he said gravely and with
a lift of his cap he went lack to his
station on the rear platform.
Clang, clang, clatter went the car,
while Heen's agitated thoughts kept
company to the beating of her heart
and the throbbing Of the motor.
An elderly gentleman sitting oppo-
site TO Helen peercd at her over his gold
spectacles. She noticed that he look
ed keenly after the young conductor
who had so stoically rung up her fare
after receiving from her hands the
meager penny that she could find. She
wondered if the old gentleman would
he apt to report the conductor for
negligence I'm not putting her off the
car
The idea of being under obligations
to the conductor who looked so much
like Ralph Fairlee, became so repug-
nant that Helen finally arose and walk
ed down the rapidly moving car toward
the rear. She was determined to aliEht
then and there and walk the remain
ing distance. whatever it might be, to
her home: also she would take the con-
ductor's number and send him 4 cents
the next day.
Her slender form swayed down the
aisle. while close behind her staggered
the white bearded old gentleman who
had watched her so keenly. The con-
ductor was leaning against the door,
gazing idly at the dark shadows Of the
To TTninr1
or the old gentleman so close behind
her until the car lurched over some lit
tie obstruction and came to stand
still.
The violent jerk sent Helen forward
straight into the arms of conductor No.
II, who also braced himself to receive
the form of the old gentleman. Then
the car jerked again, and the three fell
in an ignominious heap on the floor of
the car, while the motorman rang his
gong frantically for some answering
signal from the conductor.
Hello, hello!" sputtered the old gen
tleman wrathfully, as, being on top,
he was first to eXtricate himself from
the heap. This comes of meddling in
a business you don't understand in the
least, young man. l hope the young
lady isn't hurt"
Helen moaned family as conductor
No. II lifted her to u seat.
Its her ankle" announced the CON
ductor as the contact of her foot with
pain.
The motorman jerked open the front
door and glared into the car.
"See here, Smith," he snarled, what
do you think this Is anyway-a hos
pital or q y. L. J. suburban trolley?
We're four minutes late as it is"
"You will walt here four hours If
necessary" snapped the old gentleman,
breaking into the conversation before
the conductor could frame a reply to
the motOrman's remarks. AS a matter
Of fact, the conductor was gazing down
at Helen's face, which was whittier than
ever now through the heavy meshes Of
her shetland veil. She was leaning
back against the seat with closed eyes
The conductor stood watching her with
grimy clinched fists on his hips. Nei-
ther girl nor conductor appeared to hear
the conversation between the motor
man and the aggressive old man.
you will wait here four hours If
necessary the old gentleman had
snapped.
"Will, eh? By whose ordersT The
motorman was dancing with excite
ment down the aisle.
"By the orders of the president Of
the companyw yelped the old gentle
man, flashing a card before the bewil-
dered eyes Of the motOrman.
"By gosh! You don't say-of course
yes, Mr.. Fairlee, of course" The
motorman danced back to the platform
and closed the door upon his chagrin
and modification.
Smith thundered Mr.. Fairlee at
the conductor.
Conductor No. II was chatting the
wrists of Helen Blair, passenger, ana
did not even turn his head. 1t would
appear that the name was an unfa-
miliar one to him. He did not re-
spond when it was repeated several
! times, louder and louder.
At last:
Ralph thundered Mr.. Fairlee In
the conductors ear.
"Well, father, what is it?" Conduc-
| tor No. II turned a sullen face toward
his father
"Are you going to give up this non
sense and come home with meT' de
manded his father, his old voice quak-
ing with an uncomfortable anxiety,
which he strove to conceal with an
unnatural gruffness.
I'm on duty here. Do you advise
me to shirk that?" parried Ralph.
you can finish this run, Of course.
But viii you come home to me to-
night? I've lost lot of my fool no
tions, and
But Ralph was as generous as his
father. "No, you needn't take back a