Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-16

seat, which proved to be empty. At the
next stop three people got on, who COM
pletely filed the short cross seat in
front of her.
Fares. please"
Helen's heart leaped as she heard
the conductors voice. and she felt
vague sense OF irritation because a
mere trolley car conductor should pos
sesS a voice exactly like Ralph Fair
lees deep tones She turned her head
and stole a glance at the approaching
conductor. Her heart leaped again
when she discovered that the back of
his shapely dark head was exactly like
that OF Ralph's and that the swing OF
his broad shoulders as he turned might
have belonged to Ralph.
Her head turned face about, and she
compressed her lips. What IA both
err she murmured to herself.
1t was more than n bother" 10 be
reminded of Ralph Fairiee at that mo-
ment 1t was positive pain TO the girl
who had been engaged to Ralph for
! three happy months. OF course the
engagement was a thing of the past
or it would not have caused Helen
/ Blair any pain to be reminded of its
! previous existence.
At last the conductor came TO the
front of the car once more, set back
the Indicator and began TO collect fares
for the second stage Of the trip.
( Fare. please" he doomed in front
/ of Helen. and again her heart leaped
as she fished out a nickel and gave it
/ to him.
Then under the brim of her droop-
ing velvet hat she permitted her face
to relax it's cold hauteur. while she fell
TO dreaming about Ralph Fairlee who
had taken their quarrel seriously and
left the city to seek work elsewhere
Ralph's father was a rich man, and
old Mr.. Fairlee had queer ideas about
| rich mems sons. He believed that
these same sons should demonstrate
their ability to earn money and prove
themselves capable of taking care Of
| money already earned. Ralph had
different ideas and wanted TO begin at
the top of the ladder. lie had quar-
relied with his father on this point.
He had quarreled with Helen on an
other matter and, estranged from
both. must be very lonely now Hell
ems heart was breaking for love and
pity of him.
Clang, clang. clang-rush, clatter
clang. Starting and stopping, whizzine
and curying and rocking. the ''car OF
destiny" went on its way into the open
country.
Fares, please" said the conductor
as he stood before her once more with
hand stretched out
Helen fumbed in the gold meshed
bag and impatiently emptied its con
tents into her lap in search of coin
She was positive that she had plenty
of change left. There was a crumpleC
lace handkerchief with an elusive fra
GRANGE OF yiolers about it: there was NJ
inner golden meshed purse that was
quite empty, couple of matinee tick
cts, Il vial Of smelling salts. pencilej
memorandum, but there was not a coir
to be found.
"Oh, DEAR Helen was embarrassed
as her eyes sought the'stern face of the
} young conductor. I'm sorry, but
She had to stop then, for that unruly
heart of hers was beating faster than
any triphammer could hope TO rival
The stern face of the conductor was
set like a white mask as he turned
away.
Fares, please" he was saying to the
woman who sat behind her.
Frantically Helen searched her gold
en- bag, hut in vain. She was quite
penniless and still ten miles from hcI
station. She bit her lip angriIy, lie
; cause she must explain these matters
to a conductor who had the eGrontery
to have a voice Identical with that OF
Ralph Fairlee and to have face SC
Euch like Ralphs that she had nearly
SWoOned away when she looked at him
But of course it was not Ralph Fairlee
Ralph would have spoken to her al
once" gladly. she knew that. And. he
sides, Ralph Fairlee was as brown as &
, berry, and this conductor, very com
mon person. no doubt. was quite pale
How Prescriptions for Il trolley cal
| conductor TO speak, look and act JUS
, like Ralph Fairlce,
But how very humilatlng to be un
der obligations 10 dis man. perfect
stranger! Again she searched throual
= her bag and shook ont her handler
, chief. This time there was Il clink a.
a coin flew to he floor
Helen stooped to pick it up just a
the conductor came 70 her aid. To
. gether they bent over. and toGethe
, they searched for tire lost coin Hell
ems big hat brushed the conductor.
cap from his head, and there was adde,
embarrassment. At last the man arost
: with something between his fingers ant
held II out
"You lost this?" he inquired codly.
= Yes" said Helen, rcddening. Real
Z ", I thought it was more. I mus
have lost my change and
The conductor thrust the shining
4 penny in his vest pocket and rang VI
g a fare.
K please give me your number" sait
Helen eagerly.
"No, II" he said gTaveTy. and w;tl
Z a lift Of his cap he went back to hi