The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-09-25
CONDUCTOR
NO. II
They All Took a Lesson In
Common Sense
BY CLARISSA MACKIE

! was urea dlleT Il lOLS udy VI ShoppluB
and walked up the aisle to the front
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"
Helens heart leaped as she heard
! the conductors voice, and she felt a
vague sense Of irritation because a
mere trolley car conductor should pos
sess n 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 "a both
err she murmured to herself.
1t was more than a bother" to be
reminded Of Ralph Fairlee at that mo-
ment 1t was positive pain to the girl
who had been engaged to Ralph for
|
engagement was a thing of the past
or 1t 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, pleaser he doomed in front
Of Helen, and again her heart leaped
as she fished out q 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.
Ralphs father was 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. He 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, whizzing
and curving and rocking, the "car of
destiny" went on its way into the open
country.
Fares, please" said the conductor
hand stretched out.
Helen fumblcd in the gold meshed
bag and impatiently emptied its con-
tents into her lap in search of Il coin.
She was positive that she had plenty
of change left. There was crumpled
lace handkerchief with an elusive fra
GRANGE of violets about it; there was an
inner golden meshed purse that was
quite empty, couple of matinee tick
cts, a vial of smelling salts, penciled
memorandum, but there was not Il coin
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, but in vain. She was quite
station. She bit her lip angrily, be,
cause she must explain these matters
to a conductor who had the effrontery
to have n voice identical with that of
Ralph Fairlee and to have face SO
much like Ralph's that she had nearly
swooned away when she looked at him
But Of course 1t was not Ralph Fairlee
Ralph would have spoken to her at
once-gladly, she knew that. And, be-
sides, Ralph Fairlee was as brown as Il
berry, and this conductor, a very com.
mon person, no doubt, was quite pale
How presumptuous for a trolley car
conductor to speak, look and act just
like Ralph Fairlee!
But how very humiliating to be un.
der obligations to this man, a perfect
stranger! Again she searched through
her bag and shook out her handker-
chief This time there was n clink as
coin flew to the floor.
Helen stopped to pick it up just as
the conductor came to her aid. To
gether they bent over, and together
they searched for the lost coin. Hell
ems big hat brushed the conductor
cap from his head, and there was added
embarrassment At last the man arose
with something between his fingers and
held 1t out
"You lost this?" he inquired coldly.
"Yes," said Helen, reddening. "Real-