Putnam patriot., 1913-10-10

tions."
 I'm willing to give you every op- portunity," answered the other. Sup pose you let me see the number of that ticket in your hand" He took it from John E ', he said. This is E. ,. According to that ticket your wife ought to be in the next compart- ment"
 He flung the door open and called the conductor Is there lady in E. 7?" he asked.
 "No, Sah,' answered the man, grin ming 4E. is vacant, sah."
 But let me explain" cried John, thoroughly mortified. T only bought that ticket five minutes ago. Of course E. is empty. They wouldn't have sold the section to me if 1t hadn't been. l was almost late for the train and left my wife on the platform while I bought that ticket. My former num- Der was--G something
 The other watched John make his la- bored explanation with a cynical smile.
 T certainly want you to have every opportunity to explain why l found you in my gife's section, he said. Conductor, is there c section on this train?"
 Yes. sah, right behind" answered the darky.
 Then suppose we go there, said the athletic man. linking his arm in Johns. "G-what did you say?
 It was G Il or 12, said John. I'm not sure which But if my wife isn't there you'll find one of those sections empty. But she must be there he added eagerly. Come on, in heavens name"
 They passed through the section and the next one was c. The door of 12 stood open and an enormously stout taly was standing there, flaming her bnrHing face briskly.
 ',No, no, this is not she" cried John, seeing the expression of sarcastic in- terrogation upon the others face, and turned across the aisle to II. The door was locked.
 "Gonduetor" shouted John. "Who is in this section? ?'
 The man came hurrying along. T guess it's empty, sir, he said pro, ducing a key, and opened the door. Section il was guiltless of any occu- pant. The stranger turned to John.
 will you take your thrashing here or back in Section E?" he asked but toning his coat across the chest
 For Gods sake let me find my wife and III take 1t wherever you like-and give you as good as I get" John an swered Then suddenly his eyes lit upon two figures that had entered the car. There she is" he shouted ex- ultantly.
 Two women in brown hats and veils were coming down the aisle One was Johns wife, the other the strange woman, and both were radiant with smiles.
 John, dearest" exclaimed Cynthia, falling upon his neck. Just think. That horrid Madame Rameses sold Ju- lia precisely the same hat that she sold to me, and she charged forty-five dollars for it because she said that it was an exclusively Parisian design. o, I haven't told you. What do you think, This lady is Julia Devoe, an old schooIchum whom I haven't seen for goodness knows how long"
 Julia Sayles since this afternoon" said the double. blushing charming ly. Harry and l were married at 12 o'clock at the
 Harry" exclaimed Cynthia, and she took the tall man by the shoul- ders and swung him round hard so that he faced her. Harry! Harry Ross!' she exclaimed.
 You, Cynthia!" he muttered, and all the athletic valor seemed suddenly to have gone out of him.
 Where have you been all these years. Harry" exclaimed Cynthia. Never mind you shall tell me after ward. Just think, John," she oontin- ued to her husband, If that silly old Charlie Nurtagh didn't put the tick cts in my travelling bag. after all.
 Charlie Murtaghi" exclaimed Julia. "A stout young man with pink face and a whitish-brown mustache, blue eyes. high forehead. and wears strip ed ties to match his socks ?'
 Why. Julia, do you know him?"
 Know himt" cried Julia. Why, he is to marry my sister Annie two weeks from Wednesday,"
 T guess" said Harry Ross, that we'll convert that prize-battle into a couple of cigars while the ladies ad- just their relationship. What do you say Mr.--"
 Roberts, said John. "I think, all things considered, that your solution will afford peace with honor to all concerned" !"
 My. but I'll have something to say to Charlie when we get back from Tampa" meditated Cynthia.
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