Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-30

ward the time of departure of her
train. Presently she turned TO n satchel
on the seat beside her, placed Ii on her
lap. opened 1t and took out her porte
monnaie. which she laid in the place
where her satchel had been.
A young man with curly auburn hair
and brown eyes was sitting at the 9th
er end of the seat and observed that
the girl had forgotten TO put her porte
monnaie back into the satchel. He
kept his eyes on her and II until sud-
denly a railroad official called.
Train for Hampton
The young lady started. glanced at
the clock. saw that the hands stood at
remembered that trains are opened to
travellers some time before they leave
and. grasping her satchel, hurried
away Seeing the words Ticket OF
| fee" over window. she remembered
that she had forgotten to provide her
self with a ticket and. turning aside.
/ took position at the end of a line of
several persons.
IF that isn't Just like a woman"
to himself, and, reaching for the porto
monnaie. he put it in his pocket and
| followed her. taking position next 10
/ her in the line. When it came her turn
! to purchase a ticket she asked for one
to Hampton, at the same time opening
| her Satchel. First there was q quick
movement of the top articles. then
plunge of the hand down into the bag,
after this convulsive stirring up of
| everything.
"Oh. heavens. I've been robbedw
Permit me to pay your fare" said
the young man behind her. and. taking
out his wallet, he bought ticket for
her and one for himself. Then they
both made room for those behind them.
What shall do?" walled the girl.
"You had better get aboard the train.
You haven't time to investigate the
loss of your portemonnaie, and it
would probably avail nothing il you
had. Was there much in it,"
only ST.53, four postage stamps and
some samples"
What exactness. l wish I could re-
member things like that. Never mind.
/ have advanced the amount for your
ticket. You haven't lost very much.
Good morning" And he lifted his hat
deferentially.
Now.sthe young man knew very well
the girl would not let him go without
asking his address that she might re-
turn his loan. She asked him for it,
and he said that it would be more con-
venient for him to give it to her in the
train. so the two went on. He handed
her on to the car, took n seat beside
her and, producing card bearing his
name. Nathaniel Meriweather. wrote
his address on it and handed it to her.
why. you live in Hampton she
exclaimed
II don't live there, but I am going
there"
That he was going there was perfect
ly true. but when he had entered the
station he had just left he had no such
intention. He was going to his home.
fifty miles beyond.
But you have given your street and
number there"
That's the address of a friend"
The girl put the card in her satchel.
and Mr.. Meriweather took up the mat
ter of the lost portemonnaie.
WAS any one" he asked, near you
while you were in the station?"
NO one near enough to get posses
sion Of anything that belonged TO me
! Now. think of it. some one was SIT
J ting on the other end of the bench
while I was waiting for the train"
4 MAN or womanT
81 think it was a man."
did you take out your portemonnaie
J while he was there?"
Yes. did tired OF waiting and
!; took out this magazine" She still held
} 4 it I'm her hand. ITO do so was oblig
J ed to remove the portemOnnaie and
| some other things which I laid beside
me. After getting out the magazine
, put them all back again into the bag"
Are you sure you put them all
back?"
| Perfectly"
"Then there can be no doubt about
/ the matter. The man who sat beside
you must have been an expert al
sleigbt of hand and contrived to ge
your pocketbook away from you.
was in the station and saw a man sit
j ting beside you"
: How careless of me. Could you
, identify the MANI"
/ 81 think could"
"What was he likeT
"well. he was not a very attractive
looking person. but / wouldn't have
taken him for thief"
did you notice his features:"
/ 81 noticed one feature. He was &
red headed chap"
The young lady cast a side glance a
her companions hair.
Anything else?" she asked
Nothing especial. He was lookint
at you admiringly. / wonder that h'
stole from you"
a girl can't help being pleased at ad
miration even from n thief The youni
lady instinctively put her hand to be-
back hair.
Not long after this, when the trair
was nearing Hampton. Mr. Meriweathe
! thought 1t better that he should havi
the young iady's address; he nigh
meet the nan who he declared ha'