Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

TODD modern young farmer came aboard the
train. In dress suit he might possibly have
been mistaken for man of urban attain
ments He carried an unmistakably rural
satchel, however, across the end of which In
conspicuous black capitals was the inscrip-
ton, aJohn Carley, Pactolus, N. " He was
superstitious and romantic, and always closely
observed his travelling companions, because
fortune teller had once told him that he
would meet his Fate in a railway car. Thus
far the dollar he had paid for this advance
information had been money thrown away.
Presently a well dressed, stock-brokery
appearing man, stumpy of structure and
nervous of manner, age about forty, APP
preached him from few seats away and adj
dressed him with winning hesitation and
compelling friendliness. isn't this Mr..
Carley?' he said, extending his hand.
The young man looked up at the visitor,
paused for an instant, and as curious little
smile went over his face put out his hand.
ayes, oh yes, he replied pleasantly; but, as It
reused suddenly from reverie, u was not"
ooh, that's all right" laughed the stran-
ger. Il met you in Albany sometime ago;
but it was in a crowd, and of course you've
forgotten. l am Henry Hunter of Conway.
Here is my card
The young man took the proffered creden-
tial. 1t bore the legend, @Mr. Henry Wells
Hunter, Assistant Cashier, First Natl Bank,
Conway, N. Y"
aGlad to meet you, Mr.. Hunter he said
almost effusively. "Sit down." he added.
HUNTER took the lead in the converse
II ton, talking first about the weather
and then about the results of local election
the day before, from which he drifted into
the confidential.
II know it must seem extremely odd to
you" he said almost in a whisper, "but I'm
going to take you into my confidence. am
in peculiar quandary, Mr.. Carley, and
it. The fact is, am clipping, and"
@Eloping!" explosively interrupted the
young man. @Where's the girl? A man
can't elope alone, can hep
"Sh-sh!" warned Hunter, holding up his
hand and dropping his voice: @She is IN the
sleeper forward with her father, and don't
dare show up till the coast is clear"
@Do you want me to clear it?'
3Oh no, :" laughed Hunter. Nothing will
happen until we reach Ruthven. There her
father leaves her and / take charge. She is
expected to visit friends there till her father
comes back from New York next week. We
begin our elopement as soon as Papas train
goes out of sight down the road"
aWhat can / do?" asked the young man.
"Get off with you and be best MANI
MOT that, either, explained Hunter with
: little air of mystery. taking purse
from his pocket and counting out twenty
dollars in one and two-dollar bills. "You
understand that this romantic affair was
quite unexpected, and l came away in a
hurry with only twenty dollars III need
at least fifty more, and l want to give you
my check for that amount of ready cash, if
you can let me have it.
The young mans face lighted up pecu-
liarly; but he smiled as he turned to his COM
panion. GAS a banker, Mr.. Hunter, he said
in businesslike way, "you should offer some
kind of collateral for a loan. Have you a
friend who will indorse the check?"
"That's the embarrassing part of it, re-
piled Hunter, wrinkling his brows and mani
Testing other signs of distress II have to
throw myself wholly upon your confidence,
Mr.. Carley. You can substantiate what
say, to degree at least, by going into the
car forward and seeing the lady"
3Will she indorse the check" inquired the
young man in such a pretty, tender little
tone that Hunters spirits Immediately rose.
@She would if you asked her, of course"
he said with proper pride in her; @but you
can't ask her, under the circumstances. All
you can do is to accept the sight of her as
aXyidenca If NV honesty Vo,1'1 find her Cr,