The Red Cloud chief., 1913-05-08
THE LOST UMBRELLA
ey CLARA coURrRiohr.

elevated train and demurely slipped
into the only vacant seat WagstaK,
covertly watching her over the edge
of his newspaper, decided that she
was rare girl, indeed.
He kept taking one more look at
the girl; her attention being centered
upon q book. BY the time the train
reached his station he was deeply in.
terested in her. He vaguely remem.
bered having seen her on his morning
train at intervals, but never before
had she sat within the direct range OF
his vision.
The next morning he took special
pains to catch that same train. Mif.
f1n was sitting near the door Of the
car and dragged him into a seat be.
side him. However, Wagstaff lost all
interest in Mifiins baseball chatter as
the train neared the station where the
girl had entered on the previous
morning. He craned his neck to scan
the waiting passengers on the plat.
form. Miff1n looked at him curiously
Expecting somebody to get on
ihere?" Mifiin asked.
"Oh, no." Wagstaff said hastily. 81
thought saw some one knew"
Then, to his unmeasured delight,
the girl came demurely In with the
crowd and found a seat almost oppo
site them. Miffin followed Wagstaf's
enraptured glance.
rs that the party you thought you
knew?" he asked.
well. no." Wagstan said guiltily
but I wouldn't mind"
After that 1t got to be q regular
thing every morning for WagstaR to
watch for the girl and then to steal
glances at her all the way to his sta
ton. She looked at him 80 calmly In
gazing around the car day after day
that he thought despairingly that she
didn't know he was on earth.
Just when he was losing hope OF
ever getting acquainted with her
something happened. One morning
she got Off at station which the
train reached before It arrived al
Wagstaffs. More than that, Wag
staff saw a long handled umbrella
resting against the window frame OF
the seat that she had just left.
what shall I do?" the young mar
asked himself. "Shall take her um
brella with me for safe keeping, oi
shall turn 1t in at the lost and found
Office? In either case"
With a fast beating heart he pos
sessed himself OF the forgotten um
brella. On mature consideration he
decided that 1t would be best to turr
1t In to the company in the usual way
and take a chance on future favorable
developments
A week later the development!
came. On wind-swept elevated
platform one evening. several station,
distant from the one nearest his of
fee. Wagstaff found himself alon'
with the girl.
For an instant her glance fingered
and there was sort OF recognition II
1t as their eyes met. Wagstaff actet
on the moments impulse all the here
In his makeup coming to the front.
II beg your pardon" he said, ad
vancing q step. hat in hand. "but di'
you recover the umbrella you left OF
the train few days ago? turnet
1t in at the lost and found depart
ment-"
She started a little with surprise q
he spoke. and then she smiled gra
ciously. "Why. yes. thank you" sh,
said. "I-I got 1t. Was 1t you VIII
found it? 1t was awfully good o
YOU"
mot at ALL" declared Wagstaff
Just then the train came In an,
he helped her aboard. They sat dow
together and their acquaintance pros
pered.
In ten minutes he found that sh
knew half a dozen of his own friends
While things were a little bit uncor
ventional. she concluded finally tina
he might call.
Wagstafr called and found two @
the friends there to vouch for hin
Then he took pains to call AGAR
when he was certain the friend
wouldn't be there. Since the gil
chose the time for the call 1t is poi
sible that she didn't want them ther
either
Two or three months later as sh
and Wagstaf were standing In he
front hall one night counting tn
hooks on the hatrack and otherwis
enjoying themselves. the girl said
BILLY. I've heard of q lot Of ways tbs
young men get acquainted with girl
they want to meet. but that umbrell
plan Of yours makes Q hit with m
every time think 0f It."
"What do you meant" Wagstn asl
ed q bit feebly.
"Why. you innocent child" she sal
smiling. II never lost any umbrell
ON the elevated train!"-Chicae