Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-15

| on tue piuSu seat Deolue lis VIE oi
two hours and thirty-seven minutes,
pulled down his white waiStcoat to fit
| snugiy that portion of his anatomy that
it was intended to ct, and peered past
Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Todd into the
mystery of the darkeniDg train shed.
"Huhr' he exclaimed. pulling out his
chest proudly. 1.-The folks back home
said we couldn't get to N'York city
alone. did they? I'll show 'em. Why.
Pansy, the worst is over: we're on the
right train, anyway"
"They don't know how smart my
Benny is" she averred cooingly.
Course We'll get therer'
Benny assumed an expression OF vast
pride. He was bursting into speech
when a sudden panicky thought forced
the glance of his china blue eyes up
ward toward the baggage rack over
head.
He made a quick mental inventory
of his and his brides belongings.
"Pansyw The shrill treble held q
note OF utter horror. 81 forgot the
umbreller" he walled.
| A glance at his watch treasured him
that the train would not leave for six
minutes.
"Oh. Benny! And It was our wed
din present from Uncle Elihu"
I'll get it It's in the lunch room"
he declared, with Importance.
you'll get left sure" worried his
wife. Don't go, Benny. It'd be just
awful to get separated so soon."
Leave it to me-" ordered the young
| husband. IF you're nervous while
I'm gone just walk to the very last car
of the train, an you can see me comm
back"
He trotted through the car and hop
ped down the steps.
A boy in a shabby uniform and
visored cap passed close by.
"Say, boy" piped Benjy, want
5ob?"
Don't mind" said the boy sadly.
"My umbreller. left it in the res
taurant. Upstairs. you know-across
there. It's a weddin' present You
bring it here, an'-an' I'll fix you up,
WILL
IA right. a. right" The boy turned
away YEARLY. "Wait here" he threw
over his shoulder.
Benny waited obediently, but nervous
~. When he was sure that the boy
had been gone half an hour at least he
looked at his watch. There was still
minute to spare. He grasped the hand
rail of the last car and held on with
grim determination. At any rate the
train could not escape him.
A tall, gangling man in overalls. car
rying a lantern and hammer, passed,
regarding him curiously.
"Heyw called Benny. 'Train FIR
N'York leave on this track 2" he que
ried to make conversation.
"Yep-track 49,"
The bridegroom shivered; he was
ment he caught sight of the boy COM
ing through the gate with the precious
umbrella in his hand.
Here y'arep said the boy, holding
out the umbrella. ferrule first.
Mr. Todd offered a dime. which was
scornfully rejected, augmented the fee
with quarter and turned to fly. COM
ing into violent contact with his gan
Cling friend.
where We goin'?"
ITO catch my trainr' gasped Benny.
''Too late; it's went" said the tall
one placidly.
The belated bridegroom's hands shot
up and clutched the reassuring brass
rail again.
ut amt went. 1t amt went! he
shrilled. 1--WE got aholt of ft!'
With the contemptuous calmness Of
his class, the railroad man pulled Ben
jamin Franklin to one side and point
ed The car had been left.
my wife, My wifer' shrieked ths
youthful husband wildly. "Oh, what
will do? I've lost my wife"'
Come with me-"
They raced across tracks, through
car vestibules. up fight Of iron stairs
and burst into large room where
myriad of telegraph instruments chat
tered their unintelligible gossip all at
once
To Benty they seemed to mock his |
plight in n gay abandon of meaning |
less sound. The overalls came to a |
halt beside a young man with a green I
shade over his eyes. whose fingers
rested idly for a fraction of a second
on MS Key.
Herb. this kids lost his mother
mean his wife. She went out on IL
Shoot a message to Clancy, will yer2
An see f you en- get 'em together
again."
'All right: catch i'm at Brightside,"
Herb complied. Name? Description"
he parked. glancing at Benny.
''She-she's q big. tall GIRL" blurted
her husband-"about two inches tall
er n me, am
Herb snickered. Go on" he order
ed crisply.
"An' her names Pansy Butterworth."
Herb was calling BS. BIS. Got EN-"
he grunted.
"wait. No. 1t ain'tr' cried the for
getful husband. lit useter be Pansy
but it's Mrs. Todd now
Mrs BENJAMIN franklin Todd Have