Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-10-09
.TheDivOrcing
Umbrella
How II Settled the Trip to
! New York
By WILLIAM HUGO PABKE .
Co,,,rtobt bv Franz A Munaav Co
BIZ WILLIAM Huco PABKE


pulled down his white woistcoat to ct
snugly that portion Of his anatomy that
It was intended to At, and peered past
Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Todd into the
mystery Of the darkening train shed.
"Huhr' he exclaimed, putting out his
chest proudly. "The folks back home
said we couldn't get to N'York city
alone, did they2 I'll show 'em. Why,
Pansy, the worst Is over; we're on the
right train, anyway
'They don't know how smart my
Benjy Is" she averred cooingly.
Course wen get thereP
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.
"PansyI' The shrill treble held a
note Of utter horror. Il forgot the
umbrellerl" he walled.
A glance at his watch treasured him
that the train would not leave for six
minutes.
"oh, Benny! And 1t was our wed
din present from Uncle Elihu!"
"ITl get 1t. It's in the lunch ROOM"
he declared, with Importance.
You'll get left sure" worried his
wife. Don't 60. Benjy. It'd he just
awful to get separated so soon"
leave 1t to me-" ordered the young
husband. IF you're v 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" plped Benny, want a
jobT"
Don't mind" said the boy sadly.
"My umbreller. l left it in the res
taurant. Upstairs, you -know-across
there. It's a weddin' present. You
bring II here, an'-an' I'll fix you up, 1
will" .
"A right, a right" The boy turned
away YEARLY. "Wait here" he threw
over his shoulder.
Benny waited obediently. but nervous
ly. When he was sure that the boy
had been gone half an hour at least he
looked at his watch. There was still a
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 mar in overalls, car
rying a lantern and hammer, passed.
regarding him ~curiously.
"Hey!" called Benny. "Train fr
N'York leave on this trackT" he que
ried to make conversation.
"Yep-track 13,"
The bridegroom shivered; he was
naturally superstitlous. The mex mo-
ment he caught sight Of the boy com
ing through the gate with the precious
umbrella In his hand.
"Here y'are!' said the boy. holding
out the umbrella, ferrule first.
Mr.. Todd offered a dime. which was
scornfully rejected, augmented the fee
with a quarter and turned to fly. COM
ing into violent contact with his gan
Cling friend.
"Where ye gOin'?"
'STo catch my train!" gasped Benny.
"Too late; it's WENT said the tall
n placidly.
The belated ~bridegroom's hands shot
up and clutched the reassuring brass
rail again.
at amt went! 1t amt wentF' he
shrilled. 1--WE got aholt OF itF'
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 wlfer' shrieked the
youthful husband wildly. "Oh. what
will 1 do? I've lost my wifer"
"Come with me"
They raced across tracks, through
car vestibufes, up n flight of iron stairs
and burst into n large room where a
myriad Of telegraph instruments chat
tered their unlntelllgible gossip all at
once.
To Benjy they seemed to mock his
plight in a gay abandon OF meaning
less sound. The overalls came TO a
halt beside a young man with a green
shade over his eyes, whose fingers
rested idly for a fraction Of a second
OF his key.
"Herb, this kids lost his mother
l mean his wife. She went out on A
Shoot f message TO Clancy. win yeri
An see Z you en- get 'em together
again"
"Al right; catch i'm Mt Brightside,'
Herb compiled. Name? Description
he barked, glancing at Benny.
"She-she's a big, tall GIRL" blurtet
her husband-"about two inches tall
er n me, an'"-
Herb snickered. Go on" he order
ed crisply.
"An' her names Pansy Butterworth.
Herb was calling BIS. BIS. Got 'em.
, he grunted.
whit No. II ainEP' cried the for