The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-04-15
TROLLEY CAR MuT|Nl
BY MARY ROBERTS RtNEHART.
(Copyrightl

with every appearance of sincerity
that she hopes she will never see hin
again, and the Man gnaws his lip
fashion having abolished the mustache
and declares savagely that she need
not worry, she won't.
The only unusual feature was that
the Man was handsome, and did no,
know 1t, and the Girl, who was charm
Ing, and knew 1t, was quite unspoiled
Perhaps it was the rain that had ruff
fed the current Of true love-
AS he held his umbrella over the
Girl, they were as far apart as the
poles; the drip was falling on the rim
OF his hat. and his head being thrown
well back-he was very much injured
"a little stream of water ran down
between the shoulders of his gray rain.
coat. From one pocket protruded the
corner of gilt tied package, and the
little widow who stood just back of
them smiled and sighed.
When the Wilkinsville car came
along he assisted the Girl in ceremo-
niously. On the platform she turned
and spoke to him.
You have my purse" she said, icily
polite. May l trouble you for it,"
Which meant that she wished to pay
her own fare; he was not to dare to
do it.
The Man looked uncomfortable, and
fished out of one of his big pockets a
dainty little patent leather affair with
monogram on it.
The Girl went to the extreme end Of
the car and sat down; the Man made
his umbrella an excuse to stay on the
platform
The car was comfortably full but
not crowded. In fact, as they discov-
cred later, there were precisely twen-
ty-six passengers
The conductor was collecting the
fares. He declined her proffered
nickel with jerk of his head toward
the door.
Fares paid, he said; but the Girl
insistently held out the money.
There is mistake" she said flush
ing uncomfortably. Il intend to pay
my own fare"
The conductor took it resignedly.
WELL he said, the gentleman back
there with the gray raincoat paid your
fare, but if you want to pay twice, all
right"
He rang up the fare with an air OF
great probity and went on The Girl
flashed a glance of whitening scorn at
the back of the car.
The widow was palpitating with ex-
cltement; there was little eXcres-
cence under the glove on the third fin
ger on the Girls left hand Perhaps
they were engaged.
The rain was beating down merci-
lessly now-the penetrating, all-per.
vading rain of February. The windows
were steamed and Opaque and the
tracks were twin canals of sluggish
yellow water. The car stopped with
jerk and the conductor thrust his
head in.
Car ahead, please" he said sono-
rously.
With sigh the women began to
pick up their bundles and gather their
skirts. This was an imposition under
which the Wilkinsvlleites had long
groaned. The car, designated plainly
for Wilkinsville, would, toward the
rush hours of the evening, take its pas
sengers only certain distance. Then,
relying on the liberation and lack Of
spirit Of the average suburbanite, the
passengers were transferred to an
other car, which might or might not
be waiting ahead, and the original car
was hurried back to town
The Man took a hand When one
has just quarreled with the only girl,
and she has just told him, quite frank
ly, that she does not care for him any
more, he is in the best possible condi-
ton to take up a public grievance.
Look here" he said, stepping into
the doorway, don't get out. you peo.
pie. 1t says Wilkinsville on the front
of this car, and we ought to stay on it
until 1t takes us to Wilkinsville."
The conductor reached his hand to
the bell rope. The motorman had ta-
ken his place at the reverse end of the
car. which was now ready to start to-
ward the city again.
s"All out for Wilkinsville," said the
conductor. Take the next car ahead"
An Irish laborer got up and picked
up his dinner bucket.
Come on, he said Yell do 1t.
anyhow, afther the other cars gone. |
The gr-r-reat American people is Nigh
ty indepindint-on the Fourth of
July"
He went out then, but the shaft had |
told. One passenger stopped in the
aisle.
Il demand he said, that this car
take US to Wilkinsville If it doesn't
there will be trouble"
Il guess there will be-" said the con.
ductor. IF missin' your dinner will be
trouble -
Then the Man spoke again.
Anyone who wishes to should get
out now and take the car ahead-if
there is one. Those who would like to
make this test case will remain on
the car and insist that it go to wilkins