The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-08-14


he would return shortly.
The crisp air cleared Mr.. Todd's
brain somewhat, bringing sharp reali-
zation Of his unfortunate predicament.
or course Pansy would be found soon,
but would he have the nerve to con-
tinue that perilous journey to New
York after his ignominious blunder?
He clinched his pudgy fists and
stamped one tiny foot in impotent an
ger.
His high friend logged his elbow.
Thine fer yer answer" he remarked.
Again they confronted Herb.
Anything doin'?'
Got Clancy all right. He says there
Is no such party on the train" Herb
grabbed pencil and became intensely
interested in the dot and dashed re-
marks Of a man down the line
"I've lost her! I've lost herr
Benjy's wall drowned mOmentarily
the brassy voices of the saunders.
A thick set, iron gray man strobe
into the room with an authoritative
manner.
He glanced sharply at the tiny fig
ure in his path.
whats the trouble?" he rasped.
MY wife" choked Benny. "She's
alone in this town an amt with her
to perfect her It's all because the
train pulled out on me an had aholt
Of it all the time, an" y
Here! Start that all over again."
cut in the thick set man bruskly.
Painfully Benny retraced his declam-
atory steps and recited his tale of woe.
The human interest element of his
story met with no response; his nearer
was evidently thinking of more weighty
practical matters.
AN there l was" moaned the little
fellow in conclusion, "holdin' on to the
last car FIR dear life an'-an' the train
just busted in the middle an up an
went"
The thick set mans frown evinced
his sudden interest. Here was some
thing worthy his attention. This was
more important than interrupted honey
moons-something practical.
Somebody call Barton and Man.
ming" he ordered in fintlike voice.
Two men in uniform appeared and
fairly groveed before their irate chief
"Say," he burst out. that's the Sec
ond time this week that you fellows
have left dead car on 49, What do
you think we're running here-a civil
lied station or a guessing contest
hey? l don't suppose the car was
placarded, hey?"
No answer except a confused MUIR
muir and the scuffiing Of feet.
Suppose you left the doors unlocked,
too, hey?"
The gangling car inspector had
perfectly good thought. 1t flashed
forth sending look Of almost human
intelligence across his masklike coun-
tenance.
He nudged Benny. "Be back in a
minute" he whispered as he dived
through the door,
Benjamin Franklin had an indistinct
impression that he was overhearing
two men getting theirs in no uncertain
terms But he had decidedly more
distinct impression of what he should
say to Ma and Pa Butterworth when
he returned to Bayfield-alone. Pa
was not so bad; he was sort Of weak
sister himself.
But Ma Butterworth The tears
coursed frankly down the bridegroom's
round cheeks at the thought and drip
ped dOlefully on his gala waistcoat.
Ills grim reverie was interrupted by
the temperance OF the gangling one,
who thrust his head in at the door.
Found herr he announced lacon-
ically.
An amazing leap brought Mr.. Todd |
to the threshold. Two more landed |
him at the foot Of the stairs. BY dint |
Of the utmost effort he kept the flying |
overalls in sight, over tracks again and |
through vestibules.
They came to final stop beside the |
fatal car.
"Seen her inside" vouchsafed the in |
spector and discreetly disappeared.
Benny flew up the stairs--and paused. |
In the superexalted cerebration with |
which the next moment was fraught |
burst into refulgent being the reputa-
ton for impregnable strength that |
would be his forever-so far as his |
wife was concerned.
He opened the door and entered the |
car jauntily.
There, among her various belongings,
sat Pansy in the sharp radiance cast |
through the car window by an arc
light outside.
Hello. Pansy" he greeted her cas-
lily. You all right"
when is this train goin' to start?"
she asked, a bit anxiously.
'The train f'r N'York? Oh, that's
went" said Benny in an offhand man.
ner. you don't care such an awful
lot about goin there, do your"
II don't much care where we are
she glanced at him coyly-"so long as
we're there together"
"That's the way l figured 1t out"
said Benny, his chest swelling percepti-
bly,. You see, sent a boy f'r the.
'tis-an' he didn't
come, an l got nervous. When II got
along about train time, course knew
that you'd come into the last car like
[ told you--an'-an' - Benny gave
rro,e ros,, e., It, ;v,o set 4oyA a, |