The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-12-10
THE EVENING STORY.
The Gray Coat.
Copyright. 1915. BY w. wernerJ

There was not a soul whom she
knew on the train. Halt dozen
years before Almira had been TO
the city with Al: and womaniike,
had trusted to him to pilot her
about. Her memory she found. was
confused and valueless. As she
stood on the station platform she
was utterly turned around. Only
one thing stood out boldly In her
minds eve and that was the name
of MacNamara.
"keb. ma'am?" Almira started.
She began to see a way out of her
difficulties.
She alghted from the cab at Mac
Namara's dooor and with renewed
courage entered. After 0ould's this
department store looked vast. over
whelming. Moreover, It caught the
fancy ut every turn She was like .
silly little butterfly IN a great field
Of flowers. She nuttered here and
there enraptured. Never had she
seen 80 many things she wanted.
II she resisted one thing she gave
way to another. At last she awoke
to the fact II was 2 o'clock, she had
had no lunch. she was laden with
small parcels and considerable OF
her money had been spent.
A considerable noorwalker direct
ed her to the restaurant, where she
swallowed some tea and a sandwich.
Then she returned to the store. On
the way to the coat department she
ran across some bargains In silks
which delayed her SO long that she
had barely an hour left In which to
select her coat and get to the sta
ton.
BY that time her poor head was
in whirl and her money far gone.
a clever little saleswoman helped
her into coat luxuriously silk
lined. Almira caught glimpse Of
the price tag and gasped. Twenty
Ave dollars,
Il can't pay so much" she said,
something simpuer, pleGse-some-
thing about $12."
The saleswoman Immediately
looked bored, but she went on put
ting coats upon Almira, who be-
came more and more confused. She
had never seen SO many coats in
her life After she had tried on
eight or nine they all looked alike
10 her. The electric lights made
her head ache. Moreover, time was
flying. She glanced at her watch
and was Mortified TO find that t
would be close work getting to the
depot.
Give me the coat you think is
the best" she said to the salesgirl.
And hurry. please, or / shall miss
my train"
Almira, with dozen parcels un-
der her arms, ran nearly the whole
way to the station. Yet in spite of
her haste she arrived just in time.
AS with her last breath she hurried
toward the train big, familiar
arm gathered her and her bundles
in.
Plenty of time. hon." said her
husbands voice in her ear. He had
grown uneasy about her, and had
come In upon ons train Just in time
to take her home on the other.
Almira was never so tired in her
life. The next morning she dressed
up in her new coat and went down
town to do an errand. Before
Gould's window she paused super
I ciliously to view the display AS
she stood three a, woman drew near.
Why. Almira Spooner," CT. ed
Lou Chittendcn. The corners Of
her provoking mouth curled If
You haven't COMO and got a coat
just like mine. ! didn't know you
thought that much OF me-"
Almira swung round and looked
at her. Then she turned pale. II
was horribly true. Her coat was
exactly like LOUIS. And she nan
gone all the way to the city TO get
II, More than that she had paid 81
more for 1t than Lou had paid AT
Gould's! For an instant her ears
sung. then she braced herself. She
had been fool. but nobody should
know It, She smiled. 81 hope you
don't mind. LOU" she said.
Lou Chittenden laughed, Land.
I'm tickled to death. It's the first
time in my life ever really felt
in style" She pulled Almira's arm.
Come on down to Burnhams and
see his display OF oil stoves" she
coaxed.
And Almira went.