Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-27
The Daily Storu
ByWire

Keifer, OF telegraph station 10, Bull
er's Survey had not been absent from
1 duty In three years. He had not wanted
/ to. But with that bit of ribbon lust
licked from the instrument before his
eyes he underwent a sudden change. He
would accept the vacation so tardily Of
, fefed and make the most Of It, His books
| said that change was good for mans
soul, and he would come back refreshened
In mind and body. He loved the sand
Views of station 12. for they signifed
home; but the changeless monotony Of
the four sides had grown little op-
pressive since the arrival of is.
Before ticking back an acceptance to
the home office. he let his finger fall
upon the instrument for a moment
touching the hand of his new friend, as
II were,
Hello, Kaufman" he called ARE you
In for vacation, too?'
"A week." came back the prompt an
swer, commencing on the 23d."
THE 23d! Why mine endsc on that
date and It's two weeks. But I under
stand. I've been here three years and
you only three months and now it's
dull time they're going to let you con-
troll this section while I'm away, and
then I'm to do the same for you. Too
bad, though for I'd thought we might
go off together Odd, isn't it7 I feel
that you're the best friend I've got in
the world-about the only one, for that
matter, for we've wired no end of per-
sonal gossip and ambition, and our
tastes run about the same way; and
yet rye never seen you and don't know
whether wou're short or tall, lean or
fat, heather or Y. NJ. c.. A.. or
whether your mustache Ia still TO sprout
or your white hair is dropping out from
old age. Queer world, isn't 1t, Kauf?
But say! l believe I'll run down and
spend my vacation with you There's
no other place l can think Of and we
can see how each other looks, and talk
and smoke and"
There was a quick, protesting click
Don't you do it. keifer-what is your
name, anyway, the whole of It? Keifer
is $3.50 unceremonious and blunt. But
about the vacation You mustn't visit
me now-mustnt. Why-it's impossible.
II haven't the accommodations, and
and I'm so busy, and"
There was a call from the home office,
and with a hurried explanation to Kauf-
man, he flashed in an acceptance of the
proffered leave of absence, took and
answered the call, made a few final ar
rangements, then bent to continue the
conversation, hesitated and swung back
from the instrument
''I won't do it," he chuckled. "Kaufs
likely ashamed of his looks. badheaded
or fat or one-eyed or something and
AONSh WANT W hHOW' III SOluB 10
visit him on the next train, and I'm not
going to give him chance for any more
excuses Ashamed! Great Scott! Don't
we like the same books and music and
everything else? What do l care how
the old chap looks? He ought to know
my regard rises above such petty con-
slderations-and / believe he thinks just
as much of me. His personal condolences
prove It. I'll just drop in on him so sud
denly and affectionately that he can't
help taking me in his arms
So when the through freight slowed at
the water tank Keifer swung himself
into the caboose with a generous outfit
OF tobacco and books and a brand new
pack of cards ordered up by the freight
conductor. And this same conductor,
when they reached telegraph station 13,
obligingly slowed the train so Keifer
could drop into the white, yielding sand.
Accommodations" he chuckled as he
strode eagerly toward the open door
way of the little building. TITS got two
rooms, like my own, and that's plenty
accommodations for any reasonable man.
But perhaps Kauf was used to a big
house at home. Hello! Window cur
tains and flowers at the end of the house,
and Lord!'
'Well?' the girl inquired at last.
isis Kauf-in? How's Kauff-well?
Tell Kauf I'm out here to see him." an
swered Keifer dazedly.
I'm Kauf-Adelia Kaufman" said the
girl. Then the utter blankness in the