The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-03
EVENING STORY
The Girl From Arrochar.
(By lola Forrester.)

ne walked down 10 the bdlleIy' ulliSSS
it was stormy, and took a ferry across
the lower bay. And while others
homeward bound might hunt the Sc
clusion that the cabin granted, Dick
used to turn up his coat collar and
take a constitutional trot around the
deck. II was generally so cool and
brisk that he had little company un-
til the girl appeared as a regular trot-
ter. too.
She was about twenty, he judged,
and wore a heavy, Misunderstanding
coat, with a turned-up storm collar,
too, and a rakish dark blue tam
pulled close over her fair curly hair.
Never once did she appear to notice
Dick. altho they passed and repassed
each other night after night on the
half-hour trip.
And how am 1 to get acquainted
with HERO he asked Bernie. Il can't
speak to her offhand, and 1 can't f1irt
with her. She isn't that kind, Bernie
She's a thorobred. 1 wish shed trip
and tumble so 1 could hold her up,
or something like that"
"Trip her, then" Bernie suggested
hopefully. Stretch a string across
and trip her.
You're a friend, aren't you?" Dick
remarked sarcastically. What do you
want? They'd have the handy wagon
waiting for me at the other end in no
time, and she'd be the first to speak
against me. She buys a ticket for
Arrochar."
Where does she go at the end ?''
asked Bernie. Maybe it would be
easier to trail her here"
Dick favored him this time with a
smile of full appreciation. This hadn't
occurred to him. The evening trips
had been so full of unreality, of illu-
sion, that he had forgotten she must
go to work in the mornings. And
he had missed her then.
I'll get out at tomorrow, and
watch the trains" he said. Tell the
old man 1 wasn't well when 1 left to-
day. 1 may not get in till noon"
He haunted the train terminus I'M
til Sis the following morning. 1t was
clear and frosty, and in his button
hole Dick had tucked a last lone pink
aster from the nome garden over at
st. George. Then he saw her COM
ing. By daylight she looked even
younger, and her hair was surely the
curliest blonde hair he had ever seen.
ferry swung into the slip, and then
followed her aboard. She did not pace
the deck now, but read a book all the
way up. He could not even tell
whether she had noticed him at all.
At the New York end she took sub
way express uptown. and Dick was
on the same car. The trail of ro-
nance gripped him now. He didn't
care what the boss thought about his
absence. After working every day
! from to to for months there was
something coming to him when fate
I threw such a dazzling lure across his
path as the face under the dark blue
tam
1t happened at about TEirty-fourth
street just before the express swung
up toward the new tunnel cut. There
came a heavy jolt and grinding of
brakes, then darkness. At first there
was only the sensation of annoyance
at the delay. Dick wished he could
give his seat to an old lady at Four
teenth street, and stood close to the
center doors. And all once he felt
some one jostle lin, and tug at his
pocket Just as the train started up,
and the lights went up, the man be-
hind him had seized him by the
shoulder, but Dick already had a grip
on the wrist that was half out of his
pocket.
mo, you don't" he said CURLY. Not
this time"
knew at once. The pal of the one he
had hold of was calling for the guard
and accusing Dick of being the thief.
But Dick was New York born and
bred and he knew the game thoroly,
Not once in the tussling did he let go
his grip, and when the train pulled
INTO the Grand Central station he was
smiling as the guard hurried them all
of. on to the platform and some one
blew a police whistle. At the first
sound the man who had accused him
fled, but was hustled back before ne
rec ched the first stairs. And all at
once Dick, standing nonchalantly with
a neat knuckle grip on his prisoners
wrist saw the girl near him in the
| crowd, her eyes wide and friendly.
And just how it all happened Dick
never could quite tell, but when the
: police came it was she who vouched
for him. She gave her name as wit
Il ess, too, and Dick stood a trifle more
erect as he heard she was a librarian.
| His own business references Sufficed,
and presently the crowd had melted,
as it does in Manhattan, and they stood
| together on the platform with the ice
| broken at last.
1T was dandy of you to say all
that he burst out, boyishly. And
you didn't even know my name"
! Yes did, too I saw it one day on
your suitcase Richard Conley."
| Il don't know yours
Its Mollie,' she smiled up at him
shyly ''Mollie Newcomb. It's a fun
ny sort of introduction, isn't it? But
we've seen each other every day for
months, and I don't think it was
wrong to say I know you, do you?"
| Il think it was great said Dick
tfervently. "Did-did you know 1
came up on purpose to see where you
i worked? I've wondered how on earth
was ever going to get acquainted
with you, both of us doing that daily
marathon around the deck and never
! daring to-speak. I'm the head ship
ping clerk at Higgins & Bartons, on
Vesey street Been there since 1 was
fifteen, and I live with my mother and
father at St. George. Dads a ship
builder. Everybody knows US. I've
been dying to tell you all this so you d
know I was on the level"
Its getting late,' said Mollie, irrel-
| evantly. Il have to be at the library
by 10. Remember, we have to be in
court in the morning. I've never been
| before, but I don't mind if you're
there too. think you were awfully
brave to hold on that mans hand
after he'd tried to pick your pocket.