South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-30

Pat Walling settled herself com
fortably in the Pullman and gave a
little sigh OF relief. She was about
to start on the last lap of her jour
ney. Nothing unpleasant had oc-
CURED, as for instance. exciting ex-
periences with hirtatious travellers
against whom her mother had
warned her repeatedly The train
was 10 move on schedule time.
Within six hours she would be in
Atlanta where she was to serve "a
maid Of honor Al her cousin Mar
jory Simpsons wedding.
An old man with a tray Of fraE-
rant flowers suspended around his
neck was moving along the plat
form on the side Of the train across
from Pat. She left her seat and
moved into the section opposite so
that she could buy a posy. She Sc
lected a gardenia and tucked il in
a buttonhOle on her white tailored
blouse. All at once she glanced
down and strange initials on the
suitcase at her feet startled her into
activity She grabbed the suitcase
and ran wildly out Of the train. She
knew that it was just a few min
utes before starting time and fear
OF missing the train, the wedding.
everything, gave speed TO her ef-
forts.
Please" she cried excitedly to
the bus driver who had brought her
across town from the Union Station,
you gave me the wrong suitcase.
Look. quick, I'll miss my train. Ny
initials are p w. with Texas print
ed under them. I'm going 10 be
maid of honor in a wedding and my
dress. slippers. everything is in my
suitcase" She was almost sobbing
by that time. "Oh, can't you find it?
Here's this suitcase, I don't want
it,"
The old man, long accustomed to
such scenes, took out his note book
and wrote her name, address and
description Of the baggage; at the
same time, assuring her Of the
prompt delivery Of her own bag.
Now. don't worry a mite. I'll
keep We in mind. Depend on il,
Miss, Nothin' so bad. it couldn't be
worse" he said philosophically.
Running back to the train. Pat
Just did manage 70 climb aboard be-
fore it pulled out Breathlessly she
dropped into the seat assigned her
wishing with all her heart that she
was back in the comforting shelter
OF home where mother could tell
her what 10 do. Suddenly her eyes
were attra Cted TO a suitcase on the
floor p. W Texas grinned up at
the astonished girl. She leaned over
and touched the suitcase furtively.
It was really there. her suitcase.
containing the wonderful orchid
tulle dress with silver trimmings
that was TO grace the occasion Of
her cousins wedding. Pat wonder
ed if she could have fallen asleep
and dreamed a horrible dream
when her memory was stabbed
awake by remark across the aisle.
Somebody's moved my suitcase,
porter. Please look il up before We
get into Atlanta"
Pat cautiously turned her head i'm
the direction of the voice. \ very
good looking man was dropping
bill into the porter's ready hand.
With q gasp Of dismay. the truth
forced itself on Pat. She remem-
bered that she had crossed the aisle
TO buy a flower from an old man on
the platform She had sat down
for a minute IN the seat on the 9TH
er side Of the train and it was the
mans suitcase and not her own that
she had dragged out and given up
to the old bus driver. Was there
ever such a horrible mistake. Why.
the bag might have been filed with
bonds
Mile after mile Of beautiful land
Scapes flashed by before poor Pats
unseeing eyes She glanced at the
man again. lie looked very stern.
Then she swallowed the painfully
charging lump in her throbbing
throat and gripping her moist little
hands together in an effort 10 steady
herself rose and rather shakily
crossed the aisle again.
I'm awfully sorry about your
suitcase" she began at once. 81
carried it off the train
The man looked up from his
magazine instantly "Yes?" he said
inquiringly Wont YOU sit down ."
Pat dropped down at that mainly
because she was too weak to stand
up any longer. 81 think that Z can
explain to YOU" she ventured, then
stopped to bite her short upper lip
10 keep it from trembling.
It's too bad that you are so dis
turbed." said the stranger. kindly.
"Just wait until you feel better. then
you can tell me all about it,
Pat knew thas she would never
forget the pity in his brown eyes
as long as she lived even though
she realized that he was taking her
for a demented person and that he
was trying 20 quiet her. When she
had told her story she glanced up
at him hopefully. II sounded like
such a silly little made up tale,
Would he believe her,
"Tll-TH pay YOU for everything
if the suitcase is lost" she volun-
teered while he wrote something on
a little slip OF paper. then rang for
the porter
Send that wire from the next
1fopsf- h o~derad the Dac~ro tbeU