The Red Cloud chief., 1922-06-15
49,
STRANDED
Ey HAZEL v. PARIS
III
g. 1922. By Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.

llckctS, Please.
Dorothy Martin reused herself from
her book sufficiently to put her hand
into her coat pocket. But--her purse
wasn't there! She reached into the
pocket on the other side. Then she
looked up at the conductor In dismay,
a grim, sour-looking old man who
looked us if he would make allowances
for no one:
But I'm sure my purse was In my
pocket when l boarded the train. 1t
must be here"
While he waited she searched fran
her travelling bag, in her hat box.
Then, flushed and GREATNESS, she
looked up. "Pm sorry-I can give you
a check. And here's my personal
card"
Sorry. We don't take no checks,
MISS"
"What car ! do?"
you'll have TO get Off at the next
stop-St. Michael-a hundred miles
further on. And I'll have to ask you
to go into the coach"
1t was a flushed and indignant
young IN who gathered up her
baggage and followed the conductor
into the hot, stuffy coach.
About midday she found herself on
the station platform, her patent leath.
er luggage beside her.
Porter, miss?"
But she had no money with which
to pay for such q luxury, so, much to
his disgust, she struggled into the
ticket office, up to the window, and
asked for a telegraph blank.
Lost purse. Telegraph one hun
dred TO me at st. Michael. Dorothy"
YES. 1t can so collect. Wait q min
Ute"
To the establishment Of the waiting
clerk, she tore the telegram into small
pieces. "Tve changed my mind" And
she strobe across the room to the
lunch counter.
us that job filled?" pointing eager
ly to a sign, Waitress Wanted" be-
fore the cashiers window.
The woman looked up, took in at a
single glance every detail in the ap-
pearance of the slim, aristocratic-look-
Ing girl standing before her. "No'm,
II amt" &
81 want It,"
Joe, joe" called the woman In q
high. nasal voice. 'This gal wants
yer job. She don't look like much, but
mebbe she'll be better'n nothing"
Before Dorothy was aware Of what
had happened, she was behind the
counter. serving the hungry hordes
who had ridden with her to st. Mi
chael and who were clamoring deafen-
ingly for eggs, sandwiches, custard pie
and coffee as II they hadn't consumed
basketfuls Of food in the preceding
three hours.
st. Michael was an ugly, sprawling
settlement of about twenty frame
h~ouses-dirty, weather-beaten, DESC
late.
One week rolled by, two. In two
more weeks Dorothy would have saved
enough to get home.
She had just lifted a huge. steamins
kettle of soup to the table In her cor
ner of the counter when the Burling-
ton train roared in. Hardly had it's
brakes brought 1t to a standstill when
a throng Of men burst through the
doors. The wOmen and children al
ways struggled in and tried to push
through the men three-deep at the
counter. AS she reached for n cup, a
familiar voice rang out, Dorothy" A
tall young man was pushing toward
the counter.
II think you are mistaken, sir"
Dorothy !"
Move on there, young fellow. You
can't be annoying my girls. Move on"
But"
Move on, didn't tell your" It was
Joe, and he was advancing threaten
ingly upon the young man.
"Oh, Dick"-then her voice broke.
mo. no. Joe; he knows me; it's all
right. I'm to blame"
Before she knew how 1t all hap
pened Dorothy was In Dicks arms,
sobbing ftfully.
but why did you do it, dear?
Haven't you seen the papers2 We've
been nearly frantic"
II almost telegraphed dad. I was
prepared for even his 4 told you So
And then / say the sign, Waitress
Wanted and I thought it would be n
lark to earn my W way home. It's
been hard, Dickie, but"
The limited carried an extra passen-
ger when 1t left st. Michael. The Pull
man folk were rather curious and
amused at the solicitude with which
an MISUNDERSTANDING young man
peeled eggs and unwrapped sand
wiches for an equally aristocratic-
looking but ravenously hungry young
woman.