The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-09-28
Dinner in a
Diner
By JANE OSBORN


To begin with, Gregory Ives merely
knew her as the girl with the green
hat. She committed In a green hat for
months. Then she changed to French
blue, and the first night Gregory near
ly missed his train because he didn't
have the usual green hat to follow.
But he quickly adjusted his eyes to
the hat Of French blue.
Gregory Ives read what he found
worth while OF the evening papers and
got through good many magazines
besides because from the time he left
his ONCE until he reached his house
an hour and quarter later he read
whenever 1t was possible.
He reached the station a few min
utes before train time and used the
few minutes reading. Occasionally he
would give a quick glance to see
whether the green hat-later the
bright blue hat--was in sight. II he
saw it moving toward the trainshed,
then he knew it was train time
One evening when Gregory Ives
was especially interested in an article
In a scientific magazine he followed
the blue hat without really thinking
that it boarded the train on the right
of the runway, whereas his train al
ways made up on the left; and 1t was
rot until the train had drawn out Of
the great shed and was already going
at a pretty good rate of speed that he
noticed that except for the young
woman in the seat opposite who wore
the blue hat there were no familiar
faces in the car.
Moreover, the conductor as he ap-
preached was none of those who usual
ly punched his ticket
He jumped up looked about and
then sat down again.
To the conductor, when he reached
him, he handed his communication ticket
with an inquiring glance
The conductor looked at the ticket
and then critically at the man
"Guess I'm ON the wrong train, said
Gregory. "This doesn't stop at Arden,
does it?"
"This Is a through express" said
the conductor. -We make straight
run without stop" and he mentioned
a city that was three hours distant
Don't you stop at Arden even II
there are passengers to get of there?'
came sharp query from across the
atsle-and Gregory Ives noticed that
beneath the hat there were very pref
ty eyes and a face that somehow
looked familiar.
mo- we DON'T" said the conductor
with something of contempt
you used to stop there. You'll just
have to get the engineer to stop to-
night. I've got to get Off there"
''Sorry, miss" said the conductor.
|They may have stopped there ON re-
quest once, but not for a year or two.
And Of course we can't make special
stops"
II think that's perfectly outrage
ous," said the girl as she fumbled In
her purse to get the necessary car fare
demanded by the conductor Then,
having collected fare from Gregory
also, the conductor moved on
'You thought we stopped at Arden,
didn't your said the girl
II imagined so," said Gregory But
II doesn't make any difference-I-"
Doesn't make any differenceT ex-
claimed the girl 'Tt certainly does
make a difference to me / won't gei
home till all hours It's dreadful"
n,,Ix ,naon +ha+ q di5-,t ,aaln
any great difference to me-" said
Gregory.
~WeIl, think II two persons could
be mistaken like this said the pretty
young woman, then the railroad com
pany must be to blame l certainly
thought this train stopped at Arden
and you must have thought so, too. OF
you wouldn't have got on II"
Il got on because you did" said
Gregory quite calmly.
You followed met" said the glr
with low-voiced rage.
II always do. Its convenient-not
you, but your hat Then l can go Oh
reading or thinking. You usually take
the five-thirteen. This time for some
reason you took the five-ten- have
Just looked It up in my timetable ant
the conductor Is right ItN Is mo-
marked TO stop at Arden II doesn''
stop again until eight-three."
II should think you were excessivel,
rude. IL not little crazy, to talk tn,
way you have been talking" said tn,
girl, "if 1t were not that l know wh'
you are. You're Mr.. Gregory Ives an,
met you at q country club dance
with my brother. He introduced you
but you have quite forgotten"
"Not at ALL" assured Gregory, lean
ing across the aisle. "Now that Sc
you remember. You're Miss Tergu
son, Max Ferguson's sister-Marcia,
believe. ! merely knew your ha,
Charming hat. Most girls wear sue
somber hats you can't follow then
You always wear something nice an
bright. got quite attached to tina
green one. though this Is clN~ming."
Marcia Ferguson was frankl
pleased with the rather bIntnnt fiat
tory, 70 she suggested to Mr.. Ives tina
| ~ s.J- 49, so..k hosfSn hAr