Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1908 — FINDING FRANCES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FINDING FRANCES.

By CARL WILLIAMS.

Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated Literary Press. ■

“Miss Pollard! This is a surprise in deed! I supposed that you were out west.” Christopher Brooks, boarding the fast train in Philadelphia, motioned to the porter to place bis suit case In the section occupied by Frances Pollard and ■ank into the seat beside her in response to the mute invitation tn her eyes. "I am to visit old school friends,” explained the girt “It is my first visit to New York.” “And you never let me know that you were coming!” Chris* tones were laden with reproach. “How could I?” defended the girl. "In spite of the fact that you did not answer my last letter, I wrote you that I was coming east and that I should be glad to have you meet me at the station in Chicago and visit between trains.” “Chicago!” echoed Chris. “I went ti New York six months ago. I wrote

you of the change, and as you did not reply I supposed that you were lost in the social whirl and did not care to waste time in writing when I was so far away.” > “You should have known me better than that.” The words were simple, but the look accompanying them was eloquent, it seemed to tell Chris that only through faint heartedness had he failed to win his fair lady and that there still might be a chance. “It seems to be a muddle all around,” he said. “The firm were rather angry at my going, though I gave them two weeks' notice, and they knew that I was bettering myself.” “The chances are that they did not forward your letter to me and did not mall my letter to you. I remember that I dropped it Into tbe office mail box. The cashier was a petty sort of person. This may have been one of his revenges.”

The many changes which had come to both since their parting furnished n theme for conversation, and the train was pulling into the terminal at Jersey City before it was exhausted. Exultingly Chris felt that the nisunderstanding was all cleared up, he told himself that it would not be his fault if Frances did not return home an engaged girl. “Will yonr friends be here to meet you?” be asked as the porter took their hand bags. “I told them not to bother,” explained Frances. “Bessie’s mother is an in {valid, and Bess works downtown somewhere. I’ll just take a cab to the house. It’s uptown. The address Is in my grip. I always carry everything tn my grip. Then I have only one thing to watch instead of a .valise and a purse and perhaps a couple of bundles.” “That’s a sensible thing,” cried Chris admiringly. “Only you mustn’t lose your valise.” “I should say not,” agreed Frances laughingly. “I should find myself without money and, worse yet. without (even Bess’ address, since she had to tnove last week because their old house Kras torn down.”

“I’ll look out for the valise,” promised Chris as he helped her down the bteps of the Pullman. “Better walk benlnd me and let me force the way. I’m more used to New York crowds," he explained, with the pride of a new resident Now, at Jersey City the concourse epens on three ferry slips, all leading to various parts of Manhattan. Chris beaded for the downtown ferry, which would bring them near the subway, and not until the boat was reached did Eie turn to see if the girl was still folowing. The gates were closed behind him and the boat was slowly passing out of the slip when be made the discovery that Frances had not followed his in-

structions. She was not in the tail of the crowd that bad been hurried aboard by impatient gatemen, nor did a careful search Of the boat reveal her, and Chris' hope that she might have been swept aboard by the other gangway was dashed. He made the return trip on the same boat, railing at the delay, and after a hurried scrutiny of the concourse de-

elded that she must have taken the upper ferry to Twenty-third street A boat was about to start and be rushed on board, the perspiration streaming from bls face. He still carried Frances’ valise and bls own heavy suit case.. Frances could not leave any ferry house without the valise, for it contained her money and her friend’s address. She could not apply to the old address to find out where her hostess had moved, because the house had been torn down. She must wait for him.

He dashed through the exit and through the waiting room, searching both floors, but there was no trace of the girl. He was about to go to the street and question the carriage agent when the doorman, who had watched his actions curiously, came up.

“Are you the chap that lost a lady?” he demanded, “if you are, I told her to go back to the Jersey side and wait for you. She followed a man she thought was you and got on the wrong boat.”

Chris pressed a coin into the man’s hand and sprinted down the slip just as the boat was pulling out. He barely managed to leap aboard before the gates were closed, and he stood on the forward deck to cool off. When the boat should make the Jersey shore this worry would be at an end. So he regarded the panorama of river life complacently. He was the first passenger off the boat and out on to the concourse, but neither on the concourse nor in the waiting room could be find her, though he searched both. She must have boarded the Cortlandt street ferry, so for a second time he made for the slip, catching the same boat that had carried him across before. Oue of the deck hands regarded him curiously as he passed.

“Ain't you the fellow what paid his fare to me to stay on the boat a couple of trips.ago?” he demanded. Chris nodded, and the man grinned. “I thought you was,” he continued. “There was a lady down here looking for you this last trip. I remembered you went right back, and I sent her on to Twenty-third street. She didn’t have the price of her fare,” he added meaningly, and again the grateful Chris passed out a coin. “Funny you didn't see her,” mused the man as he slipped the money into his pocket. “She was on the boat when we landed. I told her to take a look around and then make for the Twenty-third street slip. “I was looking in the waiting room for her,” explained Chris. “I guess It’ll be all right now.”

But things were far from all right. When Chris leaped from the boat at the uptown landing, the doorman who had spoken to him before laughed loudly as he caught sight of the pirating and perspiring traveler. “I told you to wait on the Jersey side,” he cried. “The girl came back, and I told her you were down there waiting. The man on one of the Cortlandt street boats sent her up here while I was sending you back. I told her to sit there In the shed this time for an hour and I’d find you somehow. Better stay on this boat. The fare’s 3 cents. You owe a ticket for her too. She didn’t have any money.” Chris passed over a dollar. “Keep tile change; It’s worth it,” he said, and he went back on the boat.

"Fifteen minutes later the crowd surged off the boat in a rush for . the trains, and Chris went with the tide of humanity until It separated toward tbe various gates. As he turned to search the seats a pair of soft arms went about his neck, and he looked down Into Frances’ crimson face.

“I didn’t mean to do that,” she cried, “but I was so afraid I’d lose you again If I didn’t grab right hold of you.” “I like it,” declared Chris. “I thought I never should find you.” “That’s the way It seemed to me,” ■be confessed. “I never was so glad to ■ee any one in my life. A fat woman came in between us, and when I looked around to find you there were two men who looked so like you that I wasn’t certain which was really you. They were both going toward the uptown boat, and I followed them.” Chris transferred the valise to the hand that carried his suit case, and with the other be grasped her arm. Tm not going to lose yon this time,” he announced. “I don’t want ever to lose you again, Fanny. May I keep you—always?”

What he saw tn her eyes caused him to lean over and kiss her. "Everybody kisses everybody else at tile rallroad ( station,” he explained as he led the way to the boat. “And they haven’t half my excuse. I’ve found you twice inside of two hours.”

“I’VE FOUND YOU TWICE INSIDE OF TWO HOURS.”