The Penn's Grove record., 1892-09-09
SHE DID IT FOR DAVID

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SHE DID IT FOR DAVID
The Weeping Willow telegraph Of
Gee faced the level prairie Up and
down before 1t, like shining ribbons,
lay the railroad tracks, converging
mysteriously until distance blended
them into one.
Back Of it fiared the wide main
street, with stores and cottages in
discriminatory mingled, which marks
the disconsolate prairie town. Be-
yond, inclosed by q white picket
fence, struggled the desolate grave
yard.
The only thing In plenty which
nature supplied was room. There
was an abundance of space. 1t was
quite a walk to cross the street.
Neighbors' houses stood aloof. No
body was crowded, even in the grave
yard.
The telegraph operator, satiated
with landscape, leaned back. stretched
himself prodigiously, yawned audibly
and collapsed In his chair, which
creaked in yexed remonstrance. He
tossed a remark over his shoulder,
$50 this IS what you are yearnin' for,
Dave?n
Dave took his cane, and, limping
to the door, viewed the inertness in
silence. Then he reused himself and
said cheerfully:
"a telegraph operator is all I'm
good fur since l got hurt"
Seems like the company might
have done nor for you when you got
smashed up in their own accident.
'Twouldn't have hurt 'em none to
keep you as a conductor" grumbled
nis friend.
Suddenly the afternoon stiffness
was broken by excited voices and the
sharp barking and yapping Of dogs.
Joe brought his feet to the floor in a
hurry.
~ can't leave the machine, Dave
Go and see what the rumpus is about.
/ bet Brier Rose Is up to somethin'.
1t takes that there girl to stir up the
boys, No, Foxy" he said to his ter
rier, who was whlrling around in an
ecstacy Of anticipation, '.you stay
here. If Brier Rose Is at the bottom
of 1t, a little Teller like you might
get lost in the shuttle"
Dave obediently limped up the
street, where, In the midst Of a crowd
Of rough men, stood a girl holding
some little animal high above her
head, while the dogs leaped and
snapped around her.
The girl, with scarlet cheeks, begged
and scolded and threatened them all,
to their infinite amusement.
'Call off your dawg, Jim," she
said f%lercely to the owner of the larg-
est, whose leaps sometimes almost
reached the Quivering little object in
her hands.
Throw down the best an / will, "
he answered.
III that there dawg gives another
Jump, Tll pizen him before supup,"
said she slowly.
Jim made a lunge for the dog. and
| sat on him to keep him down, while
| the crowd hooted in derision Of his
| obedience.
"What's all this?" cried Dave, COM
ing up aud pushing his way through
their midst
"Brier Rose ia being held upp'
cried a voice.
The crowd yelled with delight. The
The girls whole face became white
| with rage as she singled out the
speaker.
you'll pay for that. Ben Miles al
| you've paid before" she said.
'Call OF those brutes," cried Dave
rapping the nearest dog with his cane.
''For shame, to tease a woman!"
"Look a hyer, stranger" said q
young giant, menacingly. He lowered
above Dave, who stood his ground.
'I'm lame and no account in 9
fight" said Dave; shut half a mar
ain't goin' to see a woman tor
mented.
"Who In thunder" began hi:
threatener;b but Ben Miles laid a hand
on his arm.
"Hold on, Jim," he said; ''thai
there's Dave Comstock, conduotor Of
the smashed up No. T."
mot the Teller that got hurt savin
che baby?"
1.-The same"
"Sho, strangerl" said the mollited
Jim.
You're welcome to interfere. Give
us yer hand. We wouldn't hurt hel
fur nothin'. Bless my stars! Briel
Rose can take arr of herself better'I
most men"
The dogs were all held now, ant
the girl put her tired arms down.
She looked curiously at the man
whose brave story she knew by heart
as she heard him defend her.
To be sure, she had been defended
before; there was hardly a man wht
would not have risked his life to ssv'
hers, but they leased her unmerciful
ly when they got the chance. Dawes
interference was on a new line She
did not quite understand it. but II
appealed to her at oncei
When Dave went back to the sta
ton to Sell Joe, the latter roared
with delight
"Just like berl exzattly like heri'
ne cried, Shaping his leg so inhu-
manly that bis lame friend WINGED
for him.
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