The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-09-28

IA ID converging my IS
teriously until dis.
tance blended them into one.
Back of it fiared the wide main street,
with stores and cottages unfortunately
mingled, which marks the disconsolate
prairie town. Beyond, inclosed by a
white picket fence, struggled the desc
late graveyard.
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. Nobody was
crowded, even in the graveyard.
The telegraph operator, satiated with
landscape, leaned back, stretched him
self prodigiously, yawned audibly and
collapsed in his chair, which creaked in
vexed remonstrance. He tossed re-
mark over his shoulder, $50 this is
what you are yearnin' for, Dave2"
Dave took his cane, and, limping to
the door, viewed the inertness in
silence. Then he rous cd himself and
said cheerfully:
"a telegraph operator is all Pm good
fur since l got hurt"
"Seems like the com'ny might have
done more for you when you got smashed
up in Their. own accident. 'Twouldn't
have hurt 'em none to keep you as a
conductor" grumbled his friend.
Suddenly the afternoon stiffness was
broken by excited voices aud the sharp
b'rking and yapping of dogs. Joe
brought his feet to the floor in hurry.
~ can't leave the machine, Dave. Go
and see what the rumpus is about. l
bet Brier Rose is up to somethin.' 1t
takes that there girl to stir up the boys.
No, Foxy" he said to his terrier, who
was whirling around in an ecstacy of
anticipation, "you stay here. If Brier
Rose is at the bottom of it, little
feller like you might get lost in the
shuttle"
Dave obediently limped up the street,
where, in the midst of crowd of rough
men, stood 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.
''Csll off your dawg, Jim," she said
iercely to the owner of the largest,
whose leaps sometimes almost reached
the quivering little object IN her hands.
"Throw down the beast an l will"
he answered.
''If that there dawg gives another
jump, I'll pizen him before sunup," she
seid, slowly,
Jim made lunge for the dog, and sat
on him to keep him down, while the
crowd hooted in derision of his obedi.
ence.
"What's all this" cried Dave, com.
ing up and pushing his way through
their midst.
"Brier Rose is being held upl" cried
voice.
The crowd yelled with delight. The
girls whole free became white with rage
as she single ut the speaker.
"You'll for that, Ben Miles, as
you've paiC BEFORE" she said.
"Call of those brutes," cried Dave,
rapping the nearest dog with his cane.
"For shame, to tease womanp
"Look a hyer, stranger" said
young giant, menacingly. He lowered
above Dave, who stood his ground.
'I'n lame and no account in a fight"
said Dave; "but half man amt going
to see a woman tormented."
"Who in thunder" began his
but Ben Miles laid hand on
his arm.
"Hold on, Jim," he said; "that
there's Dave Comstock, conductor of
the smashed up No. T."
"Not the feller that got hurt savin'
the baby2"
"The same"
"sho, strangerl" said the Modified
Jim.
"You're welcome to interfere. Give |
us yer hand. We wouldn't hurt her fer
nothin'. Bless my stars Brier Rose
can take care of herself better'n most
men,"
The dogs were all held now, and 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 be-
fore; there was hardly a man who
would not have risked his life to save
hers, but they teased her numerically
when they got the chance. Dawes in
reference was on a new line. She did
not quite understand it, but it appealed
10 her at once.
When Dave went back to the station
10 tell Joe, the latter roared with de.
light.
"Just like her Exzattly like herl"
be cried, slapping his leg so inhumanly
hat his lame friend WINGED for him.
"Who is Brier Rosel" he repeated, in
answer to Dawes question. "You don't
know much if you don't know old
Bryan's daughter. She's the best known
girl from Horseshoe Gap to Powder
erik. Old Bryan's been engineer on
he road ever since the track was laid.
All eyes she was then, as she is now.
What wasn't eyes was temper. Same
now, savIn' that now she bosses the boys
in addition to I'D Bryan, Size can run