The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-16
tom Allen, I suppose?''

eyes flashed. and she looked the per-
sonifcation of Indignation
ssYour fathers a-dear old manl''
She had been about to say ''a Ounce"
but discreetly changed her tactics
Ito GO on at that rate, as though we
were in the seventeen hundreds,
instead of nineteenth century people.
Why, Fred, suppose L went to him,
head down, shy, you know, finger in
my mouth, face all blushes-(you
bad boy! could achieve a blnsh?)-
and lisp out family a promise to him
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ride a bicy-
Gle again Well, what then? Why.
directly there would be something
else. He is a spoiled old boy, and
needs taking down a peg. I do not
know how it is to be done, but feel
it in my bones AS our cook says, that
I am destined to do the deedi What
do you say, Freddy"
Il say you can do anything you at
tempt" he rapturously cried, holding
the golden head close to his heart, to
the certain destruction of the jaunty
sailor hat but the question is-how,
my gentle Mamie! How?"
''Wait! Time will tell the tale"
she repeated, oracularly. ''And now,
Fred, come into the housed My pro-
"
ously near lunch-time.''
When Fred left Nan that day, they
had not arrived at any idea of how
the old gentleman was to be converted
from the error of his ways The two
were just simply grieved and despond-
ent as well as impatient
That very evening Mr.. Dunbar
walked out at the sunset hour. He
had long been accustomed to taking
extended walks alone, and, as he was
man of wealth, had little to occupy
his mind. He had gone farther than
usual this evening, lovely Septem-
Der evening, and when he glanced up
and saw that the sun was quite out of
sight, he uttered an exclamation of
dismay:
Dear me! / never dreamed it was
SO later he exclaimed, glancing at his
watch, land / expect Stanton and
Harrington at seven, to consult about
that piece of timber land. 1t will
probably mean a loss of several
thousands to me if I fail to see them
tonight, for they are to leave Rox-
bury early in the morning. I will
just take the railroad track. 1t will
save me full half mile, and then I
may get home in time"
No sooner said than done. Striking
ly, for his years, down the long line of
trestle-work, homeward bound Too
brisk1y did he walk-for in his haste
he grew careless--struck his foot
against something, and down he went
prone upon the track, one limb
doubled under him. He strove to
arise, but the sharp, sickening pain
warned him he had broken or sprained
his ankle. There was no help for it,
only to lie down again. What should
he do? 1t was fast growing twilight.
Nobody at home would ever think of
looking for him here on the railroad
track And, powers abovel he recol-
lected that the down train would soon
pass;in a few minutes it was due The
old man closed his eyes
Heaven help me!' he groaned,. 81
am lost!''
Just at that moment something soft
and light was speeding down the track
like lightning He opened his eyes.
At the same moment the roar of the
approaching train filed the air, and
around curve in the track the down
express came in full view.
Nan Henford, seated on her bicycle,
caught a glimpse of that huddled heap
upon the track, and with a cry of hor-
ror, she turned her wheel in its direc-
Fred Dunbar's father, but the impulse
of humanity prompted her to go to
the relief of whomsoever it might be;
on came the train with thunderous
tread. On flew the slender wheel from
the opposite direction 1t was mad
race between the two Mans blood
was up. She set her white teeth firmly
together, and whispered, gravely,
''God help me and give me strength
And so, she reached the inert mass
lying right in the jaws of death.
One spring and she had dismounted
from her bicycle, dashed it aside, and,
STOPPING over the old man, pulled
him, with all the strength of her
strong young arms. away from the
approaching monster into the side
switch near. The train Numbered
past.
she exclaimed.
In a few milling words the old
man explained his presence in that
undignified position. Nan listened
with eyes full of tears.
''Oh! 1 am SO sorry" she cried
'sNow, since you're safe Mr.. Dunb bar,
can you lie here just as you are, while
go and get Fred and the carriage?
1 will stop at Doctor Lees, too, and
send him to your house. 1t will not
take any time at all on my bicycle
1t was all done. In an incredibly
short time the old gentleman was
safe at home, and Doctor Lee in at
tendance The physician declared
that, owing to the age of the
sufferer, he could have done little
which Nan had acted in getting Mr..
Dunbar home and SunruOninO the