Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-11-10

smile, which she managed to make pa
thetic. 81 feel very much shaken, and
1 think I have strained my ankle lit
tie, but if I rest for few minutes
shall be all right"
So with the mans assistance she got
up and seated herself on tree trunk
lying near.
MAY l." he asked, courteously, Ego
to your home and send you some as
sistance?"
"Oh. dear no." in n tone Of alarm, at
would brighten them to death. / am
not much hurt. If you could kindly
wait a few minutes and then help me
to mount don't think could mount
alone. / feel nervous"
II am at your SERVICE" replied her
companion; your wheel, at any rate,
is none the worse"
For, ardent cyclist that he was, if his
first look had been for the rider, his sec
ond had been for the wheel.
$50 much the better, but see how
have torn my skirt. / must mend it, or
perhaps it would catch and throw me
again."
So saying, she drew from her pocket
dainty little case, from which she pro-
duccd thimble, needle and thread, and
then began sewing her torn skirt. The
man watched her nimble fingers with
admiration. She was graceful little
person and looked very demure as She
sat with bent head, her mischievous
eyes fixed on her work.
II love cycling!" she exclaimed
don't you?"
The man confessed that he did, and
she displayed such interest in what he
said tina; he told her the story of q
cycling trip he had taken last summer,
and from that, encouraged by her gentle
questioning, he spoke of many things,
and the girl listened intently. But az
last she felt that she could remember
no more, and that made her realize
that she was equal to her return trip,
so she prettily explained that she felt
quite recovered from her fall and asked
her companion to be good enough to
help her to mount. He acquiesced al
most reluctantly, for 1t had been n
| pleasant half hour to him.
| She paused minute. 81 don't know
how to thank you for what you have
done for me-" She cast her eyes down
for they were full of laughter. She
| was wondering what the editor would
say.
You make too much of it," he said
| for how could he know what was in her
mind? II am glad / was able to be OF
eny assistance to you. 1t was for.
tunate thing that happened to be Sc
close behind"
She did not think it necessary to tell
him that but for tha t she would not have
fallen!
II am sorry to say that am leaving
the city this evening"" the man went on
"or would venture to ask permission Il
call on YOU"
You are leaving this evening? an
sorry, too"
But the dimples in her face belied he,
words.
courtly bow, q word of adieu am:
she was off like bird. He watched he
out of sight, and as he mounted his OWL
wheel it vaguely occurred to him tina
from a strained ankle, however slight
she had recovered very completely.
Her little feet did swift work will
the pedals, it is true, but when She
reached home her pen travelled almos
more swiftly over sheet after sheet o
paper, as she wrote with marvellous cor
rectness the opinions and remarks o
the man who had never been inter
viewed.
After all, he found himself unable t:
leave the city that evening, but the frs
train next morning carried him away
The boys were calling the papers on tn,
station platform. and so copy of TIL
Scrutator found its way into his walse
When he looked at it his own nam
caught his eye. In letter ing so big tina
1t is usually reserved for presidential
election or for the chances of IL war witt
Great Britain, to his own vast amaze
ment he saw.