The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-01
hEADSTRONG BRADLEY.

''Isn't it queer how small the world is,
after alp" said the shorter of the two men,
as they steered each other down the aisle
of the smoker, while the car seemed to be
doing its best to jolt them over the Shout
ders of other passengers in the seats; I'm
always running into somebody | haven t
seen for long time. Now, who would
have thought of meeting you coming into
this smoker, in this section of the coun-
try?'
Yes" said the taller, he with the new
tweed travelling cap, but then the world
is big enough to keep old acquaintance
like us apart. Let's sit down here-apart
for years. How many years is it?"
Must be good ten / should say" said
the first speaker, dark, wiry man, with
small side whiskers.
"Quite that hadn't heard of you for
quite a long while when Scobel told me
about that desperate love affair of yours,
and that was
"Ha. Ha! Yes, that was more than four
years ago. Did Scobel ever tell you the
end of that? No? Got a cigar?" The small
man wriggled his neck with an air of COM
plete satisfaction. "Well, I don't mind
telling you knowing that it won't go any
farther, of course"
"Of course; that's understood"
Il don't mind telling you that always
thought myself well out of that affair-yes
You see, she went away from Galena one
summer to spend some time at a small
watering place where aunt of hers was
staying. OF course we kept up correspond
ence-very sweet and all that, you know
but all of a sudden the letters stopped
Well, didn't know what to make of that
Just as was beginning to get fidgety a let
ter came from her. telling me that she had
met with frightful accident-slipped from
limb of a tree into a deep creek. It so
happened that some fellow was standing
near, fishing, and this man managed to
crawl out on the same limb just as she
was losing her hold. Oh, perhaps Scobel
told you all that?''
mo-" said the other man, looking at the
ash Of his cigar, "Scobel didn't tell me
that. I was only smiling at the thought of
how much alike these romantic rescues
are"
"Oh, yes; all alike, you know And, as
far as l can make out, this fellow didn't
do anything particularly brave, either
Just held out his hand to her and pulled
her in Anybody could do that, you
know"
"How did he get to herr" the man with
the tweed cap asked.
climbed out on limb, I believe Well
then there was a sort of a mystery about
the man for some days. He didn't tell his
name, and she didn't find it out until after
she got quite well. But, you see, Trappes,
I didn't care to have my fiancee writing
to me every day about some fellow didn't
know"
"Of course not" said Trappes.
$50 very soon took an opportunity to re-
quest her toto just drop that hero of the
limb. Told her didn't want to know his
name, even if she did find it OUT
"And that put an end to your affair, did
it?"
THAT? Oh, no; that was only the begin
ming Of the end, as it were'
Here the smaller man-his name was
Bradley-seemed to fall into a retrospect
i've reverie, and Trappes respected his feel
ings by smoking and studying his cigar
ash in silence.
You know, Trappes"-Bradley at last
resumed "There's no question about 1t.
Eloise-Miss Jennings-was very nice
girl at that time. But she was very
young"
Trappes nodded gravely. II guess she
must have BEEN" he said, "to judge by
what Scobel told me. You always were
man of some taste, Bradley. 1 always
thought So"
Eyes; that's all right" said Bradley.