Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-10-02

plo hulle. liz, SuurleS hC luSB III
Baldwin, was going to be sheep no
longer. He was going toto do
something or other. 1t did not mat
ter what.
He turned down side street and
attempted short cut across the road.
way. He heard feeble shrek behind
him. Something struck him stiffiy in
the side. An arm clutched about his
neck and before he could put out his
hand the asphalt pavement reached
up and struck him sledge-hammer
blow on the forehead. There was an
explosion in his brain like the sudden
flame of fashlight. Then all the
instinct of the animal reused him to
self-preservation. Drawing his legs
up under him, he arched his back,
slipped the enemy's hold over his
head and crooked his arm up to ward
off possible blow. The foe lay limp
on the road beside him. He had been
run down by young lady ron BIZ
cycle.
"Oh," he said, recovering himself
at once.
"I beg your pardon" He had
sprung to his feet. "Are you hurt?"
and was trying to disentangle her from
the machine.
She drew her feet up helplessly in
to her skirts. He was plucking those,
with hurried clumsiness, from the
teeth of the gearing. 'I didn't see
you coming" he apologized as he
raised her. 81 hope you're not hurt. !"
She pressed her hand, painting,
against her side. "No-o," she gasped.
"on!y frightened.
But when he released her she tot
tered as if to fall, and he was com.
PEELED to retain his hold upon her
arm, embarrassed and speechless.
''It was so stupid of me-" she fall
tered, limping to the curbstone. Z
thought could get by you, Mr.. Bald
win."
He peered down at her in the dark
ness. "Why," he smiled, 81 didn't
know you"
She laughed somewhat hysterically.
81 saw you coming through the light.
I thought I could get past" She was
choking for breath. "Pm afraid !
hurt my-my foot"
She freed herself from his arm.
Baldwin returned to midroad for the
bicycle and his hat. When he came
back he found her sitting on the curb.
"You are hurt" he said anxiously.
"My ankle" she replied. 81 have
sprained it, think"
T. l..
arm," he said, "and try if you can
walk"
By leaning heavily on him she sue.
ceeded in limping along. He wheeled
the bicycle with his other hand, still
bit embarrassed. But she laughed
and chatted. 1t had been so stupid
of herl 1t was wonder she hadn't
killed him. What had he thought il
was that struck him?
He confessed that he had not had
time to think. But the arm about his
neck had come as if some one had
leaped upon his back. "Im afraid. u
he said, 81 took you for footpad."
The remembrance of it stirred her
} to nervous merriment. Her laugh
} was not unpleasant. She choked
prettily at his whimsical description
of his preparations for defence, ani
that description became SO convul
= sively amusing for q moment thai
they stood together on q corner shak
, ing with laughter. They went on more
soberly when the fit had passed, bu'
the barriers were down between then
bol
OF old frien Is.
j The distance from the scene of the
collision to her home was not great
: Baldwin rang the door bell ant
l assisted in allaying the anxiety Of the
family. They laughed at last, at ,
} Joint description of the accident al
given by the heroine and the here
OF it.
When she had been assisted to he
room by younger sister, Baldwin
e remained to exchange small talk ant
drink cool drinks below stairs. Be
s fore he left he had been brushed
: clean of the roadway dust by
y "brother Tom" thanked by he
mother for his kindness to daughte
= | VI uuo uOuoC uLltt iuNlIoo Wy tuo DILL
p ing family to call again.
9 Accordingly he did that, on tn
y evening following, to see how tn
sprained ankle was progressing. Th,
G young woman herself received him
d He found her very pale and pretty
l.. amiable and altogether interesting
$ He had called, on an average, thre
i times since in every week, and he ha
n bought bicycle.
s During the first stages OF thei
friendship he worked diligently TO
;. an increase in his salary to allow o
II the purchase of more theatre tickets
: Lately he has had dreams of honey
y moon, and is kept worried in hi
a leisure moments by impatient calcula
ton Of the time which must elaps
y before his salary will suffice for two
- But he is not troubling himself for al
J., answer to the Sphinx's riddle of ex
e istence. Neither Is he concerned TO
o solution of any Of the greater prob
lens of this life. The powers hav,