The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-09
A BANANA PEEL
AND FR|BLE|CH.
By Margaret Pulling.

H. nc atpppc1 III ms Walk and made
another slash. See that? OF all the
useless trash in creation" Then he made
a third slash. The third slash was sue
cessful; the point of Fribleigh's cane
caught scrap of banana peel and sent
street.
what were bananas created for any,
wayY' he continued. Stomach aches?'
Inc banana. Fribleigh." | said con-
descendinsly. the banana which you
ioohshly describe as useless trash. Is
one OF the most useful, nourishing and
wholesome fruits that have been given
10 man by beneicent Providence. II
does not produce stomach aches in those
whose constitutions are sound"
II produces broken legs, then" he in
terruDted me.
As you grow older. my boy" I said.
you VIII learn to know better. You
Will ! hope find out that there Is good
even In banana skins"
You walk on one unawares." Frib-
leigh srowled. as we turned the corner
into another street. you walk on one
unawares. and then tell me where the
good OF them comes in. Heno"
As he uttered this sudden exclamation.
] looked up and saw an elderly lady. de-
cidedly we'll dressed. sitting on the pave
feebly trying 10 rise.
We both started 70 run 70 the lady's
aid. Friblegh exclaiming. "Tll bet it
was a banana peel?"
II was o banana peel. The lady had
put her foot unawares on scrap or
that slick. insidiOus substance and had
fallen heavily. II was not. we found.
that she was too feeble 20 rise, but the
shock had stunned her a little distance
fa.H.f D oil
et book and an ivOry-handled sunshade.
Friblelgh and l. as It CHANGED, were
the only two grown-up males within
call The passersby who ran up at the
same time as we did included two other
mddle-aged women and one messenger
boy, but most OF them were little girls
just let out of school on tho same
block
Don't try to make her stand" I said
20 Friblelgh. "She may have fractured
a leg, for an we know. Pick up that
pocket book and let's lift her"
where will We lift her tor" said
Fribleigh. with aggravating GOODNESS.
That was indeed the difficulty As he
put the question 10 me Fribleigh had
stuffed the pocket book inside his over
coat.
There was much chattering among the
school children. much coincidence. ana
both the middle-aeed ladies' offered
smelling salts OF some kind. One OF
them turned 10 the uniformed messenger
boy and told him in peremptory tone.
as II IL were the messenger boys busl-
ness TO know the address OF all well-to-do
persons. 10 make haste and tell us at
once where the lady lived.
81 don't know whore the lady lives
said the boy Indignantly. Il wasn't car
rving her
PERHAPS It's in the pocket book" said
Frlblcigh III look
lie opened the pocket book and found
I'm IT these different visiting cards which
he read aloud:
49, Mr.. Vance O. Wadden.' Mrs James
p. Morris. Miss Brghtie Mortimer.
HIM. And no address on any Of them
Just then one Of the ladies with tho
smelling salts exclaimed jovfuly. "She's
reqsinlng consclousness" Then she went
on TO fire a vollcy Of questions at the
unfortunate victim Of banana peel
excuse mo. madam" said Frlbleigh.
quietly and sedateiy. And he knelt down
ON the pavement "Can YOU tell us
whore YOU live. so that we may get
hack and take you homer he said very
distinctly. ,-,-
Wait" tho lady gasped. "oh-I think
oh. my ankle'
"sav bows" the messenger boy brusque-
w. INTERRUPTED don't YOU want me
10 90 and call that hack over there. See
IL coming down the street2'
Eyes" 1 said, hurry up and BRING II
here" ..o
hack and drove with her 10 doctor
Office not two blocks away. And so tne
excitement I'm the street was abruptly
ended without the Intervention of either
an ambulance or-note this Of a police
man.
But when we reached the doctor
| office It appeared that our task was not
ended. As 10 the injury our charge had
received in her fall; that. we soon learn
cd. was a sprained ankle. and the doctor
| told us that no serious consequences need
| be feared on that score
| The more serious and pressing prob
| lem was 10 find the lady's name and ad-
| dress in order 10 communicate with her
| family. The doctor could not help us
| here. She herself was in such agony
| that # seemed cruel TO trouble her with
| questions.
''I must do something to ease that pain
| what do YOU think OF banana peel
| now?'' Fribleigh said TO me savagely.
| Much what / thought before / said
! "Rut the question Is: how are we u
communicate with her people? It's get
| ting late. and they will be in horrible
state Of mind about her. We must get
a directory"
what for?"
ITO find the addresses OF those people
whose cards you've got there. In the
pocket book"
All this time the doctor was busy ad-
| ministering some drug 10 his patient
| while the doctors female attendant was
| busy taking or her shoe and stocking
| preparatory n the operation.
Fribleigh and ! went into the outer Of
| fee 10 consult the directory. or those
names on the three visiting cards. that
| Of Waddell occurred only once. and its
owner was policeman whose first name
was Michael-not likely 70 be connected
with this neatly engraved card. Morris
appeared eight tlmes-one James Pat
rick and one James Parsons and Nor
timer twice Then We turned 10 the tele-
phone register and found. 20 our sorrow
that not n Morris in all the city patron
ICED this source OF civilization. But Their
was a Mortimer whose residence boosted
a telphone-Charles 4. Mortimer
Let me do the telephoning," said
Frlblelgh.
mo. 7 said "you are too rough and
impulsive, Fribleigh. You might shock
the lady with some hasty expression
about banana peel"
I succeeded IN getting Charles A. Nor
timers number. and n gruff voice asked
me. "well. what do YOU want?'
"Is Miss Brghtie Mortimer there?"
asked in my blandest manner.
II don't know whether she is or not.
What do you want with her.