The Forrest City times., 1900-11-16
Chicago-the crumbling landmark, of

Wait" screamed Lila. "WaitI Something is wrong!"
 Wrong decidedly. The horse on the left, swerving with fright at some ob- Ject-possibly the gaunt, rotting cara veis of Columbus-had covered down. had shied sideways. In struggling up the pole was thrown over his back. Frantic with terror at his efforts to free himself, he reared, heaved. plunged.
 Give me the reins!" cried the girl. "I'll hold them. You get out and lift the pole. Quick"
 There was no answer.
 She looked hastily around. Dildfne sat stirless. His face was ghastly. His heavy lower jaw had fallen. A bewil- dered terror glared from his set eyes.
 Quick" she cried again. "The reins!"
 They fell from his nerveless fingers. At the same instant the maddened beast freed itself from its unaccus- toned incumbrance, scrambled to its feet, and then-its furious fright com municated to it's mate-dashed wildly southward. Lila had grasped the reins was straining at them with all the vigor and tensity of her strong young body. But it would have taken more muscular arms than hers to have ar- rested that headaong flight. Then just as her grip began to relax ever so slightly-an obstacle ahead in the shape of a temporarily abandoned buggy-brought surge of fresh fear. Dlldlne saw it and scrambled to his feet. The next instant he had leaped. lie landed in mass of dank leaves at the roadside. And Lila-deserted- still holding fast to the reins - sat stone still, resolute, waiting for death.
 They were close upon the buggy now. Her arms seemed to be wrenched from their sockets. She shut her eyes. A prayer of her baby hood days came to her lips.
 Dear God" she began.
 Then she was dimly conscious that the speed was less rapid. The strain on her wrists was not so agonizing. She opened her eyes. Something black was hanging from the head of the horse on the left-was swaying back and forth.
 Fierce fear seized her for the first time.
 You will be killed!" she tried to shriek. You are mad! Let go! You will be killed!" But she knew that no word passed her dry lips.
 Ten t-ffteen-twenty!
 Snorting, sweating, trembling, tho conquered beasts stooo still. And the men who had risked his life to save woman's looked bewildered into that womans S face.
 "Lila!" he panted. "Lila-is 1t you?"
 He was covered with dust. His clothes were torn. His hands were bleeding. She dropped to the ground came and stood beside him. Her lips quivered. Still she could not speak.
 "I was wandering over there" he said, indicating the desolate fair grounds. "I often come here. I have no home, you know" The simplicity
  home-and but few friends. saw the runaway. I did not dream you were the woman. Who was with you2 Where is he?"
 She found voice fast enough then voice and indignant utterance.
 Burton Dildine was with me- And he jumped to save himself-the cowardi-
 Hush! Here he is nowi"
 He came up, begrimed as to at- tire, solicitous, apologetic, explana. tory. but unhurt-
 Lila turned from his self-exculpa- tory torrent of words with uncon. cealed disgust.
 Twill you take me home, Mir. Car endon7" she asked. They had to walk quite a distance to get a carriage. Lila noticed that several times he winced and hesitated She noticed, too, that he useu only his left arm in helping her into the ve- hicle. But it was not until-refusing 2 to come in and allow her father to l thank him-not indeed, until the next day did she learn that in his desper- ate struggle his right arm had been broken
 That he should act as her fathers secretary for some time to come was obviously impossible. But one may fancy that those days or helplessness which followed were the happiest Max 1 Clarendon had ever known. When Le was able to resume his duties he found that Burton Dildine was no longer partner of John Wills berg.
 "Papa bought out his interest" Lila explained. My father could not for give him-and I would not receive him."
 The routine of life seemed to have 1 settled down into its old groove. But withal there was a difference. Clar- endon was made much of y the mas ter of the house, who daily came to i depend more and more upon him. It