Warren sheaf., 1900-11-29
the little red squirrel crept still fur
ther beneath the old tree trunk.

toned figure, and revealed the dainty
feet and ankles. A jaunty cap was
7 set well back on her head. Beneath
it carefully adjusted tangle Of dark
|, auburn hair showed plainly by CON
trast against slightly sun-browned
skin. 5s 8
<Whir-r-r-r!" Along came another
cyclist. a man this time and sure
enough scorcher. But fast as he was
going, his quick eye noted the limp
tire and the almost equally limp fig
ure Of the young lady standing with
her back to him. Itseemed well-nigh
impossible that he could stop SO alb
ruptly, without danger to bones or
machine. Yet he did, and came trun-
ding his wheel back to where she
stood.
! "May I be Of any assistance? I
have a repair kit with 2 he began,
politely lifting his cap.
The girl spun around on her heels
and looked at him. s
It was then that he came to an alb
rupt pause.
4 There was silence Of almost full
minute as they gazed steadily into
one another's eyes. Perhaps E'glared'
would be a better word. But they
!; said nothing for this space. !.
The red squirrel had almost con-
cluded that he was once more alone
and able to pursue his nut t-gathering
undisturbed, when the sound Of
voices again warned him to remain
concealed. Il.
Il beg your pardon; I did not know
it was" began the man, coldly.
/ <No explanations are necessary,
sir" replied the young woman, in
tremulous tones. @s
| The accents of her voice somehow
seemed to embolden him, for he hesi-
tated no longer, but began to ran
sack the tool bag on his machine.
"May | ask what you intend do
ing?" demanded the girl, with some
asperity. !.
SSGoing to fix that puncture so
that you can ride home, at any rate,'' 2
he replied, calmly unwinding long
piece Of tire tape.
EENo, you're not"
eyes, I am" "a.
<.You're not.''
= Il am The man actually COM
menced to smile at her persistent dis
dain. 9$
Il shall call for help if you con-
tinue."
well, do SO if you wish. The road
is lonely one. Probably nobody will
hear you First time / ever heard Of
a young lady summoning assistance
to prevent man from repairing a
breakdown to her bicycle" #
The girl turned away to prevent
him seeing the coming tears. The
man kept on with his plugging and
wrapping. When. this was completed
he attached his hand pump and the
tire quickly resumed its original
roundness.
s"There you are, Mar excuse me
Miss Z he began, bitterly.
<<Thank you, Fred, she MUIR
INJURED, turning towards him with a
suspicious brightness in her eyes.
The man made hurried forward
movement, took the young lady in his
arms, and kissed her. She kissed
him, too.
q did not mean a word / said that
evening - she commenced, as soon
as he would let her. tall
q was in a most awful temper" !" he
interrupted. Let me put the ring
back on your finger again, and s
a loud rumble now made itself
heard and they had barely time to en-.
sconce themselves upon the hidden
tree trunk before q great brewery
wagon, loaded down with beer kegs,
went laundering past. The noise
completely drowned their further
conversation. When silence was
again restored they talked but little,
and then only in whispers. And yet
they sat together long while. u
When they did go they rode away
side BY side, and from the top Of the
culyert's S side-wal the little red squir-
rel watched them until they passed
from his sight, around the bend in the
road, and then began digging il the
ground. @
RI