Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-11-15
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
FOLLOWED.

Really. Dear mep' said. What
was it," Esther laid her sketchbook
ON the table and threw or her cape.
1--WE been followed by a man.
"IIe didn't catch YOU" required.
Don't he silly" Esther replied. 81
tell you he followed me. I'll never
think of walking home so late again
alone"
How did you know you 1Vere follow
ed? Did YOU look ;Iround:'
"Of course 1 didn't; bur Il girl can tell
when any one is followi ng her"
''She can tell policeman" L sug-
gested. Esther reflected Il moment as
she drew off her gloves.
Yes. of course she said. "But the
poor man wasn't really doing any
harm, you know. SO thepe was moth
ing to tell-really."
Then why disturb yourself about
him."
"Oh, You can't understand how girl
feels said Esther. looking I-little an
noyed.
But" / said after pause, 81
thought you came home in Il cab
Prom the Marble arch,' said Es-
Their. Il couldn't endure it any longer.
/ walked as fast as l could, and he
walked just as fast. When L walked
slowly To let him pass. lie walked
slowly too. Twice 1 crossed to the
other side OF the street. And-wouid
you believe 1.-THE crossed too. sim
ply had to take 4 cab
1T was a close shave l Said-"vcry
close shave indeed" Esther looked 1t
me rather dOubtfully.
''But-do you think lie meant to do
anything she asked.
Well" / said, Il can hardly say,
without knowing his previous career.
OF course he might have been high
wayman. and, on the other hand-hellO,
Martin! Come in
Il beg your pardon said Martin.
halting in the doorway. Il thought
you were alone"
''All right" l said. Il was expecting
you. You know my sister. w; were
just discussing the possibility
George, don't" said Esther under
her breath.
the possibility" / continued, 'of
assault and battery and highway rob
DeIN upon an young WYNN
an. What do you think about it:
That's rather curious" said Martin,
sitting down. only this evening
have benin a senSe-prOtecting
female I'm distress. l was confronted
by n problem, and l should like your
opinion on it. Miss Matthews"
Martin looked ut Esther. who turned
slightly in her chair with an obviously
assumed air of interest. L can never
understand why Esther does not like
Martin, though / am quite certain she
doesn't.
Il spotted her" said Martin. hurry
ing along just i'll front of me. She was
lady, and l could see she was very
uncomfortable at being out so late
alone. 1t really distressed me TO see
her edging into the road to make way
for polite and inOffensive people.
When she heard a couple of men COM
ing along singing, she almost ran, and
then almost stood still to let them get
in front of her. Now, there was prob
lem for me-"
81 don't see that there was any prob
lem at ALL" said Esther, turning her
face a little more toward the fire away
from Martin.
Here was n girl" said Martin, "who
was frightened though there was really
nothing to be afraid of-so frightened
that she was running backward and
forward across the road whenever she |
saw any Que within thirty yards. |
Doubtless she was a silly little goose. |
But she was fellow creature, and as |
1 was going i'll the same direction it |
was my obvious duty to assure her of |
safety. The problem was how to as |
sure her. My first idea was to follow |
her until saw her safely at home. But |
then it struck me that she wouldn't |
know l was behind. and so should be |
doing her no good at all and giving my |
self 4 lot of trouble"
"You might" 1 suggested, "have call
ed cab and offered to give her lift"
Martin shook his head.
mo" said he, chat would never do. |
Do you think so, Miss Matthew'S
q really don't know anything about /
it." said Esther.
We'll" said Martin, this was my
solution: I determined to address her
respectfuIIy-telI her / had noticed her
assure her 1 was re-
in a house and served
on juries and all that-and offer TO
walk dozen yards behind her until
she reached her front door and then
leave her without speaking. What do
you think OF that!'
"You didn't do it," said.
mo" said Martin. Just as 1 had
nearly overtaken her lot OF rowdy
men came along. and she Jumed into a
cab. So l didn't bother myself any
further"
"What did she look like?" asked Es-
Their with her face still turned toward
the fire.
''Oh. like a girl" said Martin, Gust
an ordinary girI-with one of those
silly capes that girls wear"
l.. -. =. l.