Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-17
Observation-Disclosures,
| A PAY NIGHT
| LOVE FEAST
By c. &. DINGWAIL.
CopYR1GnT, 1901, by C. Z. DIScwALL.
CopYR1Gnr, 1901, by C. Z. DISGwALL.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
lie gathered himself together ana
pushed off, and Barbara and Arson
watched him. Looking up the street,
they saw that the mob had started. and
the noise sounded nearer Barbara
thought of 1mrie alone In their power.
She knew he was always in the office
late on pay night, helping the book
keeper close the pay rolls. He would
pay no attention to the noise of their
coming. putting it down to an ordinary
pay night rout until it would be too
late to seek safety In fight. Some
means must be found to acquaint him
of his danger, and that quickly. There
was a short cut to the office through
the fields by which Il person could ar
rive there before the mob that was TAX
Ing the longer road. She appealed to
the man standing beside her with per-
feet confidence that she had only to
give the word and be obeyed.
"Air. Anson," she commanded. run
down and warn him''-and added am
biguously, "for me. You can cut across
lots to back Of the boarding camp and
get there before them"
"Why-er'- began Arson, suddenly
aroused from his speechless interest in
the doingsof theapproachingmob. ooh.
don't suppose there is anybody down
there at night"
"He always Is in the office on pay
nights. l saw him go down after sup
per. and he has not returned"
"Imrle, you mean? He probably
passed by, and you did not recognize
him Don't you think so?'
"No; I'm sure Of it,
But l have never been down that
way, you know; and anyway" Us a
happy thought struck him, there are
the canal police. They will surely be
able to take care Of the matter. Be-
lieve me, Miss Elwell, there Is no dam
ger"
A sad thing indeed is the abrupt re-
alization by woman that her escort
Is not the most courageous man in the
world and ready at all times to brave
the terrors Of the dark and of unknown
dangers for her sake. She could find
no words for an answer, and inwardly
she wanted mostly to.cry. But her lip
curled with IN expression Of the scorn
and contempt she could not utter, and
she darted into the house; not, how
ever, before he had seen and translated
the look she had given him.
Hooting, yelling and swearing, the
crowd came on, only intent on the pur-
pose they had in view, and paying no
heed to the citizens who looked on
from behind their gates. Arson drew
back toward the house and watched
them. He heard the door slam, and.
turning, he saw Miss Elwell, with n
macintosh over her shoulders, and her
fingers nervously pinnlng felt hat
to her head She stepped from the
veranda and ran across the lawn.
"Stop, stop!" he called, but not so
loud as to be heard by the men on the
street. stop, I'll go. Come back!'
He ran after her.
The clamor drowned his voice, and
she disappeared In the darkness. He
hurried after her as far as the break
in the fence that opened into the fields
beyond, but no sight or sound Of her
rewarded him. "Afiss Elwell" he call
ed hoarsely, Miss Elwell!" No reply,
and finally he retraced his steps slowly
and continued on toward the town.
Soon the train carried him back on his
return home from the last visit he
ever made to DR.. Elwell's house.
Out on the fiat prairie the girl ran
with all speed. The office light was
her guiding beacon. There an intend
ed victim of drunken mob sat alone
and unconscious of danger, and she
must save him.
The noise Of the mems progress came
more family to her ears as she d.
verged from their route. Farther up
the canal the night shift was at work
and there was light in plenty, but
everywhere else was the gloom of a
wet night. Somewhere near the
boarding camp quartet of negro
voices and the tinkle Of string instru-
ments pointed out the location OF a
that and the sound Of working ma
chinery coming softly from the scene
of the night shifts operations and the
mob's indistinct growl all was still as
death. Net seeing danger to herself
she did not realize its presence. But
fortunately, this being pay night,
these places Of abode were untenanted
just then, and she was not confronted
with the danger that their presence
would cause.
The unwonted exertion exhausted
her, and she had to stop for breath.
The memory of cruel words spoken in
thoughtless moment required to her
again and again and caused shifting
Of her conscience out Of all proportion
to the enormity Of the offense, and
each time it urged her on to renewed
frantic endeavor that she might not
be too late to ask his forgiveness.
Only that she might have strength to
take her to him In time so she could
have an opportunity to let him know
she was sorry and repentant and hear
him say in reply that he forgave-that
was oil she craved. If she were too
late? A suggestion Of his possible fate
foated over from the road at louder
spasm Of snarling from the men, ana
she cried aloud in an agony of despair.
The music sounded nearer. The
buildings Of the boarding camp doomed
up on one hand. She would have to