St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-02-12
BY THE GRACE OF A RED HAT.


nery-all crimson velvet, peacock
breasts and glittering buckles
Edith Harlowe, stepping from the
elevated train, paused for a farewell
glance in it's direction. The next in
slant there came fierce tug on her
belt. Then something strong and con-
yincing clasped her waist. Vaguely she
felt that her feet were dangling in
space. Then she heard Mortified cries,
and finally she realized that she had
been dropped unceremoniously upon
the seat nearest the door, with a crowd
of curious people pressing upon her.
ooh, the poor thing, she's going to
faint"
Edith drew herself up defiantly, only
to drop back instantly into a more limp
and comfortable position, and the
downtown terminus was reached be-
fore she felt equal to walking. A faint
peach blow tint crept into her face as
she approached the young guard who
had SO pluckily come between herself
and death.
"This is one of the times, don't you
know, when one can't think of pretty
speeches. 1t was all my fault-and-
and if you had not She shuddered
suggestively. "Please give me your
name-and my uncle will thank you
better than | can. Perhaps he''-
One glance at the guard, and the
words died on her lips The young fell
low was looking into her eyes with an
air which would stamp any suggestion
of reciprocal favors as an insult.
"My name is Larry Creston, and l
would be pleased to meet your-er-
uncle. Harlem? Yes, am"
And as he assisted a heavily laden
Italian into the train Edith turned
away with a bewildered feeling that
she had been dismissed, but not dis
courteOusly.
In the great commercial world where
she was but a clerical atom the ka-
leidOscOpic life tumbled madly on
without reference to hairbreadth es-
capes, and it was quite late in the aft
ernoon before Edith found time to
scratch off the following note:
Dear Uncle John-You have always said
that when you could be of assistance to
me l should feel free to call upon you.
Now, | have a real favor to ask. This
morning your needless niece was saved
from a shocking, If not fatal, accident by
the quick wit and ready arm of a guard
on the Ninth Avenue L. He impressed
me as being somewhat above the ordi-
nary. l know that from your point of
view I am rather a useless member of So
ciety, but still if you agree with me that
l was worth saving, will you try to place
this young fellow in a line more suited to
his abilities? Your pull dear uncle, is
unquestioned. Will you kindly attach
yourself to one Of the numerous strings
and oblige your appreciative if somewhat
obstinate niece, EDITH HARLOWE.
P. S.-His name is Larry Creston.
For a week Edith heard nothing
from her note. Then one noon she met
her uncle rushing from his favorite
cafe, and she walked at his side to the
elevator door.
"Well, Edith, I've seen your hero.
First rate fellow, and, strangely
enough, I've had some business deal
ings with his father. They live out in
Ohio, and the boy, fresh from college,
came here imagining that New York
would be at his feet. Instead he soon
found himself on his uppers, glad to
take the first thing that opened up and
too proud to write home for help"
"Um-umw murmured Edith. "And,
what is more to the point, do you in
tend to help him"
John Harlowe smiled into the pi-
quaint face of his niece.
"In good time, Miss Independence.
I've several things in line, but he's at
least safe where he is. Long hours
and exposure won't hurt him. He's
tough as a pine knot-was member
of his college eleven
81 guessed as much" acquiesced
Edith, with smile.
"Eh? Why" inquired Mr.. Harlowe.
"Have you seen him since"
mo, but l guess he did not tell you
just how he saved my life. Tve-well,
I've felt that tackle"
She disappeared in the elevator, leay-
ing her uncle chuckling by the cigar
stand.
At rare intervals Edith made her ap-
pearance at her uncle's dinner table.
Her acceptance of such an invitation
was usually the occasion for christen-
ing new gown. But on this particu-
lar evening she could extract no COM
fort from the fact that the chiffon ap-
plique on her bodice had been purchas-
ed at bargain. Neither did she care
about meeting the rising young novel
list who was to occupy the seat on her
aunt's right. The first breath of spring
was brooding over the great city. The
office had been musty and close. The
columns of figures had danced like
mad, gaunt dervishes before her eyes.
Her aunt had lust confided to her