The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-02
Hans Peterson's Romance
BY F. A. KORSMEYER.

Hank o Day drove to his ice wagon a pair
of high-spirted horses. One morning when
his wagon was empty his aesthetic instincts
lied him TO lay his route t.ck to the ice yards
along the street that ssirted the park.
Just as the chariot of fate was nearing HUI
da s home the chain at the back of the wagon
slipped and let the end gate drag upon the
ground Hank swore softly, stopped his team
and jumped to the pavement to fasten the
chain. He jerked it quickly through the iron
rings and then-swcre again as the team,
alarmed by the sudden noise, gaIIoped madly
down the avenue and made straight for the
nearest entrance to the park
The Mortified Hank stood still long enough
TO see the end gate banging out defiance.
Then he started after fast as his rubber
boots would let him run.
When officer James Daniels turned from his
faithful guardianship of bevy of smpering
nurse girls in the park, he coming toward
him at full speed pair of wild-eyed horses
and an ice wagon swaying from side to side.
Behind the seat of the wagon stood
trying desperately to get hold of the reins.
in an instant James recognized the waving
yellow hair and pale features those Of
Hans Peterson, and in the same moment, like
an inspiration there came to him the reati-
cation of his opportunity. He ran out into
the roadway and the flying wagon passed,
caught the chain of the end gate and swung
himself into the box.
AS he gained his 1eet the wagon sloWe0
suddenly, and he lurched forward to bring
up against the back of the sturdy Swede.
Selling him firmly by the collar, Officer
Daniels gasped:
81 arrest youth the name-of the laW!
Hans did not quite understand, but the
hand on his collar in the moment OF his sue
cess made him angry.
''Whad yo' say? Led me go!
81 say you are under arrest" James was
getting his breath again. This is against tho
law, you know
What is agains' ia law?'
"Driving traffic teams in the park Come.
you'll have 70 go with to the station
The officer tried to pull Hans out of the
wagon, but the latter still held the reins and
refused to go. In his broken English he
explained, he eXpostulated, he all but ex-
ploded. Another officer was approaching.
Come on now; drop those lines This
other officer will take care of your team
Hans dropped the reins and appealed to tho
other policeman. But the newcomer was in
different If Hans had been arrested, why.
of course he would have to go to the station
The magistrate busy when they ar
rived, and it was upon the officers recon-
.mendation that Hans allowed to go until
afternoon, when he would have his hearing
To have Hans released was the scheme James
had evolved. Hans would have to explain
where he wanted to go when he left the
house in the afternoon. Thus his employer
would learn all and Hans, at least disgraced-
might possibly lose his place. Would she
of the faXen hair and the wide, admiring
eyes hesitate any longer? James smiled AZ
he stro]ed back post
In the afternoon Officer Daniels, Hans Pc
terson, Hank O'Day and Mr.. Barton, the
man Hans worked for, came into court. The
officer told the circumstances OF the arrest
and dwelt at length upon the plain case OF
| violation of the city ordinances. Then Hank
| III;
| horses had become frightened. Hans took
| the stand and said he ''yust yump in da wag-
| on to stop i'd and finally Mr. Barton in
formed the court that Hans worked for him
| and had never driven an fee wagon in his
| life.
| The Judge turned to James again, and
! when the officer had nothing to say, began to
| talk himself He talked for quite a while.
and most of the time he addressed his re-
marks to Officer Daniels.
| When the butler had read to Fiulda from
! that evenings paper the account of the run
| away and the trial, what the judge had said
| to James and what he had said about Hans
| she went out into the kitchen and sighed AMI
| thought. That night Hans came and talked
long and earnestly, and as he talked tho
| fading gimmer of that fve-ponted star went
out, and naught remained for her but the
light in Hans Peterson's blue eyes.