The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-02-27
HANS
PETERSON'S
ROMANCE
BY F. A. korsmeyer
Copyright, 1908, by the
s. S. Mcclure Company

quite decide which one she loved best.
Hans, she had to confess. had some ad.
vantages which weighed with her. Mr.
Barton, the man who owned the place
across the street, was particular about
his furnace man, and she knew he
liked Hans. Besides, Hans could speak
Swedish, and she couldn't deny that it
was pleasant to talk with him in the
accents of the dear old home she had
left so far behind
But whenever his plain open counte-
nance, with the blue eyes twinkling be-
low the yellow hair, was pictured in
her mind she blamed him for being a
little too ordinary. She could see a
dozen such any Sunday in the little
Swedish church. Now, with a man who
wore long blue coat with five point
ed star on the front of it and carried a
mahogany club it was different. No
one who looked at him could fail to see
that he, being part of the govern
ment, was superior to the common run
of men.
James had told her that he was "the
right arm Of the law" and she had
looked her admiration. She had known
him almost as long as she had Hans,
and he was so good to her. On Sun
days in the park he would get her a
seat close up to the bandHtand. Then
when the concert was over he would
buy some peanuts, and together they
would stroll through the part Of the
orl> hot lod A.
grass stuck up all over it. OF course
he could 60 anywhere.
James knew that II ms was his rival,
for one Saturday night he had come to
see Hulda and had found Hans there.
Hulda had said:
"Hans, this is Mr.. Daniels"
And Hans had said, 81 am war glad
to see you," while James had mumbled,
''How dye do?' and then sat scowling
at the sink all the rest of the evening.
After that James never came on a
Saturday. He asked to be shifted to
another platoon, so that he could do his
calling on Monday or Tuesday nights.
Hans did not change his night, and so
they never met at Huldas home again.
Indeed James took so little pains to
cultivate Hans acquaintance that he
never even learned what his rival did
for living. And this disdainful indif-
ference proved costly in the end.
How Hulda would have learned to
know her heart had not Hank O'Day,
the iceman, set in motion a fateful
train of circumstances one cannot even
guess. Hank did not know Hulda. He
does not know her to this day. And
yet it was none other than Hank who,
all unknOwing, unmasked her hearts
desire.
Hank O'Day drove to his ice wagon
pair of high spirited horses. One
morning when his wagon was empty
his aesthetic instincts led him to lay
his route back to the ice yards along
the street that skirted the park.
Just as the chariot of fate was near
ing Hulda'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 ierled it quickly through
the iron rings and then--swore again
as the team, alarmed by the sudden
noise, galloped madly down the ave-
nue. 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 the
runaways as fast as his rubber boots
would let him run.
When Officer James Daniels turned
from his faithful guardianship of a
bevy of simpering nursegirls in the
park he saw 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 man trying desperately to get
hold Of the reins.
In an instant James recognized the
waving yellow hair and pale features
as those Of Hans Peterson, and in the
same moment, like an inspiration, there
came to him the realization Of his op-
portunity. He ran out into the road
way and as the flying wagon passed
caught the chain of the end gate and
swung himself into the box.
AS he gained his feet the wagon
slowed suddenly, and he lurched for
ward to bring up against the back Of
the sturdy Swede. Selling him firmly
by the collar, Officer Daniels gasped:
II arrest you-in the name-of the
laww
Hans did not quite understand, but
the hand on his collar in the moment
of his success made him angry.
"Whad yo' say? Led me go!'
II say you are under arrest" James
was getting his breath again. ''This is
against the law, you know"
"Whad is agains' da lawY'
Driving traffic teams in the park.
Come. you'll have 10 go with me 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