The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1903-02-05
TWO
RESCUES.
BY EVAN Macpherson.
Success.

Az lHSt IL SeeLneu ludl Tue EItoNNt
suppleness and length OF limb had tri.
umphed; Norton was on top, the other
mans arms securely held down in the
snow But then arose the difficult
question how TO dispose Of this man
safely and yet humanely. II positions
had been reversed, Norton would have
been in perilous case; an evil light
was glaring out Of the two eyes that
met his, a reckless demon Of hate
against the whole world. Norton, on
the contrary. had no general grievance;
in particular he had no quarrel against
the stranger whom he held pinioned
in the snow. Only one person had
been in his thoughts as he came down
that lonely side street, and her he
would not have harmed for all that life
could afford. II had seemed, though,
that death would be for him happy
escape from the agony OF his meeting
with her that afternoon. finding her
so affectionately intimate with that
supercilious middle.aged Professor
Whats.his.name and his just resent
ment met with what sounded TO him
like a heartless sneer, and all this after
years Of absence in constant love and
hope. By all logic Norton ought TO
have been glad 10 let the man in the
peajacket get up and kill him, but
somehow his impulses had all been
changed by this chance meeting with a
fellow creature TO whom life seemed as
unbearable rs to himself.
The solution Of the problem how TO
release the desperate man came to
Norton when the painting still was
feebly broken by the distant voice of a
child calling. The man on the ground
raised his head, as If from force Of
habit, to listen. The voice came
nearer.
Papa. papa! Mamma wants you"
LET me UP. That's my KID
Norton jumped up delighted.
Papa! Mamma wants you to come
to her"
Here, Connie"
The man in the peajackct sat up on
the snowy curb. trying TO rid himself
Of the marks Of his rough-and-tumble
in the snow. Norton was picking up
his tall hat when little girl in a pink
frock emerged from the darkness Of the
street. The little girl appeared TO for
get that it was a cold night, and that
her black wooden shawl thrown over
her head was a very slender protection.
The shawl was trailing behind her as
she ran to her papa, and, sobbing,
threw herself into his arms.
"Oh, papa. she didn't mean 1t
mamma didn't mean for you to go
away and never come backl Won't
you come to her now, please, papa?"
Norton, brushing his silk hat felt
once more moved to laughter-perhaps
not the laughter Of a merely humorous
appreciation, but still laughter Taught
by his late experience, he moderated
his laugh to a hardly audible chuckle,
and then, as that excited no fresh out
break on the part Of Comics papa, he
spoke up;
"Yes. Connie"-hc had caught the lit
tic ones name-'papa's going home.
But you mustn't catch cold, little girl.
Herew.
He was taking of his own overcoat
to throw over the child when her
fnther, still sitting in the snow hugging
her to his peajacket, looked up and
caught him in the act.
"If you take Off that coat, you'll
catch your death of noomony, mister,
he said.
II shall not have time FOR that, part
ner. Why not? Because I'm going Il
send you home with Connie while I gC
the other way" He nodded in the di
rection Of the river. II have no home
where I'm wanted, and no little girl t.
run about in the snow looking FOL
me-"
Connie looked up at him over he
papa's shoulder. "Ain't you got-no
body at all?"
Nobody at all, Connie. Here, let M
see If the coats too long for you"
: Her papa rose and gathered up tn
/ trailing black shawl. run on home
baby" he said, wrapping 1t tight abou
; her. run on now. just as fast as yOl
! can, and tell mamma I'm coming RICH
/ away-soon as get through talkinl
} to this gentleman on business"
; Norton took something out OF hi
pocket, stopped. and transferred tn
S something to Comics Hand, whisper
2 ing to her, and she. after one puzzle
= stare, disappeared up the street. II
, Hooked after her a moment. and Their