Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-10

Look" he gasped. Look; there's one
of 'em nowl'
Toms eyes followed the pointing finger,
but saw only stout, middle-aged woman
Shes goin' to get on faltered Palmer,
she's got me nowi'
NO, she hasn't" retorted jackson; here,
| stand up!'' dragging him into the aisle,
go out the other door-hurry!''
When the train had puffed out from the
little station, Palmer's fitful courage re-
turned. go on, DUN ye,'' shaking his fist
at the recedng train, there's one dunn
critter out of my way, anyhow"
He peered anxiously about him, in every
direction.
Can you walk two miles? It's an easy
road"
Sure thing Tom responded heartily
'I'll enjoy it,
They walked for few minutes in silence
Tom occasionally glancing down at the
strange figure at his side, with feeling
of amusement, curiosity, and compassion.
were coming to the store, and some on
EN- may be in there. I'll keep this side OF
YOU, he added when on the opposite side
of the road land walk close to the fence
and bein' disguised
His half-whispered words ended shrilly
as a portly lady rose suddenly on the other
side of the fence, saying In evident sur
prise, why, good-evenn,' Brother Pal
mer, you're quite a stranger. Coin to"
Get along-fast!" gasped Palmer, grasp
ing Jackson's arm with nervous clutch.
Tom threw his arm backward and across
the older mans shoulder, and helped him
along. He was becoming anxious concern
ing his strange companion. What crime
had this seemingly inoffensive old man COM
mitted, that he was thus terrorized at being
recognized in his native village?
She amt one on en-" Palmer painted,
looking backward with the furtive glance
of a fugitive, but she aids and abets EN-.
She's the parsons wife"
Around curve in the road came hand
some farm wagon, drawn by two fine-look-
ing horses. and containing a man and. a
woman and several children. Palmer watch
ed them as they passed
Il brung them bosses up from colts"
drawing his sleeve across his eyes.
rs that the man who rented your
farm?''
rig in the country-kinder hard, Mr..
Jackson he breke down, sobbing like a
hurt child
Never mind said Jackson, cheerily.
Il fancy that man is kind to animals
IF l thought he want" desperately,
I'D drag him off that seat. and wipe
the road with He stopped and half turned
as If seeking another way. There's one
of EN- COMM, in a frightened whisper,
"and nowheres to so to-
For heavens sake. Palmer" Tom ex-
claimed impatiently. "one might think you
had seen ghost. That's only woman
not fat one, either" humorously recalling
the massive proportions of the two women
they had already seen.
She's the wust of the lot,'' walled
Palmer; that's Ann Baxter, and she can
run like-like a deer
Jackson looked at the tall, angular
figure approaching. and accepted the as
Sertion. Her calico skirt was plain and
scant. and barely of ankle length. Her
feet were encased in broad shoes with
elastic cores set in at the tops.
IF she can't rum" Tom thought APP
preciatively. lit isn't because her prog
ress is impeded by the length or fullness
of draperies about her running geari"
Half supported by Jackson, Palmer
shuffled along, his head bent forward,
his fingers nervously clutching the front of
his il-fitting coat.
Miss Ann Baxter was almost abreast of
them when, before Tom could divine her
intention, she stepped resolutely past him,
and caught the shrinking Palmer by the
coat.
Hold up your head Abner Palmer" she