The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-10-18
A GENTLEMAN IN RAGS
Iv,HIMNIINvI

vile, named after her father, was not
the handsomest girl In the village she
was handsome enough at least to in
spire sentiments In the hearts of half
dozen young men, not one of whom
happened to be around when the gold
en- opportunity came to make hero of
himself.
The river ran close to the Lee home
stead, and Miss Betty had boat and
was fond of boating. On this particu.
lar afternoon she started down the
river for romantic spot, where she
meant to tarry for couple of hours as
she read a new book. She landed In a
clump of willows all right, but had
scarcely drawn the boat ashore when
COW came wading across the river
straight for the spot. She was
hornless COW and had a humble
look, but to the girl she seemed to have
the expression of rhinoceros bent on
murder. There was Il struggle through
the willows until hiding place was
I found.
The COW landed and proceeded on
her way, but the maiden had hardly
breathed sigh of relief when another
danger menaced. A chunky hog of
two years growth had sought the shell
ter OF the willows to ponder and re-
fleet and sleep. The girl disturbed
him, and he put up bluff. He was
as harmless as kitten, but the bluff
worked. When he chanked his teeth
at her and made pretense of charging
she caught the lower limb of a big
willow and drew herself up.
Five minutes later, when the hog
moved Off and left the girl free to
come down she couldn't come. One of
her feet had got caught between two
limbs, and try as hard as she could
1t was impossible to extract it. 1t would
not have been difficult for young
man, but there is a difference which
sex Is up tree,
Miss Betty struggled until she real
lied that 1t was no use and then be-
gan to call for help. She was a mile
from the village and half mile from
the nearest farmhouse, and It was a
gloomy outlook. She did not scream
at the top of her voice, but neverthe-
less she had not been calling over Ave
minutes when she heard some one or
something approaching.
who is 1t and where are your"
asked a voice, and then the girl knew
that II was not the hog.
This way, up this tree" she replied,
wondering whose voice 1t was and
hoping 1t belonged to some steady old .
farmer who could be sworn to silence.
Her blood ran cold when she saw that
1t was stranger Not only that, but
a tramp. Sand and leaves were stick.
ing to his clothes to show that he had
been sleeping ON the ground. Com
Ing to halt five feet away he could
hardly see the girb roosting in the tree,
but he dotted his old cap and querled:
Am | mistaken In believing that
some one is up that tree?"
II am up here and can't get down.
My foot is caught in the limbs. Won't
You go to the village and get help to
release meg"
My dear young lady" replied the
tramp, after moments reflection 'Iet
us do nothing In n hurry. l left the
village an hour ago. The constable
said IL | returned he'd guarantee me
thirty days"
But what shall do?" asked Betty.
I'VE will first introduce ourselves.
That Is, | will introduce myself as vii.
liam Crawford. some time gentleman.
but later ON highway tourist Tony
intimate friends am Bill. That's me.
and who you are is no concern of mine.
Having landed you safely on the
ground, our paths will thenceforth di-
verge"
"But how will you release me?"
Il must climb the tree and see how
your foot Is caught before answering
that question"
Mercy on me! But can't let you
come up here"
Il realize the situation, young lady.
fully realize II. To reassure YOU Let
me say that we Crawfords are a curl.
Gus family. My great grandmother,
my grandmother and my mother all
climbed trees and got their feet caught.
All were rescued by strangers. Every
stranger turned out to be gentleman.
As Crawford l cannot forget what
owe to these other gentlemen"
"oh, why was | so foolish as to be
AFRAID OF that hog" walled the girl
You couldn't help It, You were born
that way The hog has departed, how
ever and now comes the other aues-
ton. Do YOU want to come DOWN.
"of course I do"
DO You want me 10 40 TO the vii.
lager"
"t-I-nuw
Then shan infer. my dear young
lady, that YOU have decided To permit
me 10 release you. l am here at the
foot of your tree. always climb
tree with my eyes ON the ground. Here
are the limbs heween which your foot
Is caught might not have been able
to release my own foot from the trap.
l have no knife with which to cut
away, but 10y swinging of on this lar.