The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-04-03

lnu, more than that. IN was travelling
alone. Though unchaperoned. she was
a Ion" passenger in the drawing
room ear that whirled her across the
prairies. Opposite her sat a young
EHrS whose appearance pleased her 1T
first sight. That he was 4 gentleman
She Immediately decided. He made no
opportunity to speak to her. There
were six or eight other passengers. all
more or less sociable. and, in II way
and another. all but the young man
came to make the acquaintance of
Miss Lawson before the first day Of
the journey ended.
After the very first glance at the
young nan the girl was puzzled. She
felt sure she had seen him before, and
she cudgeled her brains in vain to re-
member where and when. This i'm
preston grew stronger whenever she
stole a glance at him. and by and by
she was much vexed at herself for her
failure to recall him. II the truth
was known. she was a bit vexed with
him as we'll. II he wanted ON intro
duction he could have had it easy
enough, and that lie didn't rush to Sc
cure it rather piqued her.
Next morning after breakfast a
tough looking fellow, who was riding
In style for the first time in his life,
entered the car and a few minutes
later was ogling Miss Lawson and max.
ing himself obnoxious. The young
man opposite politely requested the
1ashy youth to desist and was prompt
~ consigned to a climate that is hotter
than this. He didn't go. He simply
took the disturber by the neck and
dragged him into the smoking car and
flung him into a seat with 4 bang
| That was the last Of the disturber
He didn't like the atmosphere of 4
drawing room car. Miss Lawson woult
have thanked the stranger. but he gave
her no opportunity. He simply return
ed to his seat and resumed his reading
as if nothing had happened.
That evening as the passengers left
the eating house where they had hat
twenty minutes for dinner" a COW
boy with a couple Of guns belted abou'
him and too much liquor within hin
freshly halted Miss Lawson and pre-
tended to recognize her as a Mis-.
Thompson. 1t was a lamentable fail
ure. He was picked up some way
somehow. and dropped off the platform
and the young mar who did 1t neve
even looked back to see II there was t,
be any shooting. He might have beer
thanked again if he hadn't been 81
busy with his own affairs.
THINGS were coming to a head. how
ever ut midnight that night the trail
was held up at a water tank. Their
We're five in the party of ruffians, ant
three Of them entered the sleepers ant
commanded passengers to "shell out.
The command was promptly obeyed II
the first tive ears. but the nan VIII
started to work the trick in the Idah
ran IN against a snag. The reserve,
young man brought out a gun and di'
some shooting. He went outside an
did some more. In fact. led by hin
the passengers rallied and killed tw
robbers and drove the others into tn
woods. Miss Edith Lawson was ~ o
the many ~passen.crs who offered he
hand in congratulation. and thus
came about that the two finally intro
duced themselves. When the strange
said that his name was Benny Hop
but that the public insisted on calm
him Tommy. the girl flushed up an
exclaimed:
"Why-why, there vas a Tomm
Hope at the interstate meet Of athlete
six weeks ago."
"Yes, l was there"
"And you j-jumped?"
II jumped, Miss lawson"
"And you-you s%printed?"
81 sprinted. Did you happen to /
there in person."
yves. and l told my chum, Isab'
DAVIS. that l hated athletes. II sal
that an old horse could beat you all
r running or jumping and that you.
you
''That l ought to be saving WOO
p~erhaps?" he laughed. well. I shan
= hold it against you"
t And he didn't. If he had, how cou
they he engaged ut the present tim
as announced in the society columns
1t is more than likely also that Mi
Edith has changed her opinions and
a warm champion of the "cause."