The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-01-28
By Horace zoIIars

had been reading stories IN the
wesklies about blase club men going
forth IN the streets and the parks Of
great cities looking for strange adven.
lures. In all these stories. even in
the most commonplace parts Of the
city adventure and romance invaria'
bly, Jumped out and greeted these mod.
ern knights arrant
Arter reading several OF these tales
Of adventure i became convinced that
the unexpected awaited on every cor.
ner aud in every ten-ceut lunchoom
Of the city. All that was needrul was
to keep ones eyes open.
An of these fiction heroes were rich,
blase clubmen. possessing good looks.
Immaculate clothes" and time TO
burn 80 they wished to dispose Of II
in that way. My position in lie is
different, In fact my position is that OF
clerk at the shirt counter Of depart.
ment store. But am called swell
dresser" by the girls Of my acqualnt.
ance. although have not acquired the
distinction Of being ''immacnlately
9arbed." on Sunday night ] am as
lelsnrely as the Idlest Of the idle rich.
and ] have invested in a cane, or
rather, walking stick. I would affect
even a monocle n were not afraid
that might run across some Of my
friends.
One Sunday night. therefore, I
sailed out in search OF adventure. In
the most approved knight errant style
wandered aimlessly until about ten
o'clock before chauce presented IT
self for daring deeds or gallant res
cues. was beginning to think that
perhaps had on the wrong colored tie
or maybe | did not look sufficiently
bored. when | spied a lonely maiden.
She was little and she had an appeal
ing and pathetic look as she darted
hasty glances mp and down the street.
Catching sight of ME. she hurried
toward me with a relieved expression.
oh. please. won't you walk with
me little way?" she said. II am
frightened forgot my purse and had
TO walk home and that big colOred
man across the street has been fol-
lowing me. think he's robber I'm
terribly frightened. stopped under
the light here. for | was afraid to 80
on into the dark streets"
Now in setting ont in search Of ad-
venture did not have a definite idea
of the ways and means of making a
gallant rescue Of distressed damsel.
I had vague idea that would say:
Pack. you cur Take that and that
that" being a right swing to the
point of the jaw. Wherempon the low
bred scnundrel would stink away dis
comflted and muttering curses"
looked across the street at the big
negro. and. 10. there was the villain OF
the piece all right. He looked the
part, but he did not look as II he
would back" or take that and that"
without generously returning the pres
emit thought perhaps discretion was
the better part of valor, and that duty
bade me remain by the side Of the
maiden in order to allay her fears.
told her that would wait with her
on the corner until the car came. and
then would see that she got home
safely
Finally when lazy car hove In
sight the girl told me that 1t was not
the right one, but would have taken
a hay wagon to get away from there,
for during the wait the burly negro
had stood ", itching us, probably plot
ting how best he could overcome me.
Explaining to the girl that ] had moth.
ing to defend myself with except my
light walking stick, suggested that
we take this car until we had left the
negro behind, when we could get OF
and wait for the proper one. This We
did, although by SO doing had 10 pay
an extra fare.
When the girl was free from the fear
of the negro noticed how attractive
and interesting she became. In fact ]
was looking forward to future &C.
uualntance based on the service had
that night rendered and was thinking
that my search for adventure was q
great success: but when we reached
her home there was greater fall than
that Of Humpty Dumpty.
Won't you come in?" she said. u
want to have my husband thank You
and pay you back the carfare." Both
OF which he did, thanking me lD
sonorous tones and handing me
nickel with great grace and impress
siveness. And that was the end of the
adventure.
But | have figured out since then
that In unnecessary car rides to and
from his house and in changing cars
had spent % cents; and he gave me
nickel.