The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-27

Charlie Ransom had no real hope that
Providence would give him an Oppor-
tunity to rescue Lucy Elmer from dead
ly peril when he began his practice of
following her unseen on her way at
night through the Bohemian Flats. He
was I'm love with her, so he watched her
for the ease of his own heart; and he
watched at a distance because she had
(, hidden speech on that one topic, and
it was so hard TO think OF any other
topic in her presence that acceptable
conversation became a difficult art. The
Bohemian Flats We're not really danger
Gus, but they came as near TO being a
slum as anything that RivertOn had yet
been able TO achieve. That was why
the social settlement to which Lucy
had enthusiastically attached herself
had been located in that district. From
z TO on Saturday evenings Lucy
taught a class of citiZens-in-the-m max
ing how 10 "spik Inglis'' in a nearby
night school. and then she walked back
TO the Settlement house. where she
lived. Her procedure was so regular
that Charlie had little difficulty in tim
ing mis- own Saturday evening engage
ments so as to permit him to perform
his escort duty systematically.
So far nothing had ever happened to
give him the excuse for making his
presence known, which, of course. had
been a dramatic background to his
thoughts, but on this muddy Saturday
evening Fate was brewing, Just as
Lucy approached a building whose un-
common cheerfulness and cleanliness
proclaimed il a saloon, the door swung
open and half dozen men, in a noisy
alteration, burst out directly in her
path and seemed to engulf her. Charlie
had a college record as a sprinter, and
the way in which he crossed that mud
dy street did credit to his record. Lucy
was really half a dozen steps beyond
the crowd when he reached her, but he
was so blinded by the vision his imag-
ination had cOnjured up that ne was
not exactly in a condition to take OBJ
servations with scientific calm. He
came swiftly up behind her and thrust
his hand protectingly within her arm
At the unexpected touch she jumped
and gave a little scream. and instantly
one of the big Bohemians behind them
wrenched Charles hand away and
swung him around with a violence that
all but sent him to his knees in the
gutter.
"A teach you" he said aggressive
ly, preparing TO continue the lesson.
But Lucy screamed again
'Oh. Jake! It's all right. He's a
friend OF mine. Don't hit him."
He mex you fraid," Jake said, sus-
piciously.
'Oh. didn't know who it was. He
didn't mean to brighten me. He is a
good friend"
Jake released his grip on Charles
collar regretfully.
IF he mex bother you. you YELL" he
said, Cautionins Lucy. while he still
cd
far away"
'Oh, thank you, Jake, but you needn't
mind I'm sure he's all right Lucy
said earnestly.
She went on a little hastily. and
Charlie. released by Jake, fell into step
beside her. He did not offer his arm.
Neither did he speak. The atmosphere
seemed just then too highly charged for
speech. But when he made out that the
convulsive tremors which shook Lucy's
slight frame were suppressed giggles.
his wounded dignity could no longer
suffer in silence.
stifrly.
The giggles rippled up in irresistible
and irrepresstble laughter.
oh, Charlie!' she gursled "Oh,
Charlier'
Il always said that I would never
marry a woman VINO lacked a sense of
humor," Charlie said, quickly recover
ing his customary poise.
Don't be absurd
Il won't. My ambition in that direc
ton is temporarily satisfied"
She gurgled again. But wasn't il
funny2 Jake in the role of rescuer. and
YOU the dark and skulking villain Of
the piecei l never before quite believed
your story Of being once arrested for a
three-card monte man. out now 90.
see just how II fits into your charac-
ter"
1T is well to know the worst before
hand"
Where did you come from?" asked
Lucy pointedly. ignoring the signifi-
canoe Of his beforehand"
The other side of the street" Ne
looked ruefulIy at his patent feathers.
But how did YOU happen to be in
this neighborhood? %
y wonder"
You are looking uncommonIy dan
difled tonight" she hurried on. Tending
or the emotion that had suddenly
Surged into his voice
I am going to make a call. On
very charming lady"
"Oh, People do still make calls in
the world of fashion which YOU repre-
sent. don't they? They don't on the
Flats The. custom is one OF the things
that differentiate the civilized man
from the savage. 1t shows that he has
come to iiealize human intercourse and
10 surround il with halo of ceremony
end good Clothes
oh, Lucy, can't you see that you are
wasted over here? Jack may have his
good points, hope am not mean-but
You know he wouldn't understand you
when you talk like that