Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-06-11
Polly smiled, though she heartily dis

Polly smiled, though she heartily dis
liked Fred's cousin.
you've been so thick with him l
thought you'd feel sort of ~disgraced-
or mortified anyway. I'm thankful I
was never intimate with him-gambler,
blackleg, theft"
"What are you talking about, Anna
bel?'
"Then you haven't heard-and they
trailed him here, arrested him and took
him away handcuffed-that fine Span
ish gentleman, impostor, fraud, you've
gone to such lengths with?" Annabel
laughed maliciously.
"And with whom any of you girls
would have been glad to go greater
lengths If he had looked at youi" Polly
flashed and marched on.
She was intensely shocked and-and
Fred had been right In his estimate Of
his position now; he would be more
autocratic than ever. She must assert
herself and break the engagement,
even If she az txward forgave him.
,es she fin -boarded the sne
recalled, with a throb of dismay, the
long country lane she would have to
traverse In the gathering dusk from
the trolley line to her old nurses
home.
The car was filed with suburban
laborers, and she did not notice a
square jawed young man who had
persistently but cautiously followed
her swing himself on behind, where
he presently appeared to be arranging
something with a rough but honest
looking man, who nodded and winked
knowingly as he pocketed a generous
bill.
Square jaws squatted on the car
steps out of sight; the other crowded.
Polly. She glanced at him anxiously
as the men dropped off one by one,
hoping he, too, would leave. But when
she alighted he sprang off and SLOUGH
ed away.
She looked doubtfully at the dark
ening road, half determined to go back
to the car, but discarded the idea with
a toss. Run away and turn right
around and u back, Polly Paget,
Well, l guess not, miss. l can sprint
like q deer, and in ten minutes I'll be
in Marjorie's Kitchen"
She caught up her skirts and skim
med away. stopping suddenly, with a
frightened squeal. The rough man
had stepped into the road before her
with an offer of his company.
mo, no! Thank you. I'm not-at-
all afraid!' cried Polly, with chatter.
Ing teeth. Even at that fearsome mo-
ment it occurred to her that this wal
to be expected. Runaway heroines al
ways have adventures. "But 1 never
meant to be In the dark, the girls him
dered me So" she moaned inwardly.
"Let me pass, sir" she demanded
striving to be naughty, but q~uayering.
woefully. N
II shall walk with you, miss" He
put a hand on her arm, and Polly
screamed wildly.
Some one dashed up, knocked the
impertinent fellow down with surpris-
ing ease, and she found herself cling
ing frantically to Fred.
"Why, Polly, darling! Is it posi-
ble?" he exclaimed, Stimulating great
surprise.
"Oh, Fred, Fred! l should have died
If you hadn't conner Polly painted
presently. "But how-how did you
happen to be here?'
"Oh, I've been out to see a man." he
said lamely. But, say, kittens, l want
to tell you that l was idiotcally jeal7
GUS of that Roderique fellow; that was
all. l was as much taken In as any
body. l only let on different because |
was jealous. l thought him the sure
thing and was afraid he might
"Oh, but he couldn't, Fred!" Polly
asserted, promptly forgetting certain
things. "And, Fred, l was running
away BECAUSE
Never mind, little girl Who cares a
hang? If anything's said on account
of your little Irritation with him, III
take the brunt of it. Yonder comes
the car. and Wen go home and ar
range our wedding" I