The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
A RAIN OF SHOES

Them ~ he asked deferentially enough.
but though he lowered his mead, she
caught tieeting glimpse OF the edge
of a smile.
"B-r-r-r-r-," the door bell rasped
shrilly, inststently.
Incertainls. they glanced at each
other like guilty conspirators, ana
the young man promptly gathered a
grain OF comfort from the helpless
appeal of those very blue eyes.
BJ dove, Susie be broke out
With boytsh impetupusuess. I'm sure
it's policeman"
"Ponceman!" she voiced the word,
ana suddenly lost her frozen dignity.
She had all womans horror oL-the
clutch of the law What can he
want? ~ ou go" she begged.
Let's both go, he suggested
i"
"B-r-r-r-r-r"" the impatient bell
called. and a bury policeman forced
his bulk through the door.
The young man gave an almost
theatrical start OF surprise. You 20
no breathed.
SO, my man, you thought you
could hide here" clustered deep,
cultural voice but it's no go. You
Just come along with me, OF
With a fierce scowl, which did not,
however. obscure The say twinkle in
his eyes, he raised his baton threat
eningly.
what have done. Mr Police
man 20 inquired the young man with
surprising meekness
II Gile..s- a4li-4i Il rsoorr enough
AT headquarters staggered the
other, you'll have To tell good
and plenty whose the swag Is. and
yoE'll find out YOU can't knock an
officer down ana take to your heel.
tur 1toth1ng
I'm sure" came the meek apology,
AS Ernest placed each shoe with I'M
studied tenderness on the center table,
/ Il dion't intend to hurt you, | just
| ran to get ahead Of you in picking
up her--these--''
1 That's don't go so easy the big
mfn answered. with what seemed ~
Susie unbeatable brutality. "Dout
( be a-rattin' those down, pick 'em uI,
/ and come along
! Suddenly the girl realized that she
was the leading lady in the play.
With eyes that flashed, despite tn :
faced the officer. -.
Those boots are mine, cir. and he
/ wasn't stealing them.
I The policeman broke into loud
( laugh as he caught the young mans
! expressive glance.
/ ITS awfully kind of you. miss. to
try and help fellow out Of his scrape.
ftNlt II don't go down With an old one
| like me Too bad you couldn't have
/ picked greener policeman
I y onre mean man." she. cried.
/ white anger dried and FURNISHED her
eyes Those are my boots. every onc
/ Of them, and III prove it
without ceremony she dropped the
/ a n.seea. who s.a 'ked. back arehetl,
to the doorway end then majesttcally
| disappeared The girl, with nne
uHcrnsciousnes of the uncunven-
/ sionai scene, slipped her little silk
fitted enc one slipncr after another,
! eacsaitning in unrestrained triumph.
Thvre and there. and there! Now
! are YOU satisfied 80 she dem sEded
suddenly. flashing look of whitening
sJcrn In the 1filae,'s direction.
II. or. no. stammefet the MIG
1 nan. bose A. 4 IN for the moment
Lrsnl rev bill which had found its
way Into his hanj s!f.ee h. cha. te
~. sttinf that AZ Ar9',o with Ernest.
That IL miss ~ course, | - ,eve
the,re yours. Net many AIDES in
t,.is town coi'i war suru sm'i'
| aneSt He he 1T his huge bofr INTO
w1at was intenI,s3 for a gallant Low
But lis fellow hasn'+ an he y eve
'.ef.-he don't los ne straight in TIE
face. He'll have TO go to jail"
Don't you touch him. you stupid
/ Indignation almost choked her but
she continued brapelNi He's no thief
on. don't you understand? Those are
my boots. and they fell out of my
window. and he picked them up be-
ause--because---" She looked up into
the young mans face for encourage
ment. and found something that
thrilled her heart with joy and EN-
bofdened her to finish, because
everything that is mine belongs 70
him