The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-05-31
An Unfortunate
Sltuatlon
By JOHN TuRNLEE
Copyright by American Press Assoc
clatian, 1911.
By JOHN TuRNLEE

thor Mothers are less apt to take
definite ground with regard to Their
daughters, especially men friends, and
the only opposition to my being de-
voted to Phoebe came from her III.
Their. Mind you, | was not engaged I'd
her was not sure that | wished to
be engaged 20 her, and she had moi
indicated that she wished to be en-
gagged to me, This matter OF love is
usually considered as something that
comes sVddsnly, turning couple
from indifference to a Wild passion
| for each other. | admit that there are
many such cases, but mine was not
one Of that kind
| One day Phoebe wrote me note
! suggesting that il had nothing spe.
cial on hand for the evening I'd bet
! ter come to see her. | did 50 and
found that her father had gone on
business to neighboring town and
| would not be at home before IL
| o'clock. IL there is anything needed
| to bring about love affair it II some
thing clandestine. The fact that
Phoebe had sent for me to be with
her while her father would know
nothing about 1t inspired me with a
more tender feeling for her, Indeed,
1t opened the bud Of love. For the
first time in my life ! put some
warmth into my words and bearing
toward her and received correspond
ing response When left her felt
that we had made beginning In q
new relationship.
Mr.. Constant kept a large dog on
his premises which was unclaimed
every night at 10 o'clock. Not wish
ing to make my presence during Mr..
Constants absence especially known
among the servants, / did not suggest
any delay In enchanting the dog. in.
tending to leave just before 10 o'clock.
AT five minutes before 10 | said good
night to Phoebe-no kiss; | hadn't got
TINT far, only pressure Of the hand
and started down the walk leading to
the gate. / hadn't gone more than
half way before / saw black mass
moving In another part of the yard
and knew 1t for the dog. was about
ten steps from tree, which | reached
in FIVE long ones and, making The jump
of my life, caught branch and drew
myself up to a safe place. qG 8
Either my watch was wrong or the
dog had been let out ahead of time.
IT did not matter which was the case.
was a prisoner in tree near walk
along which Mr.. Constant would pass
when he came home IL the dog had
barked Phoebe would have heard him
and suspected that was IN trouble.
But he did not utter a single growl. |
saw no way to attract the attention of
any one In the house, and as to com
ing down into the jaws of the fierce
brute below me, it was not to be con
sidered. When he found he couldn't
reach me he simply lay down and
waited
MY position was unpleasant in more
respects than one, That first sweet
passion Of love which had entered by
blood | found delicious. ! knew that
Il young woman about to enter upon
love affair is very sensitive TO any no.
bic or ignoble attitude the man in the
case may occupy. / dreaded to be
caught by her father upon a tree like
a THIEF, guarded by a watchdog. 1t
was contemplate position for me
and would place Phoebe in an un-
enviable attitude with regard to her
father, indicating that she had re-
ceived me clandestinely during his alb
sence.
Ii ! could only think of some in
genious way to escape the dog or, bet
ter yet, some daring stroke TO over
come him / might not only avoid los
Ing prestige, but gain 1t. I looked |
about me for a means of escape. The
trees were very thick, but toward the |
gate not thick enough TO admit of my |
passing from one to the other and out |
Of the grounds. Toward the house the
prospect looked more favorable. |
determined to try It, Better be caught
like burglar than n sneak thief.
BY climbing from branch to branch |
and making some desperate leaps, the |
Dog following me, ] finally gained the
'oof of the house. When J got there
couldn't get back, for the limb from
which ] dropped, relieved of my
weight sprang upward beyond my
each. | found myself In sort of
'oof pocket directly in front of win.
low.
1t seemed to me that / had not i'm.
proved the situation. had got rid of
he dog, but had been cornered on the
oof. In any event must stay where
was till relieved by human help. /
heard train come In at the station
lalf mile away, and in about twenty
Mr.. Constant came In at the
rate aud spoke to the dog. / rejolced
hat dogs can't talk and this one
ouldn't give me away. Then the
ront door closed, and the next devel-
pment was Il bright light in the win.
low before which / was standing and
rom which could not move. And
What was my horror to see Mr.. Con.
tant beginning to disrobe
He advanced at once to draw down
he shade and seeing man on the
arrow ledge Of the roof outside the
was about 70 turn FOR soma
7sapon for defense rher. placing rnv
acs against pans, implored him