Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1911-06-17
Her Fathers
Heroine
By Lawrence Alfred Clay

1 y
fore when there was business to be
done in the city he delegated it to
his daughter, Faith. Even after she
had arrived at the age of twenty
and had been making shopping and
other trips for two years, the father
would call her before him when she
was ready to go again and say:
"Now, firstly, look out for your
purse. Secondly, if strange man
addresses you appeal to the nearest
policeman. Thirdly, beware of the
! policeman himself. Fourthly, if
there is an accident on the train keep
cool. Filthy, if any one attempts
to kidnap you, you bite and kick
and scratch. Sixthly, don't miss the
train coming back and keep us all
in a stew"
Miss Faith could repeat the in
structions forward and backward.
She always listened in humility and
always rejoined:
"Why, daddy, what can possibly
happen?"
GA million things can happen, and
you be on your guard against every
single one of them. You are the
daughter of Major Clavering. If the
occasion ever arises when you can
make heroine of yourself and don't
do it l shall feel like disowning you.
l guess that's all today, but you look
out"
Two long years and at least fifty
trips to the city and back, and yet
Miss Faith Clavering was no hero
inc. 1t was not her fault. She had
always been ready.
On this occasion she started off
prepared for collisions, pickpockets,
mad dogs, Black Handlers and all
other sorts of folks and things, but
at the same time she wasn't worry
ing. At two o'clock in the after
noon she had finished her errands
and was ready to take the subway to
the Grand Central station. Of
course the train was crowded. There
was a jam as she got off and anoth-
er ON the stairway and some one
twitched her purse out of her hand.
The supreme moment had come at
last. The girl gave a gasp, braced
up and turned to the man beside her
and seized his arm and firmly said !:
"You have my purse, sir, and if
you don't restore it l will give you
in charged
'You are mistaken, Miss" was the
reply.
81 am not. You just twitched it
out of my hand"
81 beg you to believe the contrary.
My hands have been in my pockets
to protect my own. I think it was
a rat of a boy who crowded between
u.s."
"Will you give up the purse?" de-
manded the girl as her face hard
ened.
MAY l present my card and iden-
tify MYSELF" was asked in reply,
and there was a smile on the young
mans face instead of look of worri-
ment.
A policeman who scented trouble
came strolling that way and Miss
Faith nodded to him and said:
"Officer, give this person in
charge! He has got my purseP
"Sure, Miss? ?" asked the bluecoat
after a glance at the prisoner.
81 am, sir"
Because, if you are not exactly
sure, you know"
"But / am"
"Then I'll take him to the station,
but you must come too and make
complaint"
81 assure you that you are making
grave mistake, Miss" said the
young man to his accuser, but he
smiled as he said so.
"l'm sure Pm not"
The officer and his prisoner rode
to the station in one taxi and the
complainant in another and the three
arrived together.
When they stood at the sergeant's
desk it seemed to the girl as if some
signal passed-some signal that
made the sergeant grin, but she