The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-02-24

not DlOWDehl utI uIdlu any longer
into taking enough interest IN the de-
tails connected with her department
to satisfy the patrons of the paper,
who delighted in seeing their impor-
tanoe magnifled in print, When she
first started in 10 report for her paper
she had felt a keen delight In her
work, and was indefatigabe in her eff
forts to give satisfaction Five years
of the grind, however, had dissipated
the halo which rested upon the brow
of the newspaper woman. The
chronicling of trivial details had be.
come a loathsome and wearisome task.
Jack was right when he said that
all Chicago had TO offer could not
compare with the freedom of western
ranch life" she soliloquized, ITO think
OF my having had the nerve to try to
compel him to give 1t all up for an un-
familiar and uncongenial existence
here, because, forsooth, preferred
Chicago as a place of residence! How
well remember his sensible and
manly answer:
"T cannot leave Oaklands, Sibella, |
owe all am. or ever will be, to my
grandfather who is the dearest old
boy in the world. 1t would break his
heart to have me leave him. / must
stick to the ranch. II does seem to
me, dearest, that you might be happy
there. It really is something of
place, II do say IT,
well, | have had my way-I am
newspaper woman, and have my
Chicago tbless itD, and some other
girl better worth having will marry
or has married, who knows?-the only
man ever could care for. ought to
be satisfied, but | am not. | long for
a Whit of air from that selfsame de-
spised ranch, and chance to rest my
poor, over-worked, idealess brain. II
feels as empty of gray matter as my
hat. / declare, | would prefer to
churn, make butter, or even milk the
cows this morning, to doing my usual
stunt"
When Miss Graham boarded the car
she found every seat occupied She
was a slender creature-almost too
slight for her lofty ambitions, as Jack
had often told her in their university
days Strange that, Notwithstanding
their intimacy, she had learned so lit !
tie about him or his circumstances. !
Clutching a strap, she stood swaying
this way and that with every motion
of the car, her dark eyes somber with
the fear of what the day might bring |
forth. Suddenly she became conscious |
Of some one tugging at her skirt /
Turning, she looked into the eyes Of
an old man with a bright and joviai
countenance, who indicated, by a mo-
ton, the seat he had vacated,
Now, although Miss Graham had al |
ways felt it incumbent upon her to
offer her seat TO aged persons Of either /
sex, she understood human nature .
we'll enough to know that it would be
an unkindness on her part not to ac-
cept a courtesy so graciously prof
fered. And who could call him old
whose silvery locks belied the ruddy
cheeks, the clear, bright eyes and
beaming countenance which conveyed
to her mind an impression of eternal
youth? Seldom was such face seen
on a Chicago street car. The old man
was chatting genially with his COM
panions.
You're all right as long as you're
with me, boys. My boy, out in Iowa,
told me to look out for them bunco
chaps, but pshaw! they can't sell me
no Masonic temple" with a knowing
chuckle, His air of innocent import.
ance was so rurally confident, so
patronizing, that Sibelia re-
ceived a distinct shock when she
glanced at his companions, between
whom she found herself seated. To
her experienced eye they were no yer.
dant countrymen, as their attire was
to indicate. If ever a brace
of Chicago's willy con" men had an
innocent in tow, here was a pair of
them. It worried her to see the trio
leave the car at Van Buren street, the
old man bubbling over with innocent
hilarity, his companions sending fur.
tive glances to right and left as they
o'l SN' OlAt OAb vi tlllltl Elht VI lAlills
She heaved a sigh, as she realized
that she could not be protecting
providence to unwary grandpas, how.
ever appealing to her sympathies they
might be.
Miss Graham's worst fears were
realized She received her dismissal
hat afternoon, along with a check
'or past services. And now what am
to do?" she asked herself as she left
he Polk street depot, where she had
)een seeing some friends off on the
rain. Pondering this question, she
walked on and on, oblivious to her
She was aroused, how.
ever, in a very sudden and startling
manner A man-propelled by some
force-fell at her feet, block.
ng her passage, while the sound OF
he barring and bolting of a door fell
lpon her ear.
The man lay motionless, his white
air stained with blood, his eyes closed
n stupor. To her horror, she recog
ized in him the old man she had no.
iced in the car.
Granddad and his companions had
pent the morning together, and had
lnched at a restaurant more in keep
ng with the outward appearance of
is friends than was entirely agree
BILE to him. When they started out
e was gently but firmly propelled to-
ards a locality which the two men
ad kept in view all along, where men
f their ilk consort to the accomplish.
lg of their nefarious designs Grand
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