The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-10-19

FOR a time, Wnlle the CLOCK might
tick off a long minute. the group stood
as though paralyzed, the girl leaning
weakly against Bob's strong arm. II
was Sanger who first came out Of his
daZe.
Eleanor, Eleanor! Thank God" 1t
was a signal for them all to gather
around the pale, trembling girl. forcing
Bob away from her and staring at her
stupidity, n~ervously, Cabling unintel-
lightly,
Suddenly Bob strobe into the group.
a towering figure of wrath. elbowing
his way roughly. Before his sudden
intrusion the group ~involuntarily fell
back, leaving him face to face with
the girl whom he had saved. A hot
rage possessed him. He saw red as
On that night when he had fought
Haggin.
The girl. In the reaction from her
fright, did not see this. You saved
my life." she said tremblingly. 1T
was very good Of you"
You little fool!' Bob burst out
hoarsely in his anger. How dare you
risk my life?'
Later, in a cooler moment, Bob re-
membered the girl II could but ad-
mire her, by his %roughness restored in
stantly to her strength and courage.
Her head went back spiritedly. How
dare you reprove mer" she said.
"DareY' Bob held out one great,
hairy arm and then glanced over the
slender figure before him. He could
have snuffed out her life with a single
sweep of his arm. He laughed un-
pleasantly.
The scorn in her eyes shifted to con-
tempt. THAT is q towards thought
You think because I'm a girl and
you're so strong you can say what you
please. You cannot. I'm not afraid
of you"
"Cowardr' A deep flush crept under
the smut on his face. Il saved your
life when they"-his arm indicated
the a%stounded group-"when they were
afraid to move"
Yes, that is true" she said. You
are just a brute, not a coward. You
did save my life. but that gives you
no right to reprove me-
Il was a fool TO do it. My life is
worth something. bu you The un-
finished sentence gave contempt for
contempt. But why have | no right
Because you are you"
because / am ~
Because he was himself-he, Bot
q AIna lafnrn ,-hn,n ,, ~ how
soever strong. dared to stand in CON
bat: whom politicians OF high degree
approached on terms Of equality-uay,
as do those who seek ~favors; he, so
great in his own eyes and in the eyes
Of his own little world, must not re
buke a mere girl whose life he had
saved because he was himself. Here
was q new idea indeed.
Because he was himself!
Bob stared at his hands, the thick,
muscular fingers, the ~caIloused, black
ened palms. the hands of whose
strength he had been so proud. For
the first time in his life his strength
seemed to him futile, made so by a
slight. pretty girl who looked upon him
as a lower order of being. Then, in a
quick revulsion OF feeling. the old
pride Of strength returned to him in
all its arrogance.
81 wonder | don't kill you." he
growled savagely.
I'm not afraid of you" she said
contemptuously. Then All she
cried. You are hurt" 1t was true.
The flesh under his arm. revealed by
his gesture. was scorched from the
hot steel that had passed so closely
to it. In his anaGG he had not thought
Of il.
whats that TO your" he answered
roughly. Get out of the way"
For the second time that night he
lifted her and set her TO one side.
Then he strobe abruptly away and out
of the mills-forever.
"Oh. | forgot TO thank him for saw
ing my lifei' eleanor said p~enitently.
watching his retreating figure. Il
didn't mean TO be so hOrrid TO him.
Uncle, why couldn't he have been a
gentleman He's so big and strong.
And isn't he fine when his eyes blazer
I'm so sorry he was hurt. And I've
ruined this dress completely"