The Colorado statesman., 1912-01-27
Helen S
lndependenc

Helen looked up at the conductor
with a flushed face. s1'm sorry," she
said, "but I'm afraid that ! have no
money"
ri guess you can find it II you have
to-" he snorted as he passed on. Look
again-and hurry up"
He went out on the rear platform
for a moment, but soon he followed
another incoming passenger up the
aisle.
II really can't find a single coin,"
said Helen, looking up from her dis
ordered purse.
That's all right" was the more
gracious response. "a gent out on
the platform staked you."
"Was 1t that man in the soft hat?"
she asked as she caught sight Of Har-
vey Tennant trying to look uncon-
cerned.
"sure thing" he assented. "shall I
send him in?"
81 do not care to be under obliga-
tions to tho gentleman" she said
coldly. please stop the car"
It was intolerable that after last
her car fare. Had 1t been total
stranger she would have been CRATE
ful, but man who only the night
before had assured her that she could
not get along without him! She
would show him that she could, and
she swept off the car with majestic
dignity that caused Tenant to smile.
Look here, Nell" he protested as
he followed her to the sidewalk, you
must not be here alone. 1t is one of
the toughest districts in town"
$50 1 judge from its inhabitants"
she said with a meaning glance at
him. at seems that they take pleas
ure in annoying unprotected women"
That's just the trouble" he said
placidly, though his face reddened.
Don't be foolish. Let me lend you a
nickel You can send it back tonight.
1t is only what l would do for any
woman in the same fix"
81 do not have to trespass upon
your chivalry," she declared, with a
scornful accent upon the last word.
II am amply able to take care of my
SELF
II believeswe discussed that to no
purpose last night" he said coldly.
Il adhere to my original opinion"
"And to mine," she shifted, as she
began to walk on. Harvey dropped
back a few PAGES and followed her.
The dozen blocks bordering the
freight yards bore a most unsavory
reputation. No gently-bred woman
was safe from insult.
And just because he had ventured
to criticise her boldness in venturins
out alone on her charity visits she
had broken their engagement the
night before with the scornful state
ment that she was amply able to take
care of herself and would have naught
of husband who already showed
such a disposition to bully.
He did not have long to wait for
his revenge. On the next block a
crowd Of halfdrunken loafers reeled
from a saloon. Helen shrank to the
edge of the sidewalk and by her very
precaution attracted their attention.
There's me mussis," shouted one
as he lurched toward her. "Como
here, me dear. and let hubby have a
rev COINS Tor his beer.
AS he staggered toward her Helen
raised her hands to ward him of, and
in doing SO dropped her bundles. With
a wild yell the rest of the crowd drove
after the parcels Just as Harvey dash.
ed up.
A few well-directed kicks scattered
the crowd, but the first speaker was
less easily disposed Of. The idea that
Helen was his wife had entered his
drunken brain and refused to be dis
lodged and he made an attempt to
clasp her in his arms while demanding
of the new conner why he should seek
to separate a loving pair.
Harvey's answer was a blow that
sent him sprawling, but he scrambled
to his feet in an instant and staggered
toward his assailant, waving a cotton
hook that had dangled from his belt.
With a scream Helen sought to
throw herself between the two men,
but Harvey thrust her quickly aside.
The man in his drunken insanity
would make no distinction and 1t was
a fight man to man.
He had had some experience on the
mat. Had been the wrestling cham
pion Of his club for two seasons, and
he maneuvered for an opening. It
was no easy matter for he had seen
fights among the longshoremen and
know that cotton hook was far more
dangerous than a knife. 1t was some
time before he could find his opening,
but at last he closed in with a rush,
pinioning his adversary's arms, close
to his side. After that the fight was
a short one. Once at disadvantage
the rough collapsed and through a
sudden turn of his thoughts became
lachrymose. Harvey tearfully lament
ing the loss of his wife while he as
sisted Helen to regain sucn bundles as