The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-17

 she labored until g o'clock. Then she put on her coat and hat, ext1nguished the light, locked the door and started on her lonely walk home.
 Miss Dawes was not afraid of the dark She had been her own escort for a good many years. She. walked brisk 1y on, heard the laughter and loud voices in the barber shop die away behind her, passed the sehoolhouse pond, now bleak and chill with the raw November wind blowing across il, and began to climb the slope of Whit takers hill. And here the wind, rush ing in unimpeded over the flooded salt meadows from the tumbled bay out side, wound her skirts about her and made climbing difficult and breath taking.
 She was perhaps halfway up the long slope when she heard in the fn- tervals between the gusts footsteps behind her. A moment later a mans voice began singing Annie Rooney" a melody then past its prime, in the cities, but popularized in Bayport by some departed batch of summer board CTS.
 She did not recognize the voice, and she did not particularly approve of singing in the streets, especially such loud singing. So she decided not to wait longer and was turning to con tinue her climb when the person be- hind stopped his voca1izing and called.
 ''HiE' he shouted. tHello, ahead thereP
 The follower broke into a run and was soon by her side. He was a stran- ger to her.
 'sWhee! Wowr' he panted. 'eThis is no race track, pard- Pull up and let's take it easy. My off legs got kink in it, and don't run so easy as I used to. Great snakes, what's your rush? Ain't you fond. of company2 Hello! believe it's a woman-a woman!" ex- claimed the man hflar1ously. Well, say, didn't believe there was. one loose in this tail end of nowhere. Grille. Pm glad to see you-not that I can see you much, but never mind An cats are gray in the dark, hey7 You can't see me, neither, SO we'll take each other on trust She's my sweetheart, I'm her beau Say, Maud, may see you homeT'
 She was frightened now. The Whit taker place on the hilltop was the nearest house. and that was some distance off.
 ''What's the matter, Carrier inquir- ed the man. Don't be scared I wouldn't hurt you. I'm just lonesome, that's all. and need society. Don't rush; you'll ruin your complexion. Here, come under my wing and let's toddle along together. How's man. mar
 He seized her arm and pulled her back beside him. She tried to free herself, but could not. Her unwelcome escort held her fast, and she was oblig- ed to move as slowly as he did. It was very dark
 Say, what is your name2'' coaxed the man. ''Is it Maud, hey, or Julia always liked Julia. Don't be peevish. Tell us; that's a good girl-.''
 She gave a quick jerk and managed to pull her arm from his grasp, giving him a violent push as she did so. He, being unsteady on his feet, tumbled down the low bank which edged the sidewalk. Then she ran on up the hill as fast as she could She heard him swear as he fell.
 She had nearly reached the end of the Whitaker fence when he caught her. He was laughing, and that alarm ed her almost as much as if he had been angry.
 Naughty, naughtyI' he chuckIed, holding her fast "Tryin' to sneak, was you?l Not much-not this tinei Did you ever play forfeits when you was little? Well, this is a forfeit game and you're it You must bow to the pretttest, kneei to the wittiest and kiss q IA. off on the first two. Come. now! Pay upP'
 Then she screamed. and her scream was answered at once. A gate swung back with a bangA-and she heard some, one running along the walk toward her.
 "oh, Cap'n whittakert" she called. "Come! Come quick, pleasew
 How she knew that the person run ming toward her was Captain Cy has not been satisfactorily explained even yet. She cannot explain 1t, and neither can the captain And equally astonish- ing was the latter's answer He cer- tainly had not heard her voice often enough to recognize it under such cir 
 "AiI right, teaeher!' he shouted. sI'ua eomin'! Let go of that woman, you Oh, it's you, is tt?''
 He had seized MT. Smith by the coat collar and jerked him away from his victim. Miss Dawes took refuge be- hind the captains bulky form. The two men looked at each other Smith was recovering his breath.
 "It's you, is it?' repeated Captain Cy. Then, turning to Miss Phoebe, he ask ed Did he hurt you?'
 'tNo, not yet, but he frightened me Who is he? Do you know him2".
 To be Continued.)
 Shad roe croquettes are very delic-