Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-10-17
Contin ued from last week

the delicate form, the youtnful race,
and whistled. "Will you please tell
me where your home is. No%npareil?"
She waved her arm inclusively.
America. l wish it were concentrate
ed in some spot, but it's just spread
out thin under the Stars and Stripes.
My country's about all l have" She
broke off with a catch in her voice
she tried to laugh, but it was no use.
Suddenly 1t came to Abbott Ashton
that he understood the language of
moon, watching woods, meadow-lands,
even the gathering rain-clouds; all
spoke of the universal brotherhood of
man with nature; a brotherhood In
GLIDING the most ambitious superin.
tendent of schools and a homeless
Nonpareil; a brotherhood to be con
flrmed by the clasping of sincere
hands. There was danger in such a
confirmation, for it carried Abbott be
yond the limits that mark a superin,
tendent's confines.
AS he stood on the bridge, holding
Fran's hand in a warm and sympa-
thetic pressure, he was not unlike IN
on picket-servioe who slips over the
trenches to hold friendly parley with
the enemy. Abbott did not know there
was any danger in this brotherly
handclasp; but that was because he
could not see a fieshy and elderly lady
slowly coming down the hill. As SUI
perintendent, he should doubtless have
considered his responsibilities to the
.,h1Io. he d;d o0nc;dor thoua mhou tho
lady, breathless and severe, APP
preached the bridge, while yer
pound of her ample form cast its
weight upon the seal of her disapprov-
ing, low-voiced and significant, Good
evening, Professor Ashton"
Fran whistled.
The lady heard, but she swept OF
without once glancing back. There
was in her none of that saline ten
dency that made of Lot a widower;
the lady desired to see no more.
Fran opened her eyes at Abbott to
their widest extent, as she demurely
asked, "How cold is it? My ther.
mometer is frozen"
The young man did not betray una
easiness, though he was really
alarmed, for his knowledge of the
Aeshy lady enabled kim to foresee
Gathering clouds more sinister than
those overhead. The obvious thing
to be done was to release the slender
hand; he did so rather hastily.
Have l got you into trouble?" Fran
asked, with her elfish laugh. "If SO,
we'll be neighbors, for that's where ]
live. Who was she?"
Miss Sapphire Clinton" he an
swered as, by a common impulse, they
began walking toward Hamilton Greg.
ory's house. Bob Clinton's sister,
and my landlady." The more Abbott
thought of his adventure, the darker
it grew; before they reached their des-
tfnation it had become a deep gray.
do you NEAR the Brother Clinton
that couldn't get through"
yes He's the chairman of
the School Board"
"Ahi" murmured Fran comprehend
ingly. At Gregory's gate, she said,
Now you run back to the tent and
I'll beard the lion by myself. l know
it has sharp teeth, but l guess it won't
bite me. Do you try to get back to
the tent before the meetings yer.
Show yourself there. Parade up and
down the a~isles."
He laughed heartily, all the sorrier
for her because he found himself in
trouble.
ut was fun while it lasted, wasn't
It'll" Fran exclaimed, with a sudden
gurgle.
Part of it was" he admitted.
"Good-by, then, little Nonpareil."
He held out his hand.
mo, sir!" cried Fran, clasping her
hands behind her. That's what got
you into trouble. Good-by. Run for
I'll"