The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-01-08
CHAPTER NJ.

- room. where. with a lighted
bracket lamp beside her on the desk,
she labored until - O'Clock. Then she
put on her coat and hat. extinguishcd
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
n good many years She walked brisk
ly on. heard the laughter and loud
voices in the barber shop die away
behind her. passed the schoolhouSe
pond now bleak aud chill with the
raw November wind Blowing across IL
and began To climb the slope OF Whit
takers hill Aud here the wind. rush
Ing in unimpeded over the flooded sal
meadows from the tumhled bay Out
side wound her skirts about her aud
made climbing di:icult and breath
taking
She was perhaps halfway up the
long slope when she heard In the In
tcrvals between the gusts footsteps
behind her A moment later a mai =
voice began singing Annie Rooney.
a melody then past Its prime In the
cities. hut popularized In Bayport 10y
some departed batch OF summer hoard
ers
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 bc
hind stopped his vocaliz.ng aud called.
Hi" he shou'ed Hello. ahead
there
The follower broke into run and
was soon 10y her side. lie was stran
ger tn her
"Whee, Wow" he painted. This Is
no race track parl Pun M and lo''s
take II easy. Ny on legs got n kint
in ii, and dnnr run 50 easy aS used
% Great snakes. what's your rush
Amt you fond Of compInyi Hello. !
believe lis woman a woman" eN
claimed the man hilariously We'll
say. didu't believe there was on
loose In this tail end of nowhere
Glrlie. I'm rl"d tn SEQ YOU not thu
en- see you much. but never mind
All cats are gray IN the dark. heyi
take each other on trust She's my
sweetheart. I'm her beau Say. Maud.
may l see you homer
She was frightened now. The Whit.
taker place ON the hilltop was the
nearest house. and that was some
distance on.
What's the matter. Carrier inquir
ed the man. Don't be- scared. |
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. llow's nam
MAJ"
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. II
was very dark.
Say. what Is your nameT' coaxed
the man lis II Maud. hey. or Juliat
! always liked Julia. Don't be peevish.
Tell US: that's a good girl"
She gave n quick jerk and managed
TO pull her arm from his grasp. giving
him violent push as she did So lie.
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 fen.
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 us II he had
been angry.
Naughty, naughty" he chuckled.
holding her fast "rryin' TO sneak.
was you? Not much not this time
Did you ever play forfeits when you
was little? Well this Is "A forfeit game
and you're II. You must bow 10 the
prettiest. kneel 10 the wittiest and kiss
the one you love best. And I'd lei you
of ON the first two. Come. now. Pay
up"
Continued next week.