Charlevoix county herald., 1914-09-12

heavily wooded; Eden Flats is
marshy. Many footpads ply their
exciting trade in Eden Terrace, fly
ing with their booty to the woods
above or the marsh below. The rail-
road runs through the marsh, and
the trolley runs through the wood,
but only a lonely road runs through
Eden Terrace, after you pass the
settlement.
One dark night was coming home
from the city by trolley. l am a
little near-sighted-not enough to
consult an oculist about it. AS
stepped off the car saw a man who
had criminal look. l wished / was
back on the car, but it had gone on,
and the next car would not be due
for half an hour.
Perhaps, said l, l was mistaken as
to the character of the mans look.
l would start down the hill for home
"a matter of quarter of a mile
or so.
l started down the hill in the dark
night, and the man started after me.
/ FASTENED little, and so did he.
l crossed the road, going out of my
way in order to prove to my own
satisfaction that he really was fol-
lowing me. | was right. He was
following me, and doing it so we'll
that he was only few yards behind
| me.
He was bigger than |, and l was
no match for him. | had a gold
watch and forty dollars on my per-
| son-the very person he was after.
l dog-trotted. He dog-trotted. /
am pretty good runner, so /
changed my dog-trot to a hare's gait.
He did the same. My way led down
the hill, and it was his way also.
Suddenly l thought of the board
walk over the marsh. / knew it
like a book. Perhaps he did not. If
l could break his leg, it would be
allowable under the circumstances.
Down we went to where the walk
runs to the station, and / leaped
nimbly along, setting my feet on the
right planks, and avoiding the places
where there were no planks. At
last | heard an oath-at any rate,
it sounded like an oath-and, turn
ing, l saw him stagger.
Like a rabbit | doubled on nv
tracks and passed him just as he fell
forward. | would now run across
my neighbours yard, remembering to
duck under the wire clothes-line, and
so make my house safely. | was
free from pursuit-or so | thought.
until / heard the foot pad limping
behind me. He was game. SO was
one leg.
Up the hill raced, and he close
at hand. When | came to the yard
l had a brilliant thought. | would
increase my speed and lead him to
his doom. The taut rope would gull
lotine him.
Full tilt l ran, and in the dark
night | ducked under the rope. An
instant later, suspecting nothing, he
ran into it. He was so tall that it
hit him in the chest and hurled him
on his back.
"Ha, l am freew l said. 1t may
sound melodramatic, but | said it.
"Ha, | am free from pursuit.
But l was mistaken. Criminals
are tough and this one seemed to be
particularly so. He had lost his
wind, but he had not lost his courage,
and he was up and after me again in
a rev SECONDS.
"There is one more chance" said
to myself. "The mayors dogw
| turned and ran down hill again
toward the mayors garden, which is
protected only by hedge. Painting
heavily, for the pace was telling on
me, / made for it, hoping to rouse
the dog. Then, by pulling myself
into an apple-tree, | planned to leave
the footpad to the dogs mercy.
My scheme worked as if l had re-
hearsed it. The dog heard me COM
ing, and, with a yelp of joy at the
thought of finishing the leg he had
so we'll begun, he rushed for me.
deftly swung myself into an apple
tree; and when the footpad came up,
gasping for breath, the dog caught
him by the ankle,
And then for the first time the
man spoke to me. shall never for
get his words. He said:
Charley, do you do this every
night? Will you please tell me when
you are going home?"
The mayor came out just then and
called off the dog, who retired with
a mouthful of trousering of a neat
pattern in his mouth. Then | intro
duced my brother to the mayor, and
we all called upon the doctor, who
cauterized the wound.
Happy is the man who can turn
his trials to good acco mt! But
don't seem to be able to do it.