The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-08-19

pu d e n
spoiled a shoe shine. An obstinate
lock of hair kept coming down from
under her helmet
Overcome with a sense of her un-
fitness to ornament the highways, she
began to maneuver into the shelter or
every shadow. When a low-hanglng
branch dashed off her helmet and fear
fully mussed her hair, she decided to
journey to the next signa[station by
way of the alleys.
For half a block she trudged down
one of these alleys where the black
ness was almost as unrelieved as in
a cave. In the dark she quickly be-
came again what we are accustomed
to describe as "manful"
A faint noise, something like the
swapping of a piece of kindling wood,
caught her ear!
1t was followed by the unmistak-
able tinkle of bits of glass dropping
on stone. Mamie paused and listened
calmly.
Five minutes later came some more
tinkling of glass and the thump OF
two heels on the pavement, The po-
licewoman pressed a button and the
burglar was Illuminated as if by sud-
den spotlight He scarcely needed to
be told to throw up his hands. Mamie
dexterously acquired his revolver, his
tools and jingling bundle in canvas
bag
Then she marched him on down the
alley and out in the glare of an arc
light. They were at the edge of a
little park. The alarm box, toward
which the policewoman was headed,
was in shelter house straight ahead.
When they reached the door of 1t she
commanded:
step in"
She followed him, switching on the
electric lights.
Holy mackerel!' the burglar
gasped. "a woman cop! Punched by
a skirt"
Put up your wrists she ordered.
Not that way! Like this!" She
laughed. You've never been arrested
before?"
Never by a woman" he agreed.
"Cut that stuff" she interrupted
testify, cor I'll paste you one over the
DOME"
Did any one ever tell you that that
uniform sets you off Handsomely"
moi"
well, it does, just the same
though 1t would make most women
| look as ugly as a clay bank"
I'm sure it's very kind of you to
say So"
81 mean it." he insisted. 81 wouldn't
take the trouble to say so If 1 didn't.
1 honestly admire YOU"
Lord! The nerve of the mani"
she sighed. What blarney!"
"Blarney, nothing! What am I to
do? If you were in my place, and
knew you had only a few more min
utes Of freedom, and you found your
self alone in the park with a handsome
Dung lady, wouldn't you improve the
shining moment? The answer is
'Yes!"
The big blue eyes surveyed him
/ hungrily.
"Billy!" she cried. I'm plain as a
brick wall. Why, I've never even had
a PROPOSAL"
The burglar gasped establishment.
How the devil could that be? I'm
less you wouldn't let them?"
I'D let them soon enough" she as
sured him. Nobody ever wanted to-"
The burglar made a fine figure as
he drew himself up like a soldier
about to salute superior. But as he
tried to straighten his arms the hand
cuffs jingled. The policewoman vol
unteered to take them off.
"Dont!" he protested. 'T deserve
them, all right. / don't ask unfair
favors."
Her embarrassment was extreme,
amounting almost to nervousness.
Il was about to say" he continued,
that you're drawer and franker and
more handsome than any other woman
l ever met. And if you've never had a
| proposal you're about to hear one now.
I'm not a crook. You guessed that
right enough when you put the hand
cuffs on me. I'm an excitement-crazy
adventurer, making a fool of myself
on bet. A lot of women would like
to have me. l don't mind telling you
so. If you'll shut up about this little
escapade and let me sneak away, I'll
give you my written word of honor
that I'll marry you. My name"
Swift and straight the policewom-
ans club descended on his head!
He sank forward limp and gasping.
| Her cheeks burning with indignation,
Mamie turned her back, dashed across
the room and rang in an alarm on
the Gameweu box.
That done, she knelt on the floor,
her eyes trimming with tears, and
pillowed the burglars head on her
lap.
BEAST" she sobbed. "He tried to
bribe mel"
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