El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-18
BY VIRGINIA TERRI
CHAPTER XLVII.

knAE LEX ALF IL.
w TOMEN are not supposed to have
wv the brute instinct to fight or
inflict a physical hurt on one
who INJURIES them, Net-if such instinct
had not existed in Fanny Hedden's ma
ture she would not have felt the thrill
of satisfaction with which she saw Jim
CrandalE Knocked down by man who
had sprung at him so suddenly that she
had not seen his face before he had
felled her prosecutor. But swift on this
thrill of eXultatiOn came a fear. Sup
pose he was badly wounded But as
quickly this fear was dispelled as Gran
dali struggled to his feet. He was stout
and no athlete, and he did not present
dignified spectacle as he elambered up
from the dust and came toward his
assailant.
glanced at the face of the man who had
made himself her champion. She caught
her breath sharply, as in the light cast
through the dusk by the street lamp she
recognized her escort of last Christmas
night-JOe Brown. That the only man
in New York whose attentions to her
had not been akin to an insult should
have witnessed the scene between her
and Crandall was, she felt, one of the
irOnies of fate. And she had liked Joe
Brown!
Look out!7 she exclaimed warningly
as Crandall approached.
But Joe laughed as he faced the angry
man.
"We'H fight this OUT" Crandan pant
ed, you hound you"-
"Jamesl" a shrill voice rang out from
an electric car which had just drawn
up at the curb The driver, a handsome
w fIrasuoH ont nd ioirnnI
the trio. She glanced about to see if
there were any other observers before
she spoke again. But her exclamation
had been sufficient to check her hus-
bands Outburst and to cause his manner
to change with ludicrous rapidity.
"Oh, my dear he began, Il did not
see you. 1 was Just talking to this
young lady who was once in my employ,
and"-
"Another!" his wife exclaimed with
sneering laugh. You have had so many
pretty girls in your employ, as you call
it, that am to be pardoned if I cannot
keep track of them. ! would suggest
now that you come home with me-your
wife. Explanations can follow later. I
passed here a few minutes ago and saw
you talking with this-young LADY,
with q scornful glance at Fanny. "As
she has another escort now, L think
she will excuse YOU. Girls prefer young
men to middle-aged ones-especially
middle-aged married ones"
Humor Strikes Joe Brown.
Had Fanny not been so overwhelmed
with shame she might have smiled when
she saw the abject and eowed husband
follow his wife as she led the way to
her brOugham. But Joe-soTrv as he
was for the girl at his sIde-had an I'M
qUenchable sense of humor.
by George he muttered. Hell obey
her-fOr she's got the money. I've heard
of him before, and of how she trains
him. He's a scoundrel-that's what he
is! I'm thankful I happened to come
along Just in time to save you further
annoyance"
Fanny was trembling and her lips
twitched. Was Joe Brown telling the
trnth2 Had he not seen Jim Crandall
talking to her-Or did he really sup
pose, in spite Of what Mrs. Crandal had
said, that the man was a stranger who
had spoken TO her for the first time
just nOw2
''I want to go home" she said weakly,
her voice breaking as a frightened
Childs might have done. please go
on now and let me go home alone"
The young man laid a reassuring
hand on her quivering fingers. I'D
rather take you home, if you don't
mind" he said. But If you don't want
me to, I'll go with you only as far as
your street But hope you'll say I can
take you all the way"
No! Nor She begged ct want
to be alone, pleaset'
And, turning, she went swiftly across
the drive and up the slope to the street /
The man did not move for a minute, but /
stood watching her.
We'll" he unused. eff she wants to
alone it's nv Taloon n 1af hav
But 1 can follow her at dis
lance and see that no harm comes to /
her. She WON'T know I'm within call.