The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1916-05-18
OPENED EYES
BY LESLIE FORD.

hbch1 5Oih5 odSH 10 tue uSpOL NAS
near way Mrs. Perkins called to her
daughter. "Ill bet he and Mabel
nave quarreled about that whipper-
snapper Charlie Wilkes, for she was
out automobiling with that fellow
yesterday, and they passed the depot
three times, as il they were just de
termined Ben should see them
Mrs. Perkins jumped to conclusions
with the skill of practiced gossip,
but in this case she had reached the
right conclusion, for Ben and Mabel
had quarreled the night before when
he went to make his usual Sunday
evening call.
Ben had tried to avoid mentioning
Charlie Wilkes. the dapper young man.
who, while on a vacation visit to
Marshville, had been paying Mabel so
much attention that all the town was
wondering how much longer Ben
would stand it without putting his
foot down" AS Ben and Mabel sat
on the front porch there was a sitting
sense OF impending storm. Conversa-
tion moved haltingly. Eight O'Clock
came and passed. and from over the
hill came the faint sounds of the
church organ.
Are we going to the union song
service tonight2' asked Ben.
What for2" retorted Mabel ITO lis
ten TO Mamie Cobb try to outsing
Elsie Martini
Seemed like you enjoyed the
church social Thursday night; that is.
ii looked that way to an outsider like
me" Thus Ben touched OF the spark
that exploded his Intention to avoid
the one subject OF which they were
both thinking.
Yes. I did. and that because was
with a live wire" snapped Mabel III
a few people like that lived in Marsh
vile there'd be something to enjoy all
the time"
Ben took his hat from the end of
the porch seat.
Since you've made il plain that
there's no enjoyment for you in my
company. ! can mighty soon relieve
you OF it." Ben descended two steps.
and sdded: Good night. Mabel.
YouIl not be bothered with my COM
pany again unless you say the word
''Of course. being a man, you'll
blame the woman when things 20
wrong. hope you're satisfied. and
I'm sure am. Good night" Mabel
disappeared through the doorway and
Ben walked all around town to reach
his boarding house. only three blocks
away.
During the week that followed. Ma
bel and Charlie Wilkes were often
seen together by the observant towns
people. On Saturday. a celebration
sas held In honor Of the completion
of the n~ux town ball. aud the festivi-
ties ended with an evening concert in
the pubic square. Nabei and young
Wilkes had been dashing around
Town IN an automobile, and they
stopped near the square TO listen TO
the band.
Gee. this Is no life for you. Mabel"
said Charlie. with easy familiarity.
You ought to be in the city. Why.
any number of girls with less educa-
ti1n than you get from nfteeu to TWEEN
~ dollars q week for the lightest kind
Of Office work. and evenings they've
nothing to do but dress UP an 90
10 a show or a dance"
But Amy cobb was hcna last
week weakly protested Mabel. and
she makes a good salary: but she says
il is hard 10 make friends ia the city
among the kind OF people you'd care
to call friends"
-oh. well II Z girl acts like a s;iI
people win pass her up, but you'd
never have to go begging for a friend
or a beau-ceFtainly not. when I'm
anywhere around Charlie slipped
his arm around Niabeis waist and
started to draw her to him. but at that
instant there came a crashing sound
from the band platform and a hun
dred shrieking voices from the crowd.
Mabel started 20 spring forward, but
Charlie tightened his arm about her.
She wrested herself away from him
and turned her eyes bla4ingly upon
him as she let herself out of the car.
How dare yous And when people
around US are being killed, Why
don't you do something to helpg' she
almost shrieked at him.
why should | do anything?" came
charlie's Indifferent reply. Its no
concern of mine II these Rubes want
TO get their necks broken. Even your
friend. the station agent and baggage
hustler. is In that gang. Seer
All Mabel could see was a young
woman hugging three-year-old boy
10 her breast. and a number of ex-
cited nen trying to make room on
the ground to lay Ben Todd's limp
form. She pushed her way to his
side. She couldn't speak. but she
looked her agonized questions so
plainly that man explained:
Ben saw that Brooks kid dart un-