The log cabin Democrat., 1916-05-19
THE ORANGE
By LOUISE OLIVER.

on her way home and bought a dozen oranges. It was raining, and besides two other packages she had an um. brella to manage against a strong wind.
 Gradually the bag softened with the dampness and clung like plaster to the round, yellow spheres within. A tiny crack appeared. widened, length ened, and the whole dozen oranges cat apulted into the street as though shot out of a machine gun.
 Mike Kubelik, carter for Sellem & Hatch was hauling a wagonload of oranges from the Bay street market to West end branch Crossing South avenue, a rear wheel caught in a car track and came off And immediately there was an avalanche of oranges in all directions.
 Now when Lucias bag broke, she, too, was crossing South avenue, and, moreover, it was at the same instant that Mike lost wheel. So she looked down to see, not dozen, but hundreds of dozens of oranges roll about her feet
 Already half a dozen urchins had gathered around and were filling jacket pockets as fast as they could. Mike, with fist, whip and many curs- ings, was doing the best he could to defend his treasure, but it was futile.
 Lucia, seeing no chance of reviving her bag into semblance of use, de- 0ida5 tn hn- tacle and closed it. Then she stopped and started deliberately to count dozen oranges into it's silk recesses.
 Hi there!' Mike came up bellig- erently fourishing his weapon. You putta dem down.
 Mike reached for the umbrella just as man stepped between them and put out a restraining hand
 Let the lady alone" he said quietly. At the tone of authority Mike stepped back without another word and his whip fell.
 Co and attend to those boys and I'll get policeman to help you" the new comer said, and to Lucia, Have you got all your property? If so, I'll help you out of this"
 q think I have. It was hard count ing with that man shaking his fist un- der my nose," she laughed The or anges are all here in my umbrella"
 But it's raining hard. You'll get soaked
 I've no other place to put them.'
 Whats the matter with these deep pockets in my coat?"
 But you mustn't go home with me. l Hve-oh, ever so far"
 "So much the better. There. and there, and there and there! I guess I've got them all," raising the um- brella
 At the door the oranges had to be transferred. Wont you come in? ?' asked Lucia I'll get a dish for them" So the man went in and they emptied the fruit into a black-and- white china bowl
 "Thirteen!" he exclaimed By love, we've cheated the dago"
 The man divided the odd orange carefully in two parts and gave her half.
 Tn movies" he remarked, they tear cards, or smash shells and each takes piece A sort of kismet, you know, for each of the two contracting par ties. Now why not an orange skin. See!'-fitting two pieces together. You take one and I'll take the other. To keep as lor. as we live!" solemnly.
 When her gallant defender had de- parted, it suddenly occurred to Lucia that she did not evea know his name.
 A week passed. Busy days for Lu- cia, as all days were, but not too busy for many thoughts of her recent ac. quaintance and his identity. But she was to have shock. One evening she opened the paper, and there on the first page was the picture of the man! Below 1t she read. One of the sus. poets arrested in connection with the Alison jewel case, The man, who gives his name as John Emerson, was seen coming out of the alley in the rear of the residence at 6:30 Thursday evening, and he could not explain his presence there. although it was a doz- en blocks away from his lodgings and place of business"
 Tuesday! That was the night he had taken her home! And 6:30 was about the time he had left her. The alley in question was between her street and the Allisons' He had prob- ably been taking short cut home! But why had he not told them his errand?
 Lucia thought over all the details, and the orange skin popped into her head. She would send 1t to him and he would not refuse to see her, she knew.
 An hour later, among grim surround ings, Lucia was shown into a little white room and John Emerson came in moment later.
 Why didn't you tell them where you were last Tuesday," was her breathless greeting. This is terrible"
 T couldn't without bringing your ;,,t. s&