The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-04-07

would have been glad to go greater
lengths if he had looked at you'll"
Polly flashed and marched on.
She was intensely shocked and
and Fred had been right in his esti-
mate of the fellow. He would be
justified in his position now; he
would be more autocratic than ever.
She must assert herself and break
the engagement, even if she after
ward forgave him.
As she finally boarded the car she
recalled, with a throb of dismay, the
long country lane she would have to
traverse in the gathering dusk from
the trolley line to her old nurses
home.
The car was filled with suburban
laborers, and she did not notice a
square jawed young man who had
persistentry but cautiously followed
her swing himself on behind, where
he presently appeared to be arrang-
ing something with a rough but
honest looking man, who nodded
and winked knowingly as he pocket
ed a generous bill.
Square jaws squatted on the car
steps out of sight; the other crowd
ed inside and seated himself close
to Miss Polly. She glanced at him
anxiously as the men dropped Off
one by one, hoping he, too, would
leave. But when she alighted he
sprang off and slouched away.
She looked doubtfully at the
darkening road, half determined to
go back to the car, but discarded
the idea with a toss. "Run away
and turn right around and run
back, Polly Paget! Well, 1 guess
not. miss. I can sprint like a deer,
and in ten minutes I'll be in Mar
%jorie's kitchen"
She caught up her skirts and
skinned away, stopping suddenly,
with a frightened squeal. The
rough man had stepped into the
road before her with an offer of his
company.
"No, no! Thank you. Pm not
at-all afraid!" cried Polly, with
chattering teeth. Even at that fear
some moment it occurred to her
that this was to be expected. Run
away heroines always have adven-
lures. "But l never meant to be in
the dark, the girls hindered me So"
she moaned inwardly.
"Let me pass, sir" she demanded,
striving to be naughty, but quaver-
ing woefully.
II shall walk with you, miss"
He put a hand on her arm, and Pol
ly screamed wildly.
Some one dashed up, knocked
the impertinent fellow down with
surprising ease, and she found her
self clinging fra%ntically to Fred.
"Why, Polly, darling! Is it pos
sible?" he exclaimed, Stimulating
great surprise.
ooh, Fred, Fred! l should have
died if you hadn't comet" Polly
painted presently. "But how-how
did you happen to be here?"
ooh, I've been out to see a man."
he said lamely. "But, say, kittens, l
want to tell you that I was idiotical-
ly jealous of that Roderique fellow;
that was all. I was as much taken
in as anybody. 1 only let on differ
ent because l was jealous. l thought
him the sure thing and was afraid
he might
ooh, but he couldn't, Fred!" Pol
ly asserted, promptly forgetting
certain things. "And, Fred, l was
running away because
"Never mind, little girl. Who
cares a hang? If anything's said on
account of your little Irritation with
him, I'll take the brunt of it. Yon-
der comes the car, and we'll go
home and arrange our wedding"
They had the car to themselves,
and when Polly essayed another
embarrassed explanation of her run
ming away Fred laughed, softly
whistling "Pretty Polly Oliver"