The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1916-12-09
A FRANK OPINION
BY ARTHUR PEACH.

the city ana was on MS way TO the
suburb where he roomed. The car was
the last one for the night, and 1t con-
tanned only two passengers besides
himself-a girl and a aashily dressed
young fellow.
But Haydon's thoughts rested with
his fellow passengers only a brief
time. He was thinking that something
was wrong with him. For four years
he had worked as a clerk in the Office
of the firm without a raise of salary.
He had made few friends-and not a
girl had ever smiled upon him.
A light touch on his shoulder drew
his attention, and he turned to look
into the oval-shape face of the girl pas
senger. 1t was a girlish face, and ON
1t was an anxious, worried expression
that gave a touch of pathos to her
dark eyes. She sank into the seat with
him, and spoke hurriedly.
"Please don't think me forward, but
that man there has been following me,
| think. I've seen him a few times be-
fore. / live in this section, and l have
quite a way to walk through a dark
street. VIII you help me? I-I-really
don't know what to do. Can you tell
me what to doT"
Hayden was dazed for more than a
moment. No girl ever had spoken to
him other han in the curse of busi-
ness, and here was a pretty, frightened
girl asking his aid. He looked ahead
at the man to whom she had referred.
He was broad sbouldered and the
shoulders suggested strength.
Hayden moved his feet u~neasily. 81
don't know" he answered hesitatingly.
II don't believe he will hurt you"
The girls sensitive face flushed quick
~. He saw that she looked at him
with contempt. Without a word she
went to her seat.
The car sped on. At last, the girls
hand was raised as a signal to stop. AS
she did SO, the other man reused him
self and repeated the signal.
With a white face, the girl rose and
staggered down the aisle to the door,
and after her the man whom she
feared. After they had alighted and
the car had moved away, the conduc-
tor. a slight, gaunt faced youth, came
up to Hayden.
what was the matter with the
girl?" he asked.
Hayden told him. The lean jaw
dropped, and the young fellow stared
at Hayden. "Why didn't you go with
herT' he demanded.
"Why should 1 butt int" was the
half-hearted reply.
The conductor turned with an oath
of disgust. II know what the trouble
Is with you-you're a blamed coward I"
He jerked the bell. snow you get
off, beat 1t back there, and see that
girl homel You don't ride on this
carl"
In a moment he was outside, the
a was vanishing and he was saying
to himself: that's just what's wrong
I'm a towards -
A new sensation caught and tore in
his throat-a wrenching, gagging force
that was the pride of manhood reused
and stung to the quick. He found him
self sprinting down the avenue toward
the side street up which the girl had
fed.
through the darkness two figures just
beyond him and at the same moment
a terrified call for help broke the ST.
lence.
A snarl broke from Haydon's lips.
He clutched forward wildly and his
fingers sank into a throat-a mans!
Then followed a desperate pressure
of muscles against his. His head was
battered and bruised, his body tor
tured with the weight placed upon it /;
but his fingers held to the throat. Over
and over, up and down, back and forth
In the darkness and mire of the street,
they struggled for the mastery until
Hayden knew he had won.
Hayden let go and sat up. Three
policemen were lifting a limp figure
into the tonneau Of their car. One of
them came back to him. "You better
come along with us. You're battered
up In great shape, If you only knew it.
WCh luhc tire girl diOLS W ner uOuSS.
Hayden, refusing the offered arm,
staggered to the car, and, entering 1t,
sank weakly into a seat. Something
pressed against him in the darkness as
the car started, something clasped
around his neck and something
warn and fragrant rested on his lips.
Again a shock cleared his conscious
ness-the lips of the grill
They left her at her home, a humble
little place. Then the car turned
away.
On the way back to the station, Hay
don asked one of the officers how they
happened to come.
"The conductor of one Of the ears
stopped In. We were doubtful, but we
thought IL would do no harm TO run
out. BY the way, it must take some
nerve to tackle a man 30 pounds heav-
far fhon Won Wa found a Hnifa IN