Catoctin clarion., 1916-06-15
THE ORANGE
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


Lucia stopped at Tony's fruit stand
on her way home and bought dozen
oranges 1t was raining. and besides
two other packages she had an um
brella to manage against 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 machine gun.
Mike Kubelik, carter for Sellem &
Hatch, was hauling wagonload Of
oranges from the Bay street market
to West end branch. Cros ing South
avenue, a rear wheel caught in a car
track and came off And in mediately
there was an avalanche oi oranges In
all directions.
Now when Lucia's bag broke, she,
too, was crossing South avenue, and,
moreover, 1t was at the same instant
that Mike lost wh@c!. SO she looked
down to see, not a iozen, but hundreds
of dozens of oranges roll about her
feet.
Already half dozen urchins had
gathered around and were filling
jacket pockets as fast as they could.
Mike, with fist, whip and many ours.
ings, was doing the best he could to
defend his treasure, but 1t was futile.
Lucia, seeing no chance Of reviving
her bag into semblance of use, de-
cided to use her umbrella as a recep'
tacle and closed it. Then she stopped
and started deliberately to count
dozen oranges into its silk recesses.
Hi there!" Mike came up bellig.
erently fiourishing his weapon. "You
putta dem down"
Mike reached for the umbrella just
as a 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.
Go and attend to those boys and I'll
get policeman to help you" the new.
conner said and to Lucia. Have you
got all your property? If SO, I'll help
you out of this
81 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
1--WE no other place to put them"
What's the matter with these deep
pockets in my coat?"
But you mustn't go home with me.
l live-oh. ever so far"
$50 much the better There, and
there, and there, and there! | guess
I've got them all" raising the UNI
brella.
At the door the oranges had to be
transferred Won't YOU come in?"
asked Lucia. III get a dish for
them" So the man went in and they
emptied the fruit into 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
I'm 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!"-ftting two pieces together.
"You take one and I'll take the other.
To keep as long as we live!" solemnly.
When her gallant defender had de-
parted, it suddenly occurred to Lucia
that she did not even 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 it 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 $50 Thursday
evening and he could not explain his
presence there although 1t was doz-
en- blocks away from his lodgings and
place of business"
Tuesday! That was the night he
had taken her home! And $50 was
about the time he had left her. The
alley in question was between her
street and the Allsons' 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 it 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 a moment later.
why didn't you tell them where
you were last tuesday," was her
breathless greeting. This is terrible"
81 couldn't without bringing your
name into it and thought I'd rather
be convicted than have your name
breathed here. You shouldn't have
come-unless there is something can
do for you"
There is! Tell them all about It,"
II won't"
"Then / will"
The district attorney heard the
story. Mike was sent for and added
his share to the testimony. Then John
Emerson was allowed to depart
And that was only the beginning Of