The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-07-20
The ORANGE
ey LOUISE OLIVER.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Lucia stopped at Tony's fruit stand
on her way home and bought dozen
oranges. It was raining. and besides
two other packages she had an UNI
brella to manage against q strong
wind.
Gradually the bag softened with the
dampness and chung like 4 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. Crossing South
avenue, a rear wheel caught in car
track and came of. And Immediately
there was an avalanche Of oranges in
all directions.
Now when Lucia's 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 a 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 ours.
ings. was doing the best he could to
defend his treasure. but it was futile.
Lucia. seeing no chance of revlving
her bag into semblance Of use. de-
ctded to use her umbrella as q recep
tacle and closed 1t. Then she stopped
and started deliberately to count q
dozen oranges into its silk recesses.
Hi there!" Mike came up bellig.
erently flourishing his weapon. "You
putta dem down."
Mike reached for the umbrella Just
% man stepped between them and
put out 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? II so. Ill help
you out Of this"
Il think have. It was hard count.
Ing with that man shaking his fist un.
der my nose." she laughed. THE or.
snges are all here in my umbrella"
But it's raining hard. You'll get
soaked
"1've 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
I live-oh. ever so far"
$50 much the better. There, and
there. and there. and there! I CUES.
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 q dish fof
them" So the man went in and they
emptied the fruit into q black-and
white china bowl
"Thirteen!" he exclaimed. "By Jove
we've cheated the dago."
The man divided the odd orange
carefully in two parts and gave heI
half
In movies" he remarked. they tear
cards. or smash shells and each takes
q 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. 1t suddenly occurred to Lucia
that she did not even know his name
A week passed. Busy days for Lu
cha. as all days were, but not too busy
for many thoughts of her recent &C.
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 $3.50 Thursday
evening and he could not explain his
presence there. although it 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 Allisons' He had prob.
ably been taking short cut home!
But why had he not told them his
Grand
Lucia thought over all the details,
ana 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
tngs Lucia was shown into q 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"
couldn't without bringing YOUR