The log cabin Democrat., 1916-03-21
OPENED EYES
By LESLIE Fc2D.

TTTTTTTTT'sSTTTTTT Just look at Ben Todd, the station agent, going back to the depot the near way" Mrs. Perkins called to her daughter "I'll bet he and Mabel have quarreled about that whipper- snapper Charlie Wilkes, for she was out automobiling with that fellow yesterday, and they passed the depot three times, as if they were just de- termined Ben should see them"
 Mrs. Perkins jumped to conclusions with the skill of a practiced gossip, but in this case she had reached the right conclusion, for Ben and Mabel had quarreled the night before when he went to make his usual Sunday evening call.
 Ben had tried to avoid mentioning l Charlie Wilkes, the dapper young man, who, while on a vacation visit to Marshville, had been paying Mabel so much attention that all the town was wondering how much longer Ben would stand it without putting his foot down" As Ben and Mabel sat on the front porch there was a stihing sense of impending storm. Conversa- tion moved haltingly. Eight o'clock ! came and passed, and from over yhe hill came the faint sounds af/the church organ.
 Are we going to the unioa song 1 service tonight?" asked Ben.
 What for?" retorted Mabel gro lis- ten to Mamie Cobb try to outsing Elsie Martini"
 Seemed like you enjoyed the church social Thursday night; that is, it looked that way to an outsider like me-" Thus Ben touched off the spark that exploded his intention to avoid the one subject of which they were both thinking.
 Yes, I did, and that because I was with live wire," snapped Mabel If few people like that lived in Marsh vile there'd be something to enjoy all the tine''
 Ben took his hat from the end of the porch seat.
 Since you've made it plain that there's no enjoyment for you in my company, I can mighty soon relieve you of it." Ben descended two steps, and added: Good night, Mabel. You'll not be bothered with my con- pany again unless you say the word.'
 "Of course, being a man, you'll blame the woman when things go wrong. I hope you're satisfied, and I'm sure I am. Good night Mabel disappeared through the doorway and Ben walked all around town to reach his boarding house, only three blocks away.
 During the week that followed, Ma bel and Charlie Wilkes were often seen together by the observant towns people, On Saturday, celebration was held in honor of the completion of the new town hall, and the festivi- ties ended with an evening concert in the public square. Mabel and young Wilkes had been dashing around town in an automobile and they stopped near the square to listen to the band
 Gee, this is no life for you, Mabel" said Charlie, with easy familiarity. You ought to be in the city. Why, any number of girls with less educa- tion than you get from fifteen to twen- ty dollars a week for the lightest kind of office work, and evenings they've nothing to do but dress up an go to show or dance."
 But Amy Cobb was home last week." weakly protested Mabel, and she makes good salary; but she says it is hard to make friends in the city among the kind of people you'd care to call friends
 Oh, well if girl acts like a stiff people will pass her up, but you'd never have to go begging for a friend or beau-certainly not, when I'm anywhere around Charlie slipped his arm around Mabels waist and started to draw her to him, but at that instant there came crashing sound from the band platform and a hun dred shrieking voices from the crowd. Mabel started to spring forward, but Charlie frightened his arm about her. She wrested herself away from him and turned her eyes blazingly upon him as she let herself cut of the car.
 How dare you? And when people around us are being killed! Why don't you do something to help?" she almost shrieked at him.
 Why should do anything?" came Charities indifferent reply. Its no concern of mine if these Rubes want to get their necks broken. Even your friend, the station agent and baggage hustler, is in that gang. See?"
 All Mabel could see was a young woman hugging a three-year-old boy to her breast, and number of ex- cited men trying to make room on the ground to lay Ben Todd's limp form. She pushed her way to his side. She couldn't speak, but she looked her agonized questions so plainly that a man explained
 Ben saw that RrOOkS kid dart nm