The Carlisle independent., 1916-11-23
CHAPT ].

In the midmorning quiet, the bath Ing beach and the ocean reflected only the brightness of the inviting sun. But a little way back from the glisten- ing sand and converging through small park toward suburban station she streets of the seaside resort were alive with men and women, hurrying to the city for the grind of the day. Motor cars. too, glided noiselessly along the boulevards, drew up in turn before the station and discharged their passengers. From one of these a mid die-aged, militarylooking man, Gen. eral Holmes. an ex-army officer and a railroad man, alighted on the platform. A governess and pretty little girl, Helen-GeneraI Holmes only child had accompanied her father to the train, and when he turned to the open tonneau to say good-by Helen sprang impulsively half into his arms. His train pulled in as he quite simply but affectionately kissed his child and boarded the nearest car.
 Helen, promised a morning in the park, left the motor car with her gov erness the moment they crossed a small scenic railroad running back of the beach. She already had her eye on what she wanted to play with. A contented dog, at peace with the world and summing himself on a grassy slope, had riveted her alert eye; Helen ad- vanced joyously to get acquainted. The dog seemed not averse to a pas siye friendship. but the little maid, sitting down, sought something more, and by pulling hard and with confi- dence at his neck soon had his un- promising head-atter a fashion, at least-in her diminutive lap.
 The strain on his sensibilities ap- peared more than her amiable and carefree friend could stand After submitting for a. time he rolled over. Jumped up and trotted briskly away for new seclusion and a new peace. Helen, undaunted, sprang to her feet and followed. Her governess, engaged with the chauffeur, saw nothing of this part of the incident. But mo- ment later the few spectators in the scenic railroad square, waiting to board one Of the miniature trains, saw
 protestiRg dog trotting rapidly awzyNrom 6 eurly-haired girl, who hriskly and relentlessly followed
 newsboy, relaxing against con- venient lamp post after the morning rush, watched the pursuit for a mo- ment with languid interest, then turned to look at an approaching train on the scenic road. He seemed no more than half awake. His wits, fin truth, were wool-gathering. Every morning found him absorbed greatly fin the mysteries of the miniature en- zine that pulled the scenic railroad train.
 A shout, then a chorus of cries aroused him from his reverie. The pufing train was pulling swiftly to- ward the open space. The unhappy dog, casting reproachful glances over his shoulder at his pitiless friend, was gaIloping uncertainty, but directly down the narrow track toward the on- coming train. Helen, seeing or heed ing nothing of the train and fixed only on her chase, ran after at top speed A dozen people saw her danger as the train rounded the curve just in front of her-only one of them made a move. Dropping his unsolds, the day. dreaming newsboy, waking sharply. | ran headlong after the needless girl.
 Ii was none too soon. The dog | disuayed alike by the cries and a second pursuit, sprang, almost in the | teeth of the engine pilot, right across 1 the track. Helen fast on his heels | was ready to jump after, but 1t would | have been pretty certainly jump to | her death. The newsboy caught her | arm and whirled her from the engine | inst at it shot past with brakes | .creaebing on the drivers. Helen | snrawled headlong beside the track, and the boy, unbalanced, rolled on the gravel near her
 He was on his feet in trice. stand ing over Helen. She was frightened and breathless, and without speaking ha knelt by her. Her eyes began to 6u with big tears. She sat confused K, ,n es her companion brushed the | granite dust from her pique skirt and \ w;,b coarse handkerchief began wining the blood from cut on one of her mink knees. Her rescuer made lit tle of the accident. He told her not lto cry He even brushed the round tears from her cheeks-Helen liked him. .'What is your name little boy?' Ishe taltered in a wouldbe command Ing tone. :, .
 .escuer erufiy. A crowd had gathered md he was already red in the face. un,,n tho ne cave the bystanders. no heed. sW1ea. slel are you, then?" she demanded krayely. ,,. ome ia ceoroo Storm. m I'm named after my father
 Ha Z.s railroad engineer. My rather
 r,, s,,,ed eI d on train. Who's your fa-
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