Gunnison news-champion., 1916-06-16
OPENED EYES
sy LESLIE FORD.


Just look At Ben Todd. the station
agent. going back to the depot the
near way" Mrs- Perkins called to her
daughter. "I'n bet he and Mabel
have ouarreled about that whipper-
snapper Charlie Wilkes. for she was
out automobiling with that fellow
yesterday. and they passed the depot
three times. as II they were just de-
termined Ben should see them"
Mrs Perkins jumped to conclusions
with the skill OF . 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
Charlie Wilkes. the dapper young man.
who. while ON = vacation visit to
Marshville. had been paying Mabel 20
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 sitting
sense OF impending storm. Convcrsa-
tion moved haltingiy. Eight o'clock
came and passed, and from over the
hill came the faint sounds Of the
church organ.
Are We going to the union song
service tonight?" asked Ben.
What for?" retorted Mabel. ITO lis
ten to Mamie Cobb try to outsing
Elsie Martini"
Seemed like you enjoyed the
church social Thursday night; that is,
1t looked that way to an outsider like
me-" Thus Ben touched on the spark
that exploded his intention to avoid
the one subject of which they were
both thinking.
Yes. l did, and that because was
with a live wire," snapped Mabel. "If
few people like that lived in Marsh.
vile there'd be something to enjoy all
the time"
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, l can mighty soon relieve
you Of It." Ben descended two steps,
and added: Good night, Mabel.
You'll not be bothered with my com.
pany again unless you say the word
"Of course. being . man, you'll
blame the woman when things go
wrong. l hope you're satisfied. and
I'm sure 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 automobils and they
stopped near the square 10 listen to
the bard
Gee. this il 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 TWEEN.
ty dollars a week for the lightest kind
of ofiice work. and evenings they've
nothing to do but dress up an 60
70 . show or . dance."
But Amy Cobb was home las,
week. weakly protested Mabel. 'and
she makes q good salary: but she says
it is hard to mako friends in the city
among the kind Of people you'd care
To call friends
-Oh. well II . girl acts like . stii
people. will pass her up. but you'd
never have to 90 begging for . friend
or . beau-certainly not, when I'm
anywhere around" Charlie slipped
his arm around Nabel's waist and
started to draw her TO him. but 1t that
instant there came . crashing sound
from the band platform and . 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 blaxingly upon
him a. she let herself out 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 q him.
'Why should do anything?" came
Charles Indifferent reply. ITS no
concern Of mine II these Rubes want
to get their necks broken. Even your
friend. the station agent and baggage
hustler. IL in that gang. Sect"
All Mabel could see was . young
woman hugging 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 asonised questions SO
plainly that . man explained:
ssFlosH ~a- fhas pr<,~l-S La a~.A .,.