Baxter Springs news., 1917-09-20

escorted her off-hand from church on o
Sunday night. And this he must ac-
complish at the church door, out Of
sometimes-as savage rivalry challenging
disaster.
For by this simple, primitive, heroic
process the status OF contestants Tor
maids favor is fixed. He whose arm
is taken can face his little world on
Monday. He whose arm is rejected
is, on Monday, social exile. For the
small world Of the vicinage is always
there and this is the maiden's public
election OF him she chooses to honor,
and her public rebuke to his too pre-
sumptuous rival. And, after that,
she is a poor thing indeed who will be
seen in public with the latter; For
nothing is more sweet and cruel than
love.
Seffy was not o publicly-acknowledg-
ed suitor. He could not be. 1t was
impossible! There was that tomb.
stone still Up in the store. Sam had
not vet been dislodged. And Scffy
had not yet arrived where he might
nut the awful qucstion-there was
recognized period for this, and events
had nut it further and further oifl
Indeed, he shuddered when he thought
of it-even then, after that under
standing with Sally!-and contem-
plated getting his father to do it Tor
him.
It had become known; in the wireless
way such things spread in the country
that there had been tentative making
I'D between Seffy and Sally. But
Seffy was still not received IN pubic.
Nor did he appear with Sallyl Nor
might he call upon herl There must
be some open defiance and victory
which all could sec and understand be
fore these things might happen. The
right hand OF renewed fellowship would
not be extended to Seffy until he had
met and vanuuished his rival in public.
II was the primitive right Of the strong
est. proved physically here as IN the
Roman circus. Seffy had never shown
himself q master Of material prowess.
He demurred bit at such plunge INTO
the arena. But there was no other way.
"Why, Sef," advised his father,
"after that it's q dead open and shut
Rame. You better do the biggest sing
You Remand that's the end Of it.. II
had Sally on my side, | wouldn't Eeer
who the hell was on the Otherl You
take her home from churchl Ias,
right afore their dam nosesl Then
they'll run after you and send you
presents. It amt no guess-work Tor
vouI You know that Sally will be
waiting for you wiss her arm all ready
to take yourn. GOSH / meier had
no such sure sing. ] had TO take my
chances wiss you mammyl And it
was three other fellers wiss their arms
out-and the right side yeti But your
daddy was close up against the church
door. And when she come out he
didn't waste no time a-saying polite,
Miss Hungler, ken haf the pleasure
to see YOU home this EVENING" I'd
"a lost the game il had waited to git
off all that dictionary stuff Yassirl
For right opposite me was Bill Elsen-
krout4Sam's uncle-and / knOwed his
arm'd shoot out like q patent corn
husker the minute you NANNY come.
"He was mighty quick, but mighty
politel l knowed he'd say that fooE
ishness about being pleased to see her
home. Well, she come out and l chust
grabbed. And while ! was marching
on like a conquering hero, informing
her that it was o nice cfening, l could
hear Bill on the off side, Citing out that
stuff bout pleasure and seeing her
home. Nancy says, says she: Sank
YOU, Mr.. Eisenkrout, I'm suited; and
/ laughed like helll And, begoshens,
Nancy laughed tool And that settled