Middletown transcript., 1917-04-07
With that she started forward toward

With that she started forward toward
the door.
He reached out across his little rail
and caught her by the arm. 1t was
a natural act enough-not polite, to
be sure, by no means chivalrous.
But it had surprising result. The
first thing he knew he found both
wrists pinned in the grip OF TWO
hands; found himself staring stu
pidly into a pair of great blazing blue
eyes-it's a wrathful' color. blue, when
you light it up-and listening, uncom-
prehendingly, to voice that said'
Don't dare touch me like that!'
The episode might have ended right
there, for the conductors consterna-
ton was complete. But her NOTEBOOKS
were scattered everywhere and had TO
be gathered up, and there were two
or three of the passengers who thought
the situation was funny, and laughed,
which didn't improve the conductor
temper.
Rose was aware, as she gathered up
her notebooks, Of another hand tnat
was helping her-a gloved masculine
hand. She took the books it held OUT
to her as she Strengthened up, and said
"Thank you," but without looking
around for the face that went with
it. The conductor had jerked the bell
while she was collecting her NOTEBOOKS
and the car was grinding down to q
stop.
"You pay your fare" he repeated
cor you get off the car right here!
Fright here" was in the middle OF
what looked like lake, and the rain
was pouring down with roar. Before
she could answer a voice spoke-a
voice which, with intuitive certainty
she associated with the gloved hano
that had helped gather up her note
books-a very crisp, finely modulatec
voice.
THAT'S perfectly outrageous" II
said. "The young lady has paid hel
fare"
did you see her pay it?" demanded
the conductor.
Naturally not" said the voice: :"
got on at the last corner. She val
here then. But if she said she did
she did,"
It seemed to relieve the conductor
to have someone Of his own sex tt
quarrel with. He delivered strean
of admoniticn somewhat sulphurousl.
phrased, to the general effect that an.
one whose concern the present affal
was not, could, al his option, close nj
jaw or have his block knocked off.
Rose became aware that inside
shaggy gray sleeve which hung besld
her, there was a sudden tension Q
big muscles; the gloved hand whfc
had helped gather up her notebook
clenched itself into formidable fls
She spoke quickly and decisively:
won't pay another fare; but, of cours'
Won may put me off the car
"All right" said the conductor.
The girl smiled over the very gir
gerly way in which he reached out 10
her elbow to guide her around the RAJ
and toward the step. Technically, tn
action constituted putting her off tn
car, She heard the crisp voice ono
more this time repeating a number
twenty-two-ought-fve or sOmethin
. like that-just as she splashed dow
into the two-inch lake that covere
, the hollow in the pavement. The be
/ rang twice, the car started with
j., Jerk, there was another splash, and
} big. gray-clad figure alighted in th
J lake beside her.
| "I've got his number" the cris
voice said triumphantly.
But" gasped the girl, ''but what
the world did you get off the car for
It wasn't raining. 1t was doing q
imitation of Niagara Falls, and tt
roar of it almost drowned their voice
"What did / get off the car for
he shouted. "Why, wouldn't hay
missed it for anything. 1t was II
mense! It's SO confounded seldom
he went on, "that you find anyboe
with backbone enough to stick up fl
a principle.
He heard a brief, deep-throatt
laugh and pulled up short with
"What's the joker"
Il laughed" she said, because "
have been deceived" And she add'
quickly, II don't believe it's quite
deep on the sidewalk, is it?" Wi
that she waded away toward the cur
He followed, then led the way
a lee wall that offered, comparative
speaking, shelter. Then, "Where's Il
deception?" he asked.
On any other day, it's probable she
have acted differently-would ha
paid some heed, though a bit CO
temptously. perhaps, to the precepts
ladylike behavior, in which she'd be
admirably grounded. Today being
day, she consigned ladylike consider
tions to the. inventor Of them,
gave instinct it's head.
She laughed again as she answer
his question: ''The deception was tn
I pretended to do it from princip
The real reason why I shouldn't p
another fare is that I only had o
more nickel. It's only about half
mile to the station, but from the
;s home it's ten. So you see I'd ratl
y walk this than that"
~ But that's dreadful!" he crit
"Isn't there Couldn't you
1s me
be "Oh," she said, ut isn't as bad
an that. It's just one of the silly thir