The Wahpeton times., 1917-06-14
UNUSUAL INTRODUCTION
BY IzoLA FORESTER.

ssSssssssssssssssssesssSs
Dick lived on Staten island and
worked in lower Manhattan. At night
ne walked down to the Battery, unless
1t was stormy, and took ferry across
the lower bay. And while others home
ward bound might hunt the seclusion
that the cabin granted, Dick used to
turn up his coat collar and take con.
stitutiOnal trot around the deck. It
was generally so cool and brisk that
he had little company until the girl
appeared as regular trotter, too.
She was about twenty. he judged,
and wore heavy. Misunderstanding
coat. with a turned-up storm collar,
too, and rakish dark blue "tam"
pulled close over her fair curly hair.
Never once did she appear to notice
Dick. although they passed and re-.
passed each other night after night on
the half-hour trip.
"And how am I to get acquainted
with herr" he asked Bernie. II can't
speak to her offhand, and can't flirt
with her. She isn't that kind, Bernie.
She's thoroughbred. wish she'd
trip and tumble so could hold her up,
or something like that"
"Where does she 60 at the end?"
asked Bernie. Maybe it would be
easy to trail her there"
Dick favored him with q smile of
full appreciation. This hadn't occurred
to him.
"I'll get out at seven tomorrow, and
watch the trains," he said. "Tell the
old man I wasn't we'll when 1 left to-
day. may not get in till noon."
He haunted the train terminus until
s:15 the following morning. It was
clear and frosty, and in his buttonhole
Dick had tucked last lone pink aster
from the home garden over at st.
George. Then he saw her coming. BY
daylight she looked even younger, and
her hair was surely the curliest blond
hair he had ever seen. He hid behind
newspaper until the ferry swung into
the slip. and then followed her aboard.
She did not pace the deck now, but
read book all the way up. he could
not even tell whether she had noticed
him at all. At the New York end she
took subway express uptown, and
Dick was on the same car.
1t happened at about Thirty-fourth
street just before the express swung
up toward the new tunnel cut. There
came heavy jolt and grinding of
brakes then darkness. And all Mt once
he felt someone jostle him, and tug
at his pocket. Just as the lights went
up the man behind him had seized him
by the shoulder, but Dick already had
grip on the wrist that was half out of
his pocket.
mo, you DON'T" he said curtly. "Not
this time"
They were working in pairs, he knew
Mt once. The pal of the one he had
hold of was calling for the guard and
accusing Dick of being the thief. But
Dick knew the game thoroughly. Not
once in the tussing did he let go his
grip, and when the train pulled into
the Grand Central station he was smil
ing as the guard hurried them all off
on to the platform and someone blew
n police whistle. At the first sound the
man who had accused him fled, but
was hustled back before he reached
the first stairs. And all at once Dick.
standing nonchalantly with neat
knuckle grip on his prisoners wrist,
saw the girl near him in the crowd,
her eyes wide and friendly.
And just how it all happened Dick
never could quite tell, but when the
police came it was she who vOuchcd
for him. She gave her name as wit
ness, too. and Dick stood trifle more
erect as he heard she was q librarian.
His own business references sufliccd,
and presently the crowd had melted
and they stood together on the plat
form with the ice broken at last.
"It was dandy of you to say all
that" he burst out, boyishly. "And
you didn't even know my name."
"Ycs l did, too. I saw it one day on
your suitcase-Richard Conlcy."
81 don't know yours"
"It's Mollie," she smiled up at him
shyly. "Mollie Newc0mb. It's funny
sort of introduction, isn't IT? But we've
seen each other every day for months,
and don't think 1t was wrong to say
know you, do yOu?"
Il think it was great" said Dick fer
vently. "Did-did you know l came
up on purpose to see where you
worked? I've wondered how on earth
{ WIS ever going to get acquainted
with you, both of us doing that daily
marathon around the deck and never
laring to speak,"
ITS getting late," said Mollie, ir-
relevantly. Il have to be at the library
by ten. Remember. we have to be in
court in the morning. I've never been
before, but I don't mind if you're there
too. I think you were awfully brave
10 hold on to that mans hand after he'd
tried to pick your pocket. You didn't
know what he might do"
"No, and he didn't know what I
might do, either" said Dick, grimly.
The next morning he met her in the
anteroOm of the court. The case was
the first called and WAS soon diSnOSed