The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-24
MISS lEIOA's MAN
BY JANE OSBORN,

For years Miss Leida Gray had been
looking for her man." That, at least,
was the comment that was current In
the Offices of the Indian Mission So
ciety In the big city where she sat for
seven hours day over her desk help
ing to run the motor that, in the far
of western reservation, supplied the
energy for the little Indian chapel
amidst a few struggling redmen's habi-
tations.
Miss Leida enjoyed the Jest as much
rs anyone, but at heart she was very
serious about the matter. It was her
ambition to carry on the mission work
in field even more remote than the
one now supported by the mission go
cietv. She had offered her services as
head Of q mission house such as she
dreamed about. but the board had as
sured her that the perils of life In so
remote n region would be those that
no woman ought to face alone. Miss
I.eida Gray was thirty and to herself
she seemed middle aged.
Daily she read and thought Of the
needs of the handful Of Indians scat
tered over the mountainous regions
and daily she heard the voices calling
out to aid them. And as she thought
Of the needs of the wild men she for
got the needs Of the men and women
around her. She saw the wan faces
of the children In the streets as she
would hurry at night from her office.
1t was one evening when she was
particularly preoccupled thus that Big
Bill Duncan. six feet two. put out one
large hand and gently guided her
through the traffic that challenged
those who crossed the streets. A smile
OF gratitude went up to him as she
thanked him.
Its bad time to sross. for a slip
OF lady like you, ma am," he said.
and from that time every night when
Miss Leida crossed the street the big
policeman was ready to escort her.
Little by little they became ac-
qualnted, though it took time, as all
their conversation had to be carried
on In the brief snatches of talk that
could be caught In these trips across
the street. Then they went to some
lectures together. and, osMiss Leida
asked him to meet her one day In
the sitting room OF her own wee apart
ment. She wanted to present her plan
to him away from the distractions of
the office.
But Bill Duncan got ahead of her
with a plan that had been growing In
his mind
Il am not exactly your sort, know"
he said. but my sister was your sort
Mt heart, and We were each others
sort. Do you get me? Only you are
what sister could never be. OF
course, you think of me as Just traf-
flc cop. Well. don't,wan to be con-
ceited. but I just want TO let you know
that traffic cop can be a brave man
If he isn't exactly swell. / want you
to marry me. VIII your
Miss Leida was not quick In an
sWering him. She thought for few
minutes. Il will marry you on one
condition" she told him, land that Is
II you will go with me out to the wilds
OF the Indian reservation and help me
there with new mission. There are
enly few siCaggUng red men left, and
they are too far from the other mis-.
sion to be reached. 1t is In those that
| am Interested"
How many OF those red folk do
you figure We'll conyert?" he said.
ooh. perhaps none at first. It Is
slow work. In the other group they
have converted three In the last four
years.
Bill asked a few more questions
about the nature of the work in the
West and finally gave his consent
SO Bin gave up the little apartment
he and his sister had lived In and
stored the furniture, but he did not
resign his position on the force.
Then one eyening-it was the last
week that Miss Leida was to work In
the oflice--there was a great commo-
ton In the street when she stepped on
the sidewalk. 1t was the first night In
months that Bill was not there to guide
wv a'i'NS. n e4pNu hali gdlueISu anu
Miss Eetda dtd not know that In the
center OF the crowd lay her policeman
with bullet through his arm and an
other through his shoulder.
Briefly. what had happened was this:
A fanatic. who felt himself the God
cent messenger to cut short the life Of
certain millionaire whose Office was
in that vicinity, had sprung through the
traffic when II was at its thickest. Mis-
taking the limousine of another man
for that OF the millionaire whom he
hated, he had leaped to the running
board, revolver In hand. And Big Bill
Duncan sprang after him. Throwing
himself before the fanatic. he received
the shots that were meant for another.
It was not until an hour later that
Miss Leida in her apartment had the
summons that called her to Bits bed
side in the hospital.
''Ill come through with only scar"
he assured her when she reached him,
his weather-beaten face not a whit the
paler for the pain he had just gone
Al IT, 81