The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-07-05

friend-and a woman-not a talking
doll"
Good gracious. Ami You've bro
ken out in new spot" exclaimed the
other girl in surprise.
! Maybe it is new to you"
She turned and walked away, hav-
ing seen the approach of Hale. He
attempted to stop her, but she hurried
on with word or two of greeting.
She was thinking hard. If Hale was
the kind of man Nell had led her to
believe, then she had been entirely
wrong in her estimate of him. Still
it would not be right to form an opin-
ion so hastily. Time would tell. Ii
he went on paying assiduous attention
to Nell that would be the answer to
the question. AS the weeks went on
it seemed to Ann that the answer was
becoming cruelty apparent. Two or
three times when she ran in to see
Nell she found Hale there; and feel
ing constrained, and very much IN the
way, she took quick departure.
Once he asked her when he could call,
but it seemed such a perfunctory re-
quest that she claimed to be full OF
engagements, and suggested that he
call her up later. He did not call her
up. and it seemed as though the con-
viction, which in spite of herself she
had been fighting against, must be
true.
Then she had ar unexpected thrill.
The telephone rang. 1t was his voice
at the other end. Would she go with
Nell and him to moving picture en-
tertainment that evening? Yes, she
would.
The picture was at a small theater
quite near her own home, and the two
called for her. 1t was the usual mixed
audience, young men and girls, old
men, and married pairs, and women
with little children, come for the
cheap, innocent amusement, the real
boon which the movies" have given
to all sorts and conditions Of men and
women.
1t was about two-thirds over when
there was a cry of fire. The people
began to leave according to instruc-
lions; but always the selfish, brutal,
half-craZed element will assert itself,
and as the smoke grew thicker a
stampede began.
Ann saw two children in the way of
the rushing crowd, and quickly drag
ging them aside, she pulled them out
Of the aisle, stood them up on seats,
and mounted guard beside them. Hale,
almost carrying Nell, was making his
way to the door when he missed Ann.
and looked back. He saw her take
hold Of a child, and thought she was
following. AS she stood there alone,
the bitter thought that he had first
considered Neil came to her, even
amidst the tumult of shrieks and
curses. At last when they were all
out she led her frightened little
charges to the door. In the almost
deserted lobby an excited but over
joyed mother pounced upon the eldest
girl and overwhelmed Ann with
thanks. But she knew nothing Of the
LOL VI 1--we yOdlO LAdL ALL AACAO
by the hand. Hale had come up and
heard it all. Ann saw him and said:
"Where is Nell?"
81 put her in a taxi and came back
to look for you. Thank God You're
all right! Now I'm going to take you
home"
81 must wait here for a while to see
if anyone comes for this child. So
don't trouble, please. can get home
all right"
'Pm going to force myself on you,
and I'm going to know what I've done
to be treated this way. If you can't
stand me just say so, and I'll go-but
shall hate to awfully."
They waited till a claimant came
for the little one, and during the wait
had considerable time to come to an
understanding. Ann found that after
all Richard Hale wasn't looking for
"clinging vine."