Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1917-03-07

Prudence laughed gleefully, like a
lchild. She never laughed again in ex-
actly that way. "Here goes!" she
cried, and, lenping nimbly into the
saddle, she pedaled swiftly few
times, and then lifted her feet to the
coveted position. The pedals flew
around beneath her, and the wind
Whistled about her in most exhila-
rating way.
But as she neared the bottom the
placid mule suddenly stalked into the
middle of the road. Prudence screamed,
jerked the handlebar to the right, to
the left, and then, with sickening
thud, she struck the mule head first,
and bounced on down to the ground,
with a little cry of pain. The bicycle
crashed beside her, and the mule,
slightly startled, looked around at her
with ears raised in silent questioning.
Then he ambled slowly across the road,
and deliberately continued his grazing.
Prudence tried to raise herself, but
she felt sharp pain. She heard some
one leaping over the fence near her,
and wondered, without moving her
head, if it could be tramp bent on
highway robbery. The next instant a
nlan was leaning over her. Its not
4 tramp" she thought, before he had
time to speak.
care you hurt?" he cried. "You poor
child!"
Prudence smiled pluckily. .sMy ankle
is hurt little, but am not child"
The young man, in great relief,
laughed aloud, and Prudence Joined
him rather family.
I'm afraid cannot walk" she said.
4 believe I've broken my ankle maybe
ny whole leg, for all l know. It
aurts- pretty badly!"
"Lie down like this" he said, helping
her to more comfortable position, ''do
lot move. May examine your foot?'
| She shook her head, but he removed
he shoe regardless of her headshake.
Il believe it is sprained. am sure
the bone is not broken. But how in
the world will you get home? How far
is it to Mount Mark? Is that where
you live?"
Eyes" - considering ''yes, 1 live
there, and it must be four miles, any
aow. What shall I do?'
In answer, he pulled off his coat, and
arranged it carefully by the side of the
road on the grass. Then jerking open
the bag he had carried, he took out a
few towels, and three soft shirts.
Hastily rolling them together for pill
low, he added it to the bed pro TEN.
Then he turned again to Prudence.
III carry you over here, and fix
you as comfortably as can. Then I'll
&c to the nearest house and get a
wagon to take you home.''
| Prudence was not shy, and realizing
that lis plan was the wise one, she
1 made no objections when he came to
help her across the road. II think
can walk if you lift me up
But the first movement sent such q
twinge of pain through the wounded
ankle that she clutched him frantically
and burst into tears. ut hurts" she
cried, "doa't touch me-
Without speaking, he lifted her as
gently as he could and carried her to
the place he had prepared for her.
"Will you be warm enough?" he asked,
after he had stood looking awkwarGly
down upon the sobbing girl as long
as he could endure it.
EYES," nodded Prudence, gulping
down the big sob rising in her throat
''I'll run. This confounded cross-cut
is so out of the way that no one will
pass here for hours, suppose. Now
lie as comfortably as you can, and do
not worry. I'm going to run"
Off he started, but Prudence, left
alone, was suddenly frightened.
please, Oh, please" she called after
him, and when he came back she buried
her face in shame, deep in the linen
towel.
Pm afraid" she whispered, crying
again. II do not wish to be left alone
mere. A snake might come, or 8
| tramp"
He sat down beside her. you're
nervous. I'll stay with you until you
feel letter. Someone may come this
way. but it isn't likely. l cut through
lh:. HICKORY grove TO save mile. That's
how l happened to find you" He
smiled a little, and Prudence, remem
bering the nature of her accident
flushed. Then, being Prudence, she
laughed.
1T was my own fault. had no bust
ness to go coasting down like that. But
The mule was so stationary. 1t never
occurred to me that he contemplated
moving for the next century at least
He was a bitter disappointment" She
looked down the roadside where the
mule was contentedly grazing, witt
never so much as sympathetic glance
at his victim.
I'm afraid your bicycle is rather
badly done up"
whatever will Matte Moore
say to me? It's borrowed. Oh, see
now, that it was just foolish pride that
made me unwilling to ride during de