Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1917-06-01
Caught" by a Bull
By ARTHUR GLYNN

Ralph Nichols managed to get
through the winter without succumb-
ing to an illness and In the spring was
ordered by his physician to the coun-
try. He found quarters with private
family in farming district and in or
der TO get the benefit of exercise In the
open air volunteered to assist in pre-
pairing the soil for the next seasons
crops
The first thing the country people
thereabout knew of Nichols presence
among them was seeing what they
took to be new farm hand working
in the fields. for he donned a farmers
attire and worked like any other man.
He was a good looking chap. and It
was not long before the young women
began to take notice of his existence.
Certain men, instigated by their wives
and daughters, invited him to come
and see the folks But Nichols re-
piled to all such invitations that he
was in the country for his health, that
1t was best for him to 90 TO bed early
and it would not be convenient for
him to make calls. This was taken
for an excuse. it being supposed that
he did not care to associate with the
farmers families of the region.
But instead of irritating the young
women it made them more DESTROYS of
securing some notice from Mr.. Nichols.
Indeed. there was scarcely one OF them
but nourlshed some plan in her breast
e., L,
One day Nichols was trudging across
a field to reach the place of his work
when he heard womans voice cry:
Look OUT
Looking aside. he saw a girl running
toward him with pitchfork. At first
he fancied that she was coming to
attack him and wondered what might
be the cause of her hostility. But,
hearing the thud of hoofs in another
direction, he turned again and saw a
bull coming toward him. The girl was
much nearer to him than the bull.
Nichols now took in the situation. He
bad entered an inclosure where the bull
had been turned out to pastuEe. The
girl had seen his danger and, snatching
up a ptchfork, had run toward him.
The principal question in his mind was
which would reach him first, the girl
or the bull. If the bull won the race
he would be gored and probably killed
If the girl reached him first he would
probably be safe. for the bull was not
likely to impale himself on the prongs
of pitchfork and If he did he would
not be capable of doing any harm.
Nichols ran toward the girl. keep
ing one eye on her and the other on
the bull. As she neared him he held
out his hand for the pitchfork; but. in
stead OF giving 1t to him. she planted
herself between him and the brute.
Whether the bull. which had known her
ever since he was calf, deserted on
account of the acquaintance or because
he preferred not to interfere with the
pitchfork does not matter He stopped
short and surveyed the couple as
though simply curious to know why
they had invaded his domain.
Go to the barn." said the girl to
Nichols. Il will cover your retreat"
Nichols uttered word of protest.
asking for the pitchfork, but walked
toward the barn backward. as did the
girl, till both reached a side door of
the building, into which they disap-
peared.
Then Nichols. seeing that the girl
was about to faint, caught her in his
arms.
The next thing Nichols knew n pref
ty country girl who had saved his life
was opening her eyes and looking up
into his face. Perhaps it was reali-
zation that words were poor medium
for expressing gratitude; perhaps it
was impulse. At any rate, he drew
her nearer to him and kissed her.
Now came the surprise of Mr. Mich
OILS life.
Tell me-" he said. "what | can do
to show my gratitude for what you
have done for me-"
She blinked her eyes, looked up att
the loft, looked to the right, to the
left, then straight at the face above
her.
Come and see me- she said
Come and see YOU"
YES"
what has that to do with graft
tude:"
It'll make all the other girls fu.
rious."
"Humph"' said Nichols, standing her
on her feet. ut seems to me that's a
very poor way of showing gratitude.
Isn't there something l can do for you?
Wouldn't you like to be helped to a
career or something's
enough"
"I'll be at your house this evening
early"
The girl seemed wrapt in the idea OF
getting ahead of the other girls giving
no sign of any Interior motive. New