The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-03-06
A FRANK OPINION
BY ARTHUR PEACH.

iLS. IIe ndu spent Il lonely evening III
the city and was on his way to the
suburb where he roOmed. The car was
the last one for the night, and it con-
tanned only two passengers besides
hlmself-a girl and fashily dressed
young fellow.
But Haydon's thoughts rested with
his fellow passengers only a brief
time. He was thinking that something
was wrong with him. For four years
he had worked as clerk In the office
OF the firm without raise of salary.
He had made few friends--and not
girl had ever smiled upon him.
A light touch ON his shoulder drew
his attention, and he turned to look
into the oval-shape face of the girl pas
senger. 1t was girlish face, and on
it was an anxious, worried expression
that gave touch of pathos to her
dark eyes. She sank into the seat with
him, and spoke hurriedly.
"Please don't think me forward. but
that man there has been following me,
l think. I've seen him a few times be-
fore. | live in this section, and have
quite way to walk through a dark
street. Will you help me? I-I-Areally
don't know what to do. Can you tell
me what to do?''
Hayden was dazed for more than q
moment. No girl ever had spoken to
him other. than in the course of bust
ness, and here was pretty, frightened
girl asking his aid. He looked ahead
at the man to whom she had referred.
He was broad shouldered and the
shoulders suggested strength.
Hayden moved his feet uneasilv. 81
don't know" he answered hesitatingly.
Il don't believe he will hurt YOU"
The girls sensitive face flushed quick
~. He saw that she looked at him
with contempt. Without a word she
went to her seat.
The car sped on. At last, the girls
hand was raised as signal to stop. AS
she did SO, the other man reused him
self and repeated the signal.
With a white face, the girl rose and
staggered down the aisle to the door,
and after her the man whom she
feared. After they had alighted and
the car had moved away, the conduc-
tor, slight, gaunt faced youth, came
up to Hayden.
What was the matter with the
girl?" he asked.
Hayden told him. The lean law
dropped, and the young fellow stared
at Hayden. 'Why didn't you go with
herr" he demanded.
Why should l butt in?" was the
half-hearted reply,
The conductor turned with an oath
of disgust. 81 know what the trouble
is with you-yoti're d blamed coward p"
He jerked the bell. "Now you get
off, beat it back there, and see that
girl home! You don't ride on this
cart"
IN a moment he was outside. the
car was vanishing and he was saying
to himself: That's just what's wrong
I'm coward"
A new sensation caught and tore in
ms throat-a wrenching, gagging force
that was the pride of manhood reused
and stung TO the quick He found him
self sprinting down the avenue toward
the side street up which the girl had
fled.
Then he made out indistinctIy
through the darkness two figures lust
beyond him and at the same moment
Il terrified call for help broke the 81
lence.
A snarl broke from Haydon's lips.
lie clutched forward wildly and his
fingers sank into throat-a man'si
Then followed a desperate pressure
OF muscles against his. His head was
battered and bruised, his body tor
tured with the weight placed upon it;
but his fingers held to the throat. Over
ana over, up and down, back and forth
IN the darkness and mire of the street.
they struggled for the mastery until
Haydoh knew he had won. - rs s -
Hayden let go and sat up. Three
policemen We're lifting a limp figure
into the tOnneau of their car. One of
them came back to him. 'You better
come along with us. You're battered
up In great shape, if you only knew it.
wen take the girl along to her house."
Hayden, refusing the offered arm.
staggered to the car, and, entering it.
sank weakly into seat. Something
pressed against him in the darkness as
the car started, something clasped
around his neck and something
warm and fragrant rested on his lips.
Again shock cleared his conscious
ness-the lips of the girl!
They left her at her home, humble
little place. Then the car turned
away.
On the way back to the station, Hay
don asked one of the officers how they
happened to come.
'The conductor Of one of the cars
stopped in. We were doubtful, but we
thought it would do no harm to run
| out. BY the way, it must take some
nerve to tackle man 80 pounds heay-
Ter than you. We found a knife in
the grass, too. How'd you do it,"