Ripley County democrat., 1917-05-04
4 FRANK OPINION
BY ARTHUR PEACH.

esseessscsseesssssssssssssscc
Park Hayden was depressed In spir-
its. He hnd spent d lonely evening in
the city and was on his way to the
suburb where he rooined. The car was
the last one for the night, and y con-
talned only two passengers besides
himself "a girl and d dashily dressed
young fellow.
But Haydon's thoughts rested with
his fellow passengers only brief
time. He was thinking that something
was wrong with him. For four years
| he had worked as a clerk In the ONCE
Of the firm without b raise Of salary.
He had made few frlends--and not
girl had ever smiled upon him.
Al light touch on his shoulder drew
his attention, and he turned to look
| into the oval-shape face Of the girl pas
senger. It was girlsh face, and on
| 1t was an anxious, worried expression
that gave touch Of pathos to her
dark eyes. She sank into the seavwith
him, and spoke hurriedly.
sPlease don't think me forward, but
that man there has been following me,
/ think. I've seen him q few times be-
| fore. live In this section, and have
1 quite q way to walk through dark
street. VIII you help met I---I--really
| don't know what to do. Can You tell
me what to dor
Hayden was dazcd for more than a
moment. No girl ever had spoken TO
him other than in the course Of bust
ness, and here was pretty, frightened
| girl asking his MD. He looked ahead
at the man to whom she had referred.
He was broad shouldered- and the
shoulders suggested strength.
Hayden moved his feet uneasily. II
don't know" he answered hesitatingly.
II don't believe he will hurt You"
The girls sensitive face fiushed quick
ly. He saw thut she looked at him
with contempt. Without a word she
went to her scat.
The car sped on. At last, the girls
hand was raised as a signal to stop. AS
she cid 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, a slight, gnunt faced youth. came
up to Haydon.
aWhat was the matter with the
girlr he asked.
Hayden told him. The lean jaw
dropped, and the young fellow stared
OF Hayden. "Why didn't you go with
herf" he demanded.
"why should butt int" was the
half-hearted reply.
. The conductor turned with an oath
Of disgust. 81 know what the trouble
!. Is with you---you're a blamed cowardr'
He jeriSed the bell. "Now you get
of, beat II back there. and see that
girl homel You don't ride on this
carp
In q moment he was outside, the
car was vanishing and he was saying
to himself: "That's jast what's WRONG
Pm cowardl''
A new sensation caught and tore II
; his throat---a wrenching, gngging forc'
that was the pride Of manhood rouset
and stung to the quick. BE found him
self sprinting down the avenue to,vari
J. the side street up which the girl has
fed.
9 Then he made out ffldistincfi,
through the darkness two figures Jus
beyond him and at the same momen
J. a terrified call for help broke The 8
Y lence.
z A snarl broke from Haydon's lip'
!. He clutched forward wildly and hi
. fingers sank into q throat--a man'si
= Then followed a desperate pressur
OF muscles against his. His head wa
battered and bruised, his body tol
y tured with the weight, placed upon Il
? but his fingers held to the threat Qvf
Z and over, up and down, back and fort
!, IN the darkness and mIre Of the stree
Y they struggled for the mastery unit
y Hayden knew he had won.
Z Hayden let 60 and sat up. Thrs
. policemen were lifting limp iigul
" " Into the tonneau OF their car. One I
v v them came back to him. "You bett'
1. \ come along with us. You're battere
N up III great shape, X you only knew
N, Wen take the girl along to her house
q Hayd0n. refusing the offered an
v staggered to the car. and. entering
y y sank weakly into I seat. Somethii
X pressed against him II the darkness |
\, the cur started. something clasp
~ around his neck and eonethiI
!, warm ana fragrant rested On his HI
- Again 1 shock cleared hiS consciou
~ noss--the lips of the giri 1
~ They left her At her home. humb
a little place. Then the car turn
\. away.
Y I, On the w back to the 1ststicn. Hs
Il don asked one Of the officers how a
~ happened TO come,
"a s.The conductor of one Of the q
he stopped In. We were doubtful. but !
thought Il would do 20 harm to :
0uf. nv the wav. II must take noI