The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-12-14
TIE DAILY
HORT STORY
"a Mani Man.
BY VINCENT q. PERRY
1913 by the McClua

were burning scarlet ami his tongue
seemed to cleave to the roof OF his
e mouth. He had just 1fni5hed his first
speech IN public, and he could not
remember a word that he had said
~ he must have said something pleas
fng to the audience, though, for the
appIause had not yet died out Never
before had he realized how gawky he
was His red hands appeared more
offensive than ever and he was sure
he looked as foolish as he felt in his
fess suit
J Fhy hadn't he had sense enough to
wear collar that did not choke him,
he wondered wildly. He was making
himself more than uncomfortable, but
the next speaker made him forget him
self for the time.
Clarence Allison, manager OF the
towns only bank, stepped to the plat
form and eyed the audience in a pat
:rontzing way. He was the one man
Brian enyfed, with his suave, clean-cut
fashion.sheet style. AS he started to
speak Brian took deep breath of ad-
niration
What would be have given to Be
able to wear dress suit as well as
Allison wore one? Why were his
bands big and red? Why weren't they
white and small like those OF the bank
: or? Why did his hair refuse to stay
plastered down, and why did every
mnstache he attempted to grow de-
eeIop into bristly brush instead OF a
silky ornament like the one that
adorned AI1ison's upper lip?
When the speech was ended Brian
was almost ready to gun from the
building. Allison must have shown
the audience what a poor speaker
Boone was. The comparison would
make laughingstock OF him.
Beulah Ashley, the young principal
90 the high school, STEPPED on the plat
orm and smiled winningly about her.
Quietly she commenced to sepak, out
lining her plans for the new high
school that she hoped the meeting
would decide to build. Simply she
chose her words, and beautifully ex-
pressed her thoughts. Brian's face
< giowed With pleasure.
10 him she was the c!everest WON
an In the WorId-the woman he loved.
But even as she spoke ne realized that
this love was in vain. Clarence ALI
on was sitting back smiling at her
Brian could see her smile back.
e. ydSt as the audience broke a Shrek
sFfre!"
The place was packed to sufSoca ton,
ana every one seemed to rise at once.
Brian felt the people sweeping past
him as he cried out for order. The
fighting. whirling crowd pushed its
way to the door, and then sprang back
q clouds OF smoke swept in.
Sit DOWN." Brian yelled, but the
smoke seemed to choke him and be
realized that he could not be heard
above the din. The crowd seemed TO
realize all at once that their outlet was
barred by the fire below, and as one
man turned to dash over the platform
to the small door at the rear. Brian
turned to see Beulah standing as il
glued to the floor.
He caught a glance of her just be-
More the crowd closed in on her. That
was enough. Like mailman he fought
his nay through them all and reached
her. The smoke was binding them,
but once his arms we're about her she
seemed to lose all sense Of danger
The quickest escape was by the fam
Hight IA the roof, he knew. There was
only one way up and he took It. Cling
ing to her with one arm and using the
other to pull them up the seemingly
4mpregnable wall he started the climb.
His muscles responded admirably. He
was steadyinS her on the roof almost
before she had time to realize what it
was all about.
1.-THE big elm is the only way down."
he announced, land there Is quite a
Jump to reach its branches. Will you
trust me to take it with you IN my
0rms:"
"My safety is in your hands, she
said sweetly, as she frightened her grip
upon him. ''You have the strength of
: Hercules"
That was enough. With the same
arm about her. he took the jump.
reached out and grasped the limb, his
muscles cracking under the test. From
one limb TO another he swing until
they reached the ground. Brian was
s1oath to take his arm from about Beu-
1ahs but the pain in his wrist made it
1ecesSary to do so.
sHe looked at tho other bleeding
tIandG and smiled at it for the first
time in his Life with admiration. Il
had saved Beulah-the girl. But had
1T There was laugh from the crowd
that startled him. Everybody seemed
20 be enjoying the sight Of the smoke
md he looked at them in wonder.
i wasn't a fire at all" one said. ait
IFasNust smoke from the furnace. The
panic was without foundation"
Brian's cheeks had regained their
blush Of shame. He turned to make
m apology to Beulah, but she had dis
ppearea. She had realized what an
dot he had been, he supposed, so had
rot out oG the way. He had made a
show Of her as well as himself Why
eouldn't he die right there, he asked
EinselE Would he ever be done max
az . fool OF himself?
Here, Brian, here IS some water.
ne bathe your wrist" Il was Beu-
BE turned to her quickly. but
aile OF her face was not one OF
We been an IDIOT It Is not a IRE
b said hoarseIy. "You must
Hght I was crazy"
ht nothing OF the kind, !" she
81 thought it was a fire,