The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-02-27
"ALIM0N"
BY FLORA HANDY.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

jolly girl, and wherever she appeared
at the Corner she was always
surrounded by a bevy of young folks,
and usually. II there were any of the
masculine sex among the crowd, Ben
ME would stand glaring out of one Of
the big plate-glass windows at them.
He had been walking home with Addie
for a year now, and she was consid-
cred lin that country town. his girl.
Then appeared on the scene a city.
bred young gentleman. He had been
on the stage and In a circus; he could
dance on his head, hands, or feet, and
at q party, during dancing, he could
call out "Allmon left or right" In such
way that he won the admiration of
everybody, though no one knew what
dancer and prettiest girl. naturally the
new city chap devoted his atten-
ton most exclusively to her, and she
was, If anything, q tease, and delight
ed In seeing Bennie's glaring eyes on
the new beau. OF course, she was only
teasing him, so Matte Dean assured
Bonnie one night, when he came burst
ing into her parlor as she sat with
Lem Barry, Bennie's best friend. She
was ready for the concert up at the
hall that stray minstrel company
was to give. "Oh, Bennie," she laugh
ed, don't let Addie see she is
teasing you SOP "Ill let that beast
she is flirting around with see
so pretty soon, though" Bonnie an
swered, ruffling his blond tresses in
football style over his head; and with
his pouting lips and flushed cheeks he
looked not unlike big peeved baby.
Hes coward and everyone around
here knows It." Bonnie went on. Look.
this winter how he ran when Bob
Leavitt got In the lake and called for
helpl He ran home fast as his bow
legs could carry him and left one fell
low to get Bob out alone" "And who
was the fellow that got Bob out?"
Matte asked, with a smiling wink at
Lem.
Bonnie kicked the foOtstool away
from the chair where he sat. Hes a
coward, that's all!' he declared. "a
rascally coward" "Why don't you
prove it to Adder That's all you
would have to do" Lem said in his
his slow, deep drawl. IF I couldw
Bonnie exclaimed, his eyes flashing.
"Ohl" cried Matte. 81 have it, Ben
ME. Where is that bearskin you
dressed up in New Years as a Cali
Triumphant Can't you put that on and
scare him? He wasn't here New
Years and never saw you in it, and
Addie did. 1t wouldn't frighten her
and 1t Is moonlight tonight"
"When they come from the concert,
you could wait until they got to the
lonely corner at the foot of the lane,
and then grOwl like you did New
Years. My, what growls you did give,
though And that will prove to Addie
what coward he Is, for he would
run. The snow Is deep and he couldn't
go very fast; you could chase him"
They all laughed "By Jove, 1 will"
Bonnie said; you see l can't leave
the store, and take her around to all
these entertainments, and she don't
like It, but that can't be helped. |
have to tend to business. Say. there'll
be fun tonight though, Mattle-you've
head on you like a brick Lem,
you've got one fine girl there, and If II
ont -
growled Lem, "or I'll be dressing up
as a bear too" Bonnie went on laugh
Ing. During lul In the concert Mat.
tie whispered to Lem: ~ told AddIe
Bonnie was going TO dress as a bear
and scare Ralph Durkin, and she
laughed" "You told her; why?" Lem
asked slowly. "Well," Matte sighed
you see she has been altogether too
friendly with that new fellow, and II
viii show who she cares most for. II
she tells Ralph about it, why she cares
mt st for him; II she don't tell him,
whl she cares most for Bonnie"
~ mph," commented Lem, that
scan p is not to be compared with Ben
iamil ; she will be n fool, but then !
| think YOU did right" Ralph was near
ing tn lane with Addle, and bending
low he said you are the falrest
girl | 'er met" etc. Addie laughed
and answered gayly: Really, Mr.
| Durkin, you are great flatterer."
Then all OF a sudden a terrible noise
arrested their attention. Ralph
stopped stll in the road. Standing
over the broken wall In the clear
moonlight, was horrible monster
bear, his white teeth cleaning in
snnrl and emitting Embarrassing
growls. "What-what," choked Ralph.
"Y-e-a-u.o-w,' he yelled. "Help-run
for your life; it's bear" And
sultlng the action to the word. he did
! run.
AddIe stood in the road and
screeched with laughter, and along the
road farther there were suppressed
| glggles from couple hid behind q
tree TO help Ralph in his sprIhling,
Lem gave a fierce growl, worse than
any yet, and the city chap yelled in his
fear. Laughing now, and with the
bears head thrown back, Bennle came
back to Addle.
isn't he brave, huh?" he grInned.
I'm wager he don't stop going all
night" Then the strong fur arms
caught the girl in a tight embrace.
"Bennie." laughed Adde, "a bear
| hocn't got onvfbtnO nm von for huO
cling" no" Bonnie answered. his