The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-03-03
"ALIM0N"
BY FLORA HANDY.

lass at Ports Harbor, and especially
was she liked by Bonnie Brandon,
manager Of the dry goods store Of
Hogskins & Smith; Addie was a
jolly girl, and wherever she appeared
at the Corner" she was always
surrounded by a bevy Of young folks,
and usually, If 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 year now, and she was consid-
cred Tin 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 bis head, hands, or feet, and
at a party, during dancing, he could
can out "Alimon left or right" In such
way that he won the admiration OF
everybody, though no one knew what
aliInon meant. Addie being the best
dancer and prettiest girl, naturally the
new city chap devoted his atten-
t1on most exclusively to her, and she
was, if anything, 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 ut the
hall that a stray minstrel. company
was to give. "Oh, Bennie," she laugh
ed, don't let Addie see she h
teasing, you SOP "TH let that beast
she Is flirting around with see
so pretty soon. though" Bonnie an
swered, ruffiing his blond tresses In
football style over his head; and with
his pouting lips and flushed cheeks he
looked not unlike a big peeved baby.
Hes a 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
help 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 outT
Matte asked, with a smiling wink at
Lem.
Bennie kicked the footstool away
from the chair where he sat. Hes a
coward, that's all IL he declared. "A
rascally coward" "why don't you
prove 1t to Adder That's all you
would have to do" Lem said in his
his slow, deep drawl. eff I could :"
Bonnie exclaimed, his eyes flashing.
"OhI" cried Matte. 81 have IT, Ben
ME. Where Is that bearskin you
dressed up in New Years as a Cali
thumpiane Can't you put that on and
scare himf He wasn't here New
Years and never saw you I'm IL, and
Addie did. It wouldn't brighten her
and II In 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,
thought 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. viii, !"
Bonnie said; "you see I can't leave
the stone. and take her around to all
these entertainments, and she don't
like 1t, but that can't be helped. /
have to tend to business. Say, there1l
be fun tonight, though, Mattie-you've
head on you like a brickl Lem.
you've got one fine girl there, and IL ID
wasn't for Addie-" "You go now"
growled Lem, cor I'll be dressing up
as bear too" Bonnie went on laugh
ing. During a hull in the concert Mat
tie whispered to Lem: Il told Addie
BennIe was going to dress as a bear
and scare Ralph Duriin, and she
laughed" ''You told her; whyf" 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 1t, why she cares
me st for him; If she don't tell him,
whF she cares most for Bonnie"
"U- mph," commented Lem, "that
scan . LIS not to be compared with Ben
| jamiL; she will be a fool, but then I
think you did right" Ralph was near
ing tn , lane with Addie, and bending
low he said:s you are the fairest
| girl I erer met" etc. Addie laughed
and answered gayIy: Really. Mr..
n OuIhlHr gOu dEC a great ndlLcECI.
Then all of q sudden terrible noise
arrested their attention. Ralph
stopped still I'm the road. Standing
+, over the broken wall In the clear
moonlight. was horrible monster
bear, his white teeth cleaning in a
snarl and emitting hair-raisins
growls. "What-what." choked Ralph.
'Y-e-a-u-o-w," he yelled. "Help-run
for your life; It's a bear" And
suiting the action to the word. he did
run.
/ .Addie stood in the road and
i screeched with laughter, and along the
| road farther there were suppressed
giggles from a couple hid behInds a
tree. To help Ralph In his sprinting.
Lem gave fierce growl, worse than
any yet, and the city chap yelled In his
fear. Laughing now, and with the
bears head thrown back. Bonnie came