Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-06-17
A MANS MAN
BY VINCENT G. FERRY.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
| Copyright. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate-)
Brian Boone sank into his seat and
| famed himself mechanically. Never
| before had he been under such nerve
strain. His cheeks were burning scar
let and his tongue seemed to cleave to
the roof of his mouth. He had just
finished his first speech In public, and
he could not remember a word that
| he had said.
He must have said something pleas
ing TO the audience, though, for the ap-
plause had not yet died out. Never
before had he realized how gawky
he was. His red hands appeared more
offensive than ever and be was sure
he looked as foolish as he felt In his
dress suit.
Clarence Allison, manager Of the
towns only bank. stepped to the plat
form and eyes the audience In pat
ronizing way.
What would he have given to be able
to wear a dress suit as well as ALI
son wore one? Why were his hands
big and red?
When the speech was ended Brian
was almost ready to run from the
building. Allison must have shown
the audience what a poor speaker
Boone was. The comparison would
make a laughing stock of him.
Beulah Ashby, the young principal
of the high school stepped on the plat
form and smiled winningly about her.
To him she was the cleverest woman
Just as the applause broke, shrek
came from the back of the hall.
"Fire!'
The place was packed to suffocation,
and everyone 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 as
clouds of smoke swept in.
"Sit DOWN." Brian yelled, but the
smoke seemed to choke him and he
realized that he could not be heard
above the din. He turned to see Beu-
lah standing as If glued to the floor.
He caught glance of her just be-
fore the crowd closed in on her. That
was enough. Like mailman he fought
his way through them all and reached
her. The smoke was binding them,
but once his arms were about her she
seemed to lose all sense of danger.
The quickest escape was by the fan.
light in the roof, he knew. He was
steadying her on the roof almost be-
fore she had time TO realize what 1t
was all about.
'"The big elm is the only way down, "
he announced, 'and there is quite a
jump to reach its branches. VIII you
trust me to take It with you in my
arms?"
"My safety is in your hands," she
said sweetly, as she frightened her grip
upon him. "You have the strength of
Hercules"
arm about her, he took the jump, reach
ed out and grasped the limb, his mus.
cles cracking under the test. There
was laugh from the crowd that start
led him. Everybody seemed to be en-.
joying the sight of the smoke and he
looked at them in wonder.
ut wasn't a fire at ALL" one said
at was just smoke from the. furnace
The panic was without foundation"
Brians cheeks had regained their
blush of shame. He turned to make
an apology to Beulah. but she had dis.
appeared.
'Here, Brian, here Is some water
Let me battle your wrist" 1t was
Beulah. He turned to her quickly, but
the smile of her face was not one OF
pity.
II have been an idiot. 1t is not q
fire at ALL" he said hoarsely. "You
must have thought was crazy"
II thought nothing of the kind" she
answered. 81 thought 1t was fire
too. Everyone did. If you had not
rescued me I would have died OF
fright. No other man In the world
could have done 1t as you did"
II was carried away by the panic of
1t, too" he answered. II am sure Mr.
Allison did not lose his head. That
was another chance he had to show
his superiority over me-"
HE was the one who shrieked fire |!
| saw him leave the room," she replied
OE1o fS NOT your
"But he is so much my superior in
education. socially and every way"
'No; in very few ways" she con.
tradicted. ''Do you think education
makes anyone happier or better? Ed
ucatiOn is a necessity In business like
Mr.. Allison's. just as strong eye and q
clear head are necessity In yours
"You both can make a good living
| and home for yourselves"
"At college domestic science appeal.
| ed to me far more than algebra OF
Greek. Cooking and sewing would
mean more to me than teaching. / am
woman, you see, despite my educa-
| tion."
"You are" he answered, glancing al
her in rapture, 'the most wonderful
woman in the world. You have made
me forget the gawk / have always
| thought / was, and can remember
| nothing now but the home / am going
to build and the fireside that will be
| there. You have made me wonder
what your answer would be If I asked
you to become my wife aud make me
| the happiest man In the world"
ASK me-" she answered sweetly
| "and then you will know"