Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-01-03
The Capitals
Short Story
"ALIMON"

manager OF the dry goods store or
Hogskins & Smith; Addie was q
jolly girl. and wherever she appeared
at the Corner" she was always
surrounded by a bevy Of young folks.
and usually. IL 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 city
bred young gentleman. He had been
on the stage and In circus; he could
dance on his head. hands. or feet. and
at party, during dancing, he could
call out "Alimon left or right" In such
a way that he won the admiration of
everybody, though no one knew what
alimon meant. Addie being the best
dancer and prettiest girl. naturally the
new city chap devoted his atten-
tion 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
hall that stray minstrel company
was to give. "Oh, Bennie," she laugh
ed, "don't let Addie see she is
teasing you sol" 'rll 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 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 fel.
low to get Bob out alone" sand who
was the fellow that got Bob out?"
Matte asked, with smiling wink at
Lem. ~SSs. .as.=s ss--ss'ssss, 8. - -,--ls-ss~
Bonnie kicked the footstool away
from the chair where he sat. Hes
coward, that's all" he declared. "a
rascally coward" ''Why don't you
prove it to Addie? That's all you
would have to do" Lem said in his
his slow, deep drawl. III could I"
Bonnie exclaimed. his eyes flashing.
"Ohw cried Matte II have 1t, Ben
ME. Where is that bearskin you
dressed up In New Years as a Cali
Triumphant Can't you put that on and
scare him7 He wasn't here New
Years and never saw you In II, and
Addie did. 1t wouldn't brighten 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, i will,"
Bonnie said; 'you see / can't leave
the store. 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, thereIl
be fun tonight. though. Mattie-you've
q head on you like a brickl Lem,
you've got one fine girl there. and IL II
wasn't for Addie-" "You 90 now"
growled Lem, cor I'll be dressing up
as bear too" Bonnie went on laugh
ing. During lull in the concert Mat
tie whispered to Lem: II told Addie
Bonnie was going to dress as bear
and scare Ralph Durkin, and she
laughed" "You told her; whyY 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
most for him; If she don't tell him,
why she cares most for Bennie."
"U- mph," commented Lem, that
scan . is not to be compared with Ben
jamii: she viii be a fool, but then
think you did right" Ralph was near
Ing tn lane with Addie. and bending
low he said: you are the fairest
girl l e -er met" etc. Addie laughed
and answered gayly: Really, Mr..
Durkin, you are great fiatterer."
Then all Of a sudden a terrible noise
arrested their attention. Ralph
stopped still in the road. Standing
over the broken wall in the clear
moonlight, was horrible monster
bear, his white teeth cleaning in a
snarl and emitting Embarrassing
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
screeched with laughter. and along the
road farther there were suppressed
giggles from couple hid behind
tree. To help Ralph in his sprinting,
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, Bennie came
hack TO Addie.