The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-06-18
A MANS MAN
BY VINCENT c. PERRY.

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Brian Boone sank into his seat and
famed himself mechanically. Never
before had he been under such nerve
strain. His checks were burning scar
let and his tongue seemed to cleaye to
the roof of his mouth. He had just
finished his first speech In public, and
he could not remember word that
he had said.
lie must have said something pleas
ing to the audience. though, for the APP
plause 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
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 poor speaker
Boone was. The comparison would
make 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
In the world-the woman he loved.
Just as the applause broke, shrek
came from the back of the hall.
"F'ire!"
The place was packed 10 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
realized that he could not be heard
above the din. He turned to see Beu-
lah standing as II glued to the floor.
He caught a 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
lfnh I'm hn h.A In. -
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, land there is quite
jump to reach its branches. VIII you
trust me TO take 1t 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
That was enough With the same
arm about her, he took the jump, reach
ed out and grasped the limb his mus
cles cracking under the test. There
was a laugh from the crowd that start
led him. Everybody seemed TO be en-
looked at them in wonder.
at wasn't fire at ALL" one said.
at was just smoke from the furnace.
The panic was without foundation"
Brian's 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" It was
Beulah. He turned to her quickly, but
the smile Of her face was not one Of
pity.
IL have been an idiot. 1t is not
fire at ALL" he said hoarsely. "You
must have thought was crazy"
II thought nothing of the kind" she
answered. IL 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 ii as you did"
II was carried away by the panic of
IL, too" he answered. "I 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 T.
saw him leave the room," she replied.
''He Is not your superior"
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 better7 Ed
ucation Is a necessity In business like
Mr.. Alllson's, just as strong eye and a
clear head are necessity in yours.
'You both can make good living
and home for yourselves"
AT college domestic science appeal
ed to me far more than algebra or
L. n.