Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1920-12-10
The Popcorn Man
By CECILLE LANGDoN

novelty WQen ne estaDllSneu hlLuselL
In Easton. 1t was at the fall season
when county expositions, street fairs
and the like brought a great many Of
the outside population to the village.
His machine was run by a little steam
engine. 1t had a CHEEKY whistle and
filed the air with an appetizing flavor,
and the old fellow who passed out the
sailed bags with their buttered con-
tents gave satisfactory value for
money received.
He rarely spoke to anybody and was
usually almost enveloped in a long
linen coat, a down-drawn SLOUGH hat
and he wore long bushy whiskers.
The fact was discovered that they
were false.
Makeup? Yes" he freely admit
ted to the curious and suspicious
town marshal. "Why not? 1t gives
me a picturesque identity, don't you
seer"
1t was during the second week of
the reign of the popcorn man that
Hilda Brewer came down town n
evening driving the family automobile.
The town band was giving a concert
and, parking the machine at the curb,
she, like others, strolled about taking
in friends, acquaintance and the live
ly strains of music. When she saw
Elsie Dover at a little distance she
Immediately Joined her. She liked FL
sic and they were real friends. She
liked Elsie's brother. Fitch Dover, too,
b,,A 81 bo1 80 AoIJ n-v1n1- Nhof mot
even himself. Her first question was
regarding him. He had been in the
city for a month and Hilda was eager
to learn how he was getting along.
"Famously, he writes" said Elsie,
although he is d%readfully mysterious.
He hasn't yet told us what he is work
ing at, though papa thinks it is in
some secret service position. Fitch
wrote last week to him limiting that
we had better look out for him soon,
as he had a commission to execute at
Easton."
81 shall be glad to see him." admit
ted Hilda. eve miss him up at the
house.
The two girls finally separated and
Hilda was on her way back to the
auto. when a Whit from the corn pop
per revived early juvenile days and
made her feel hungry. She approached
the pepper which the nondescript op-
orator was moving to and fro, placed
her nickel on the shelf leaf and just
then her eyes met those of the pop
corn man. A thrill, a tremOr, a shock
at the fairly impossible %traversed her
frame.
Fitch" she gasped ~involuntarily.
The popcorn man cast a sharp,
alarmed glance all about him. Don't
speak my name, don't recognize me,
don't tell anybody l am here" he
whispered quickly. when I give you
a paper bag take it home and keep it
safely till l come and see you. Here.
Pretend it is popcorn"
Hilda was all in a culver. 1t was
only by a CLEAN from those magnetic
eyes of Fitch Dover that she had rec
ognized him, despite his grotesque dis
guise. Here was mystery, secrecy, in
deed. She went back to the auto.
Somehow she was greatly interested
and disturbed. Was Fitch in any dan
ger? She did not start up the ma
chine, she knew not why, and when
Fitch, through for the evening, cov-
cred the popcorn wagon with a heavy
piece of canvas and started away.
slowly and at a distance she followed.
AS he turned into another street an
auto circled past her. Two men were
in it. They halted Is they neared
Fitch, sprung out, there was a scuf-
file. They seemed to knock him sense
less, picked him up, flung him into
their auto and started up again.
All of a sudden then Hilda Brewer
felt herself to be the center of a vast
adventure. She did not try to an
alyze its merits. Her pulses beating
tumultously, she had but one idea
to keep her captive lover in sight until
she could secure aid or rescue. Now,
courageous to face any peril for his
dear sake, she knew that she loved
him.
1t was apparent as the two men left
the town behind that they noticed the
pursuit. At all events they speeded
up terrifically as they struck the open
road. Hilda all in a tlutter could only
think of keeping them in view. AS
they turned a sharp curve they were
momentarily lost to view. She shud-
dered and shrank down as a crash
echoed out. Circling the curve she
brought the machine to a halt.
The other machine lay overturned
in a ditch. the two men under it.
Flung free from it, Fitch revived from
his first assault and was staggering
wildly about. Vaguely and then Won
deringly he recognized Hilda.
Get to the nearest telephone. sum-
mon the police at Easton," he qua
vered, and sank to the ground from
sheer shock and weakness.
What a story he had to tell when
back to normal in a day or two. The
real nnDcorn man had hapn the loader