The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-06-10

the nme was up, and rnen lust on,
story more" She had not forgotten
how, she found. But she never tolC
them the story of How the Elephant
Got His Trunk" that foolish, fascina
ting s%tory-hour classic that she haC
told Allan the night his mother hac
died: the story that had sent hin
to sleep quietly for the first time in
years. ...... Oh, dear. was every
thing in the world connected with
Allan in some way or other?
1t was nearly six when she wen,
up. engulfed in children, to the cir
culating room. There the night-lib.
rarian caught her. She had evidently
been told to try to get Phyllis for
more story-hours. for she did her
best to make her promise. They
talked shop together for an hour
and a half. Then the growing twi-
light reminded Phyllis that it was
time to go back. She had been shirk-
ing going home, she realized now,
all the afternoon. She said goodbye
TO the night librarian. and went on
down the village street, tagging I'M
consciously, 1t must have been about
eight by this time.
1t vas a mile back to the house.
She could have taken the trolley
part of the way, but she felt restless
and like walking. She had forgotten
that walking at night through we'll
known, well lighted city streets, and
going in half-dusk through country
byWays, were two different things.
She was destined to be reminded of
the difference.
Can you help a poor man, Iady?"
said a whining voice behind her,
when she had a quarter of the way
yet to go. She turned to see a big
tramp, a terrifying brute with a half
propitiating, half-fierce look on his
heavy unshaven face. She was des-
perately frightened. She had been
spoken to onc or twice in the city,
but there there was always q police
man. or a house you could run into
u you had to. But here. in the IN
guarded dust Of a country lane, it
1t was a different matter. The long
gold chain that swung from below
her waist. the big diamond on her
finger, the gold mesh purse-all the
jewelry she took such achild like
delight in wearing-she remembered
them in terror. She was no brown
clad working-girl now, to slip along
disregarded. And the tramp did not
look like a deserving object.
"f you will come to The house to-
morrow" she said, hurrying on as
she spoke, "Tl have some work for
you. The S-st house on this street
that you come to-" She did not dare
give him anything, or send him a
way.
Wont you gimme somethin' now,
lady?" whined the tramp, continuing
to follow. I'm a starvin' man."
She dared not open her purse and
appease him by giving him money
she had too much with her. That
morning she had received the check
for her monthly income from Mr..
De G%uenther, sent Wallis down to
cash it, and then stuffed it in her bag
and forgotten it in the stress of the
day. The man might take the money
and strike her ~senseless, even kill
her.
Tomorrow" she said, going rapid
ly on. She had now what would a.
mount to about three city blocks to
traverse still. There was a short way
from outside the garden-hedge
through to the garden. which cut off
about a half a block. II she could
gain this she would be safe.
NAV, yeh DON'T" snarIed the
tramp. as she fed on. "YeTl set that
bull-pup o. yours on me. I been there
an come away again. You just GIN
me some o'them rings an thing
an We'll call 1t square, me fine
lady!"
Phyllis's heart stood still at this
open menace, but she ran on still. A
sudden thought came to her. She
snatched her gilt sash-buckleea
pretty thing but Of small value
from her waist, and hurled it far be-
hind the tramp. In the half-light 1t
might have been her gold mesh-bag.
nor Allan saw that Which caught
the other in an embrace they never
knew. They stood locked together,
forgetting everythoing else. he In
the idea Of her peril, she in the won
der OF his standing.
"Oh, darling, darling!" Allan was
saying over and over again. "You
arc safe-thank heaven you are
safe! Oh. Phyllis, I could never for
give myself if you had been hurt!
Phyllis speak to mel"