Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-03-02
Norna's
Choice
By oTILLIA r. pFEIFPER

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Copyright isis. BY III. Western News
paper Union.)
1T will have TO be Uncle Darius this.
lime. then. Norma. dear" spoke Mrs.
Burton. ave are not by any means
at poverty's door, but We can hardly
AFFORD the outfit aud other expense Of
a Cape Bay trip"
I'll would be sinful waste,
mamma" declared the daughter. Il
was so bored with affected ladies OF
frshion and posers and spooners
among the men last season that was
glad when got home again"
Mrs. Burton was no maneuyerlng
mother, but the world had taught her
many practical lessons. The Burtons
had always held their heads high In a
social way. They had been particular
and exclusive in their selection OF
friends, and when Norma was eighteen
drew the lines still more rigidly. II
was with faultless and tactical
chapeson that Norma had passed sea
son nj Cape Bay. Proposals came
to her innumerable, but she had only
laughed at the idea OF marriage and
had returned home heart free.
"Why not Uncle Darius, mammaT
Norma inquired artlessly, and her
mother at first held up her hands In
dlsmay.
Norma" she said, don't you
l.us h. L.
church mouse7 He fills very In
ferlor position, learn, with rail-
road He and my sister have absolute
ly receded from any social prestige,
and you viii vegetate In the dead town
where they barely subsist.'
81 can't help IT," replied Norma. u
took great liking to both OF them
when they visited us three years ago"
II was a relief to Norma, after her
mother had finally acqulesced in her
plans, to pack up sensible attire and
anticipate how she could run to her
hearts desire away from the burden
some cxactions Of fashion and society.
She arrived at Brocton after dark. and
certainly the single block OF down
town stores, the solitary railway shops,
the little house and the unlghted and
unpaved streets did not look very In
vltlng. Plain, homespun Uncle Darius
piloted the way to little old cottage
of four rooms not 500 feet from the
depot.
81 don't know how you will manage
to put in the time, dear" said Aunt
Mary. "You see, we lost the old home
stead and had to move to humber
quarters, and Darius has been Obliged
to take position as signal man at the
Main street crossing"
There were woods and lakes near
the little town, and Norma did not find
any oppressive dullness. She took
pleasure in spelling Uncle Darius al
his task. There was little shed al
the crossing. and Norma liked to sit
there with the old man listening to
quaint tales OF his long life expert
,. ence. Whenever a train was coming
he had the conventional sheet metal
sign bearing the ominous command
"Stopw which he would wave TO warn
approaching vehicles ant pedestrians
One day Norma noticed sinister Wis
nged man hanging around the depot
and several times when trains arrived
he wandered up and down the tracks
as though expecting somebody.
She never forgot the morning wher
No. passenger reached the depot
She was on hand with the "Stop" sig
nal and waving II TO halt an approach
ing farmers wagon, when n youni
man stepped off the rear platform Of
the last car, light satchel In his hand
and started TO cross the tracks In thu
direction of the car shops. He had no
; proceeded ten feet when from behin'
n pile OF ties there sprang before hin
the sinister appearing lurker. With
piece OF iron covered with n handker
, chief he dealt the newcomer blow
2 that drove him PROSTATE, tore thu
e satchel from his hand and darted for
= ward across the tracks Norma Wa
. startled. shocked. but she at once real
I lied the object Of the assailant OF tn
man was robbery. She acted on i'm
pulse. As the thief passed her sh
swung the heavy stop signal. II cam
squarcly down upon the head Of tn
, fugitive, driving him on his feet. Nor
y ma seized the satchel he had dropped
n flung II into the shelter shed, and
n dartIng back to where the miscrean
I lay, menaced him anew with he
4 strange weapon as he weakly essaye
:. to regain his feet, meantime shoutin
i to some track men at distance for as
sistance.
The young man despolled was cal
!, rled TO the little house where he lay NJ
III a doctor arrived. He had receive
n bad cut In the head, but In a FEY
hours was able to proceed on his wa!
= II developed that he was the pres
dent OF the road, and the satchel whic
. he was carrying when assalled col
4. .ainad the nav roll OF the car shops.