The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-09-23
THE 5:55-55
By ANNIE E. e. SIMMONS.

muters' INSTRUMENTATION was sched-
uled as the 5 :55, but all of the friends
and neighbors who knew and loved
Peg Roberts called It the :55-55 If
you will bear In mind. as Peg did, that
officially the train would not leave be-
fore 5: :56, you will readily detluce
Pegs habit and you will also catch a
wee glimpse Of her charming person
ality. which meant that never. under
any circumstances, did she hnve an
idle half-minute on her hands.
When called to account for this she
explained that she was doing her part
to defeat Satan In his effort to find
work for her. and in this wise she
was victor.
But when one afternoon Peg became
overzealOus In her battle against Sa-
tan and his employment agency, she
rushed for the train. she stampeded
toward 1T through a nearby gate, i'm
PEELED to greater and yet more grace
ful speed by the formidable 'all
aboard" which she heard ahead-and
then. with one final effort she made it,
not by the skin Of her teeth but by the
aid Of good right arm, and not her
OWN right arm, either.
And then. poor Peggy She came in,
so to speak. then and there for the
most carefully and emphatically given
lecture which she had received since
her schooIdays. She received a movie
synopsis ten verbal reels long. Before
the amused commuters she heard of
the futile folly of just such acts as
hers which he had witnessed many
times before. She was told of the
dangers to life and limb, of the fool
lshness OF such last-minute leaps, and
a meek-appearing Peggy only bowed
her head in acqulescence and denied
II In her soul
Then the friends, the nervous few
who worry for every regular" on the
train. those who take a delight in see
Ing that the conductor collects each
and every ticket, that the brakeman
calls every station. although they know
that the entire car-full is as familiar
with the road as they themselves
then they too, added their voices,
and Peg was again told of the dangers
of her "eleventh-hour-pess." as some
called 1t.
But the owner of the good right arm,
supported by the brains and Drawn of
the most attractive and eligible male
in the same community. then came to
her rescue again, this time. as before,
to uphold her. although In argument
rather than In deed. Quietly he apol-
ogized for his former remarks. Peg
had a perfect right. so he said, to
catch the train on the fly. as 1t were,
and he regretted subjectlng her to the
forces around and their insstent lee
lures and remarks. He further re-
GREETED having made her such sub
ject of conversation and observation,
and please. might he have an oppor-
tunity to apologize in private, to ex-
plain further his sorrow over the en-
tire incident, barring the real one of
her boarding the train itself!
Now. when any young man evinces
sufficient interest in any particular
young lady to deliver her an address
on the follies OF putting herself in the
way of personal danger, then, just
then. is he really interested. When he
next regrets his harsh words, although
good, then the interest is compounded,
and when he later repeats his first
words, then. well. then. in banking
terms. the principal is doubled.
Arthur Aitken did all this. For the
first evening when he called he spent
the entire time telling Peg just how
many kinds of fool he had been that
afternoon to speak as he did, and still
wee bit provoked, but with far
seeing smile. Peg neglected to contra
dict. Tn fact, still smarting under the
public reproof. she almost agreed with
him.
Days passed-evenings passed. Un-
der the companionship of her escort
the walks to the depot each evening
were accomplished without the many
Interruptions OF former days. and a
meek hut still more lovely Peg board
ed the 5 5:55-with assistance.
Occasionally the old subject came
up. Frequently little things occurred
to bring back reproof. but under 1t all
Peg smiled, for she knew that the in
terest was being compounded and the
settlement soon due. And 1t came In
most unromantic way. Just one of
those spontaneous happenings on the
way to the train when Arthur told Peg
of all he felt and hoped and cared.
He begged for a response. mot this
evening. but now, Peg. Tell me now"
and In the earnestness of his plea
their steps slackened and again in the
midst of the hurrying evening crowd
he stopped.
Peg, tell me now"
Peg paused for a fraction of a min
ute. Her time had come. A million
little love glints in her eyes were hid
den beneath her hat, thousand lit