The Harrison times., 1920-02-21


abreast and armed with night sticks,
had drawn mp 0n the outskirts of the
crowd The police had been given TO
understand that the ioblcss men would
march once around the loop and dis
band ON the lake front. But IL was
now seen this was not their plan. In
stead of turning east the leaders
turned west and all along the line the
cry arose "SmulSH'S hall "
Fitzhugh fell In with the Surgins
mass, and like it became imbucd with
the spirit Of "On to SmulsHs hall "
In front Of the rendezvous a large
crowd was already collected; the new
arrivals Sweled il threcfold. Then,
by that curious form of thought trans.
ference which often unimuteS big gath
eringS word went through the crowd
that the hail was nearly filled, that
there was room for scarcely two hun
dred more And fully five thousand
wanted udmittance. As by a single
impulse the crowd became a Seething,
clamoring. blind mob that Surged this
way and that, tramping the weak un-
derfoot, crushing, struggling, swearing,
without reason or purpose. The police,
instantly suSpecting riot, rushed in,
using their batOnS freely.
BY sheer strength Fit2hugh wedged
his way to the protection Of a door,
which, being partly open, gave way
before the impact Of his body precipI
tatug him into Il narrow hallway. lie
regained his feet in a second, and
stepping outside closed the door and
stood with his back against It,
The next moment a singular thing
happened. From out that frenzed
mob. like a ship tossed by a restless
sea into a haven Of safety, Il woman
was swept sQuareIy into his arms. For
a bare moment ha held her. flushed
and p0lpitating, in a close embrace.
Then he released her and saw her hat
was missing and that her clothing was
torn and disarrayed.
"Thuuk you" she exclaimed breath
lessly.
The rays Of a nearby street lamp
fell arhwart her face, and his first
thought was that she was a Jpwpss :;
then q Russian, ne added, apparently
of good birth and schooling Though
she spoke with q slight foreign accent
her English was grammaucaIly per-
feet Her forehead, unusually broad
and high for woman, and her east of
features denoted uncommon intellect
Like angry waves the mob ragged
about them in their inadequate refuge,
and n" opened the door, pushed her
into the hallway, and followed, clos
ing the door behind them
"Youn find it safer in here" said
he, and added with some hesitation:
"I-my name is Fitzhugh. You needn't
tell me yours If you'd rather not"
Il see no reason why | shouldn't
she retorted, yet with the hot color
flooding her cheeks. Il am Esther
Strom, Mr. Fitzhugh, and | am very
happy to know you, even if only for
a minute She held out to him
small, dark hand and he pressed it in
his large, white one.
"Are you going inside?' she asked.
81 don't think So" he laughed, and
motioned toward the crowd outside.
"How can II"
YOU might be able to get you
inf you care to 60"
He started "Then you are an"
"Oh" Her hand fumbled excitedly
at her neck, then dropped to her side
with a little gesture Of diSmay, I'm
afraid I've lost something something
| valued very much. 1t was brooch
an heirloom, And I've lost it"
He struck Il match, and together
they searched the floor.
"PerhapS you dropped it outside"
he suggested and feeling the neces-
Sity Of doing something, yet knowing
the fuulity Of the action, he opened
the door leading to the street. Mid.
way between the door and the alley,
against the brick wall Of the building,
he saw a large packing case, He
noted It was Of strong material, re-
enforced at the corners.
The woman seemed to have forgot
ten her loss in the rush Of some
stronger emotion. She stood beside
him, gazing at the unclean crowd with
wlstful eyes, and there Shone in the
liquid depths Il great sadness, and
something far rarer bcSides-sympa.
thy. you poor wretch"l people" he
heard her murmur. "lIow | wish |
could talk to you as | should like to"
He looked at her quickly His bud,
ding thought burst suddenly into full
bloom. TO "show or before this
woman, 70 parade his talent before
her, to Impress her and win her ad.
miration-what delight that would be-
"Pcrhaps could do It for YOU" n
offered, his voice bctroyu; his eager.
ness, "WouId you like TO hear me
ry?"
without waiting for her answer,
fearful lest It be Il negative he ol.
bowed his way 10 the packing ease,
mounted IT, drew deep BREATH and
stood mp 70 his fun height The are
anp, beating upon his face, served