Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-01-29

~ poyer;y's door. hut We can hardi!
afford The outfit and other expense Of
II Cape Bay Trip
III would he sinful waste,
mamma" declared the daughter. II
was so bored with affected ladies of
frSbion and poserS and Spooner>
among the men last season that | was
glad when ! got home again
Mrs. Burton Was no maneuNerinp
Mother. but the world had taught her
many practical lessons. The BurtonS
had always held their heads high in Il
social WAY. They had been particular
ana exclusive in their selection Of
friends. ana when Norma was eighteen
drew the lines still more rigidly II
was with fHutess and tactical
chaper0n tbat Norma had passed a sea.
son Mt Cape Bay. Proposals came
~ her innumcrahle. hut she had only
laughed NJ rhe idea OF marriage and
had returned home heart free.
why not Uncle Darius. mamnaT
Norma inquired arliessiy. aud her
mother ri hrN held MP her hands In
dismsy.
'Norma." she said, don't YOU
know that he In ~ poor ~ 2
church. mouse? He fills very in
ferior position. | learn. with rail
road. He aud my sister have absolute
~ receded from any social prestige
and yon will veseistc In The dead town
where they hardly suhsist
II can't help IT," replied Norma. 81
took a great liking To both of them
when they visited us three years ago"
II WAS q relief 10 Norms. after her
mother had fnally scquiesced in her
liens. To pack NJ sensible attire and
anticipate HON she could run to her
hearts desire away from the burden.
some eNaclions Of fashion aud society.
She arrived ri Brocton after dark. and
certainly the single block ~ down
town stores, thr solitary railway shops,
the little house and the unlighted and
unpaved streets did not look very in
viting Plain. homespun Uncle Darius
plotted the WAY 10 little old cottage
of four rooms not 500 feet from The
depot.
Il don't know how y, lll manage
to put in the time dea said Aunt
Mary. "You sec we lost the old home
stead and had 10 move TO hmnhlcl
quarters. and Darius has been obliged
to take y position rs signal man at .he
Main street crossing
There were woods and lakes uoaf
HE little town and Norma did not frd
any oppressive dullncss She took
pleasure ina spelling Uncle Darius at
his task There was littlc shed at,
the crossing. aud Norma liked "a 81
here with the old man listening a.
quaint tales of his long life expert
cnce Whenever train was coming
he had the conventional sheet metal
sign bearing the omnous command
stop" which he would wave 20 warn
approaching vehicles and pedestrians.
One day Norma noticed Il sinister Wis
aged man hanging around the depot
and several times when trains arrived
he wandered mp and down the tracks
us though expecting somebody.
No. Is passenger reached the depot
She was on hand with The stop sir
nal and waving II 10 halt an approach
ug farmers wagon. when "a yuun.
man stepped of the rear platform a.
he last car. light satchel in his hand
ana started 10 cross the tracks in The
direction of the ear shops. He had not
proceeded ten feet when from bchin'
Il pile ~ ties there sprang before him
the sinister appearing lurker With -
niece of iron covered with handkcr
chief he dealt The newcomer hloW
that drove him PROSTATE, tore the
satchel from his hand and darted for
ward across The tracks. Norma was
startled shocked. hut she At once real
lied the object of the sssailant ~ thc
man WAS robbery. She acted on i'm
pulse As the thief passed her shc
swung the heavy stop signal. II came
sQlarcly down upon the head of the
fugitive, driving him on his feet. Nor
INA seized the Salchel he had dropped.
flung II into the shelter Shct aHd
dsrting back 4" where The mscrcani
lay. mensced him anew with iirr
strange weapon ss he weakly csSayod
tn regain his feet. meantime shouting
20 some track men ~ distance for ~.
SSlanCC.
The young uian deSpOiled MS c;,r.
ried 90 the little house where hc lay TN.
tii doctor arrived. He had received
had cut Ia The head. but IN q Few
hours was able To- proceed OF his way.
Il Developed that he was the preSi.
dent of HE road, aud the saiclicl which
NJ was carrying when asSailed con
tanned the pay roll ~ The car shops.
Percy Cleveland stopped ut tie lit
tie cottage on his way hack to The
depot. Ills bright eyes flashed adj
niraiion for the lovely heroine who
had saved the company coodlv Snln.
\ week later he made second visit
tn Norma. this time IN his automobile
and after that he became - regular
triwcckly visitor 10 The ear shop.
aud. Incidentally. the little home.
when Norma Burton returned to her
own home and her mother noticed the
engagement ring Norma flushed tie
liciousiy aud modcstly told the naue
~ her fiancc. Her father opened his
eyes ia their widest. as he realized
that his srilesS little trackwoman had
made the catch Of the season" rs
he expressed II proudly to close
friend.