The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1921-01-29
THE 5:55-55
BY ANNIE E. E. SIMMONS.

muters InaccommOdation WAS sched
uled as the 3 80. but all OF the friendi
and neighbors who knew and loyel
Peg Roberts called /, the 1915. i
you VIII bear in mind. as Peg did. thai
officially the train would not leave be
fore .: :56. you will readily deducs
Pegs habit and you win also catch a
wee glimpse Of her charming person
ality. which meant that never. under
any circumstances. did she have an
Idle half-minnte on her hands.
When called 10 account for this she
explained that she was doing her part
10 defeat Satan ia his effort 10 ind
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 Il through q nearby gate, i'm
PEELED 20 greater and vet more grace
ful speed by the formidable "all
aboard" which She heard ahead-and
then, with one final effort she made IL.
not BY the skin OF her teeth but by the
aid OF a good right arm, and not her
own right arm. either
And then. poor Peggy She came IN.
so 70 speak. then and there for the
most carefully and einphatically given
lecture which she had received since
her schooldays. 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 10 life and limb. OF the fool
lshness Of such lasf-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 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-ness,' 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 20
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 perfect right, so he said, 70
catch the traln on the ly, as 1t were,
and he regretted suhjectine her 10 the
forces around and their insistent lee
lures and remarss He further re-
gretted having made her such sub
ject Of conversation and observation.
and please might he have an oppor-
unity 10 apologize in private, 10 ex-
plain further hts sorrow over the en-
tire incident barring the real one o1
her boarding the train itself?
Now. when any young man evinces
sufficient interest in any particular
young lady 10 deliver her an address
on the follies os putting herself IN the
way Of personal danger, then. Just
then, is he really interested. When he
next regrets his harsh words. although
they We're honestly intended for her
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 I,
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 sim |
a wee bit provoked. but with a far |
seeing smile, Peg neglected to contra
diet In fact, slill smarting under the 1
public reproof, she almost agreed with /
him.
Days pasSed-evenlng passed. Tn |
der the companlonship Of her escort !
the walks to the depot each evening /
were accomplished without the many /
OF former days. and a
meek but still more lovely Peg board |
ed the 5:55-with assistance.
Occasionally the old subject came 1
up. Frequently little things occurred !
TO bring back reproof. but under II all 1
Peg smiled. for she knew that the in !
terest was being compounded and the /
settlement soon due. And Il came In |
a most unromantie way. Just one Of |
those spontaneous happenings on the 1
way 10 the train when Arthur told Peg |
of all he felt and hoped and cared. !
He begged for response. Not this 4
evening, but now. Reg. 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 fraction OF min
ute. Her time had come. A million |
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