The Press., 1922-06-08
Where Men Were
 Scarce
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By MONA coWLEs

SEduudI0U IFOIu NeyuOluS cOllSS0 III war days. But the men were back from the war and wartime stress of business was over. The situation be- came apparent to Jane Burchard when, a week after her graduation from Key holds, she discovered the best job that she could find through the aid of agencies and newspaper want adver- tisements was that of a learner in a candy factory at SIP a week or job selling ribbons in a department store at $15.
 So Jane decided to teach. But she knew her friends and classmates would not forget the derisive remarks she had expressed anent the teaching pro fession.
 II khOw why you don't want to teach" her young brother had ex- plained. You think teachers never meet any men, get to be old maids and never marry. You're afraid you won't get husband"
 Jane Burchard was annoyed. "Pre- ciOus little use I have for men," she snapped. And just to show you, I'm going to start in teaching next autumn"
 But Jane didn't want to face the inQuiring faces of her friends after she had begun her career as teacher so she chose to select from the posi- tiOns offered to her that of teacher in district school in remote end of the state. It helped a little to feel that she was filling a job that no one else wanted. A special appeal had been made for teachers for these remote districts where several schools had actually been closed down because no one could be induced. to take the posi- tiOns. Moreover she wanted to show that impudent brother of hers that men didn't count in her career.
 Human beings of all descriptions were scarce in the rocky region around Berwick district school, but men young men-were singularly unfre- Quent. "YOu'll be perfectly safe to live alone in the little cottage that goes with your jOb," the county super intendent of schools had told her. "There isn't a man in the district, not even a tramp. Oh, there's the minister and the doctor and dozen old farm CTS and old Stebbins that runs the store, but they aren't likely to annoy you"
 So Jane Burchard was installed as district school teacher iS Berwick town ship, pleased in knowing that, though her salary was not large, she did not have to spend any of it for shelter and would be able to save more than with twice the salary in the city.
 For two or three months all went well, it was not until afte1 the Christ mas holidays that Jane became dis turbed in her little cottage near the school.
 One day Jane took pains to dismiss her pupils all on time and overlooked the fact that several of the older chill dren had deserved to "stay in" Back in her cottage she dOnned heavy walk ing boots and neat, though certainly not very jaunty walking togs.
 Then she started out in her search
 As she walked through the country roads and lanes that afternoon she enumerated to herself the occupants of the various farmhOuses and cottages she passed.
 She was looking for something, and it was quite apparent that none of the houses she passed contained it. So she walked in the region on the out skirts of her district, where there was an occasional house with which she was not familiar.
 Finally she drew up beside a small but recently renovated tWO-rOOm cot tage. A man of uncertain age, but surely not aged was sitting out in the cold winter sunshine on the front steps of his diminutive home. He was smok- ing in solitude. Apparently Jane had found what she had been seeking.
 Excuse me, stranger" she said but wonder if you will help me- Pm the district school teacher, and Tve been out looking fOr-weIl, the truth is. I've been looking for an able bodied man. They are all rather old or feeble up by the school I wonder if you would do me a service"
 The rather unkempt young man rose with an alacrity and good manner that I'd do anything in the world you asked me-"
 Well, I'll tell yOu," Jane said a iit- tie embarrassed at the obvious urhanity of the younger man, q live alone in the cottage. Lately some one has been prOwling arOund-it seems to be man, and I hear him every evening just about the time Pm getting tea, and then as sit by the table getting ready the next days lessons. I don't want any of the neighbOrs to know I'm timid. Besides, am quite as we'll able to protect myself as any of the men down there. Fancy old Doctor Warren or ParsOn Jones trying to stand up against a man-siZed tramp So I've been looking around trying to find a-well, regular man. I thought maybe you'd come down one or two evenings and when the prOwler appears you'd go out with me and scare him off. I'm little afraid to do it alone"
 John Dawson the young man thus addressed. insisted on coming that very evening, and then he introduced him- self. Jane showed her good faith hv asking him to return with her then It would be nearly tea time when thoU and the prowler usually came as soon as her lamps were lighted.
 Both Jane and John Dawson were ill at ease as the meal began, but be- fore Jane had poured her guests sec Ond cup of tea and had persuaded him to take a second helping of the light omelet she had made for their repast all their embarrassment seemed to have vanished as if by magic. Tt is funny" Jane was thinking, when one hasn't seen or talked to a young man for months how easy conversation seems 10 come. And John was thinking, T thought I'd feel embarrassed and shy when first had chance to look into the eyes and hear the voice of a young and pretty woman again-but