Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1922-07-13

up" 1t was seven o'clock, and Hayden's
motion Store always opened at seven.
AS usual this morning Miss B. left
the outer door wide open while she re-
moved the dust-cloth from the counter,
and patted into precision the cards of
hooks-and-eyes in their orderly rows
OF boxes. The act was symbolical Of
her whole life-always had Miss B.
patted into precision any irregular
hopes, ambitions, or experiences that
had ever dared to obtrude q corner
into her habit-smoothed existence.
She turned now complacently to
view her work-and confronted
man: disorderly looking man who
had stumbled through the doorway,
and who was gazing at her now with
the eyes Of hunted animal at bay.
"For Gods sake-don't give me
away!'' he begged. The next moment
he had dashed by her and dropped out
OF sight behind the counter.
The woman caught her breath and
rubbed her eyes dazedly. She was sure
she was dreaming. There could not
be man, really, behind that counter
her COUNTER!
Outside swarm Of men and boys
headed by two policemen swept into
the street and broke into irresolute
little groups. Then one Of the officers
darkened her doorway.
"You didn't see big, dark haired
chap, runnln', did ye?" he painted.
"Bill thought he'd made fur this door,
way. He might ha' slipped in when
yer back was turned, We know. n We
don't mind, We'll look" And he strobe
across the room, leaving his colleague
to guard the door.
1t was then that the extraordinary
happened miss B. deliberately turned
and walked behind her counter; and
when she had taken up her position
her skirts entirely screened the hiding
man.
The building was small one. It
comprised the store, with a bedroom,
bathroom and living-room behind It
and wide, unfinished room above
where were few surplus goods,
trunks and boxes: A search in this
limited area naturally could not be of
long duration; and the officer was soon
back In the store.
"You're of, BILL" he growled. HE
Amt here. Thank ye, ma'am," he
nodded toward the woman behind the
counter. The next moment the door
banged shut, and the gesticulating men
and boys took themselves noisily out
.eof sight.
In the store the woman backed hur-
Tiedly away from her position. All the
bravery had fed from her manner.
She stood white and trembling, wait
ing.
There was moments silence, then
from the shadows peered q mans face.
~rhey gomez"
Yes"
j The man gazed at her curiously;
then his eyes softened.
"See here, little woman, you sure
was game" he murmured. "But-why
did you do it,"
The woman shook her head.
"L-don't-know," she sta,umered.
AYou don't know"
! Again she shook her head.
"Your eyes-they looked somehow
jike-Bobby's," she faltered.
The man smiled.
I'm sure I'm much obliged to-.
Bobby" he said gravely. I
you see, there was dog after him,
5ust like those men were after yOu,"
explained the woman, hurriedly; land
NE ran to me for protection just as
sou did. l kept him then almost a
year."
"You kept himl'
Yes. Then he died. He'd got to be
a real big cat then, though"
"Oh-h!" murmured the man. "Oh-h!"
"And he was such good catl He
always-sh-h-be CAREFUL"
The warning was scarcely needed, .
for the man, too, had heard the step
mt the street door, and had drawn
back hastily.
The customer was q woman. She
said che wanted spool Of number
sixty thread; but she spent Just one
minute buying that-and ten minutes
ftAAAADB 0UVul TIC I6SS0I excitement.
Not that she knew who the fugitive
t&as, o. what he had done.
You see," shivered Miss b., tremu.
3ossly addressing the dark corner
}monent later, 'youN really have to
lE0-man! I"
Two reproachful eyes looked out u
4Aar. &,
But, my dear lady. I've just come
But they're looking for you-every-.
fHhere r
They are-like dogs, for my life.r
IT was trial shot, but it hit the mark.
Miss B. WINGED visibly. .You see e
y could just camp here TIL dark."
went on the man softiy, hurrylnR 10 !
t10llow up bis advantage.
| It'll dark-here! No. NOR shud.
tAared the woman.
AOf coprss not, here, under the
|rosnter," agreed the man, crawling
l1rcn his hiding-place and rising to his
List hut IN there behind the store.