Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-05-30
THE CONVERTED
BOARD MEMBER
BY JANE GORDON
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THE girls of Hammondport school
were much annoyed with the most
influential member of the school board
because he would not agree to the In
stallatlon of II physical training teach
er. They would have called him an old
fogy, but that appellatlon seemed out
of place in man of such modern at
traction. Easily David Freeman was
the bcstdressed man In the township;
also, he spent part of each year in the
metropolis, where his business con-
Germs led him.
David, when questioned for his rea-
sons against the athletic teacher, re-
piled firmly that he was tired of the
independent strong young woman Of
the present. whose picture in bathing
suit, or scant running costume, graced
first pages of the newspapers.
The influential member of the board
continued stubbornly In his disagree
ment. He was thinking the subject
over as he strolled downward one sun.
shiny summer morning. And as his
time was somewhat valuable he decid-
ed to take the short cut through Wells
pasture. So did certain young wom-
an out from the adjoining city for u
visit. She was happy young woman,
who went singing along her way, and
the scarlet flannel jacket, modlshly
sleeveless, she wore over her snow
white frock, was vastly becoming to her
plquant beauty. The young woman's
shoes were white, too, as was also the
rakish little hat she wore. When she
reached Wells pasture she viewed
longlngly the vista Of wood beyond.
1t would be delightful spot In which
to read the book she had brought
with her. To get to the wood she
must cross the pasture lot. It was
well fenced In with stone wall.
At the far end ST the field was a
huge bull. He had, apparently, made
his truant way from a farther lnclosed
part of the pasture-she could see a
wide-opened gate behind the animal
She realized instantly that II was the
scarlet Of her jacket which was at
tracing his excited notice. And
though Miss Nancy was now on the
safe side Of the stone wall, she never
theless hastily removed her red jacket
and tucked II beneath her arm. Stand
ing on small pyramid Of stones she
watched with interest the great brute
angrily tossing his head.
The young woman was trying to gain
courage to replace the bar Of the gate
way when second surprising thing
happened. A man had entered the gate
which she opened and was walking
calmly, all unconscious OF the bulls
proximity, across the field. As she
watched, the man saw the bull, made
desperate effort to get back to the
gate-knew that he might not reach
1t in time-made for the solitary tree
instead, and swung nimbly from one
twisted limb up to temporary safety.
The angry animal was at the base Of
the tree, his red eyes glaring threat
eningly at his prisoner.
Nancy considered whether II might
be possible for her to hasten on to
the farm house in the distance before
the huge brute should bend the tree
trunk which was frail with dead
boughs above, or succeed, perhaps, In
dlslodglng his victim Then she
thought Of the plan Of opposite attrac-
ton. Nancy could run; she did run to
the farthest end Of the pasture, and
climbing on the stone wall she forced
the boughs aside and waved frantical-
ly her scarlet coat In one OF his mad
whirls the beast saw the flag OF battle,
stared--Nancy held 1t low, daringly.
The animal came believing 10 the
attack. Nancy's shrill voice called to
the prisoner In the tree: run to the
gate Bar yourself out" The bull
was uncomfortnbly near now Nan
slipped from her perch to the safe
side Of the wall. replaced the railing
Of boughs, saw the man running be-
yond that outer barrier toward her.
The gate77 she questioned breath
lessly.
CLOSED all tight and SAFE" the
man told her. He dropped on the
grass 10 wipe the perspiratlon from
his forehead, and smiled gratefully up
at the young woman whose wit had
saved him from an embarrassing pre-
dlcament at least.
David Freeman was a goOd-looklng
young man; Nancy at once became
aware Of that fact.
MY" he exclaimed admlringly,
You can run. How you ever got to
the end Of that pasture in two seconds,
and back again at the exact 49," David
Eat the Psychological mo-
ment."
u was" Nancy remarked proudly,
"the record runner at college"
The influential board member stared.
Runner he questioned you go In
for athletlcsT
Teach IT," Nancy replied. She was
putting on her scarlet jacket; It was
vastly becoming. "That is why | am
in Hammondport waiting to put In an
application as training teacher In the
"Waltingf" David asked.
The girl nodded-"Until one dlsap-
proving member Of the school board
may be converted to approval"
David arose. stood smiling down at
her Il am the unruly member" he
said, "and am converted"
That evening Nancy wrote her fam
lily that she intended 10 stay on In
HnmmOndport until school opened.
She had won her contract to teach.
But--Nancy never accepted the posi-
ton. Nancy married David Freeman
Instead. She says that she thought
he needed protection. While David
insists that he married an old-fash-
'Oned girl after aIl-with curiosity M
I'D aR pandOra'g