Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-02-16
SYNOPSIS

| ent, and discovers how shockingly lit
| tie Nicely knows about school teach.
ing. She relies on her possession of
| Normal school diploma to enable her
| to retain her position. Mr.. Schwenck-
| ton, coming home from town, picks up
| a stranger. and finding his watch gone,
demands the stranger get out and turn
over his watch. The stranger st. Croix
Creighton. loses his way and comes to
recognizes Nicely. but the girl plays
her part we'll and st. Croix does not
suspect.
CONTINUED from last week.
1t was just when, relieved of Aunt
Rosy's espionage, Nicely was begin.
ming to feel, in spite of the dangerous
proximity Of Marvin Creighton, more
at her ease. less insecure in her equiv.
ocal position, that, on that very eve
ming when she sat in the warm bright
kitchen, peacefully writing letters. she
was to find the compleXity and preca-
robustness of her situation greatly in.
creased by the outcome Of an episode
which was, at that same hour, in its
incipiency on a Sunbury street corner,
eight miles distant.
Mr.. Sam Schwenckton, having fin.
ished the business which had taken
him to town, was about to enter his
car parked on the edge of the town,
and start for home, when a man stand
ing on the corner, apparently waiting
for trolley car, approached him.
pardon mellow often do these
cars run?" the man inquired In tone
of extreme irritation. ''Pve been wait
ing here twenty minutes"
1T don't run no cars on this line
after seven o'clock, Mister. This here
trolley line amt doin' much business
anyhow, so it stops till seven Already.
You must be stranger here-ain't?-
or you'd o. knowed that"
"No-but l seldom use the trolley.
Today, however. had to leave my au.
tomobile at the repair shop. Are you,
by any chance, driving out this road?"
Eyes, eight mile out"
"Will you, then, for consideration,
fet me 60 with you?"
Now as the night was raw and wet,
It would, Mr.. Schwenckton felt. be
only q Christian act to offer this
stranger a seat in his car. Also. he
liked company, some one to talk to
on an eight mile drive. But the news
papers were so full Of holdup stories
and he was carrying good deal Of
money wouldn't he be taking
chances?
The man looked so decent, however
(what could be seen of him in the dim.
ness) and Mr.. Schwenckton had, as
always when he Travelled at night.
brought his revolver with him
He felt in his pocket and surrep-
titiously moved his pistol from his
right-hand pocket to his left.
81 wouldn't want no SIGH 'consid.
eration,' Mister. Just SOS you amt
one of these here thugs you can read
about in the papers"
The man laughed. you're twice
my size. If can trust you not to hold
me up, guess you're safe"
Eyes, guess that's so too. All
right. Come on, then"
Mr.. Schwenckton felt rather cheat
ed when he found that the stranger,
though sociable and agreeable enough,
was not going to repay his hospitality
by satisfying his curiosity as to who
he was. All the leading questions
with which the farmer piled him re-
ceived evasive answers. This seemed
to Mr.. Schwenckton so suspicious that
he frequently felt in his left-hand
pocket to be ready in case of need.
However, he tried to put his appre-
tensions aside and to beguile the ride
with friendly talk.
$50 your car had to 60 to the shop
heh?"
Eyes, worse luck -
"When l first got my car drove
her and drove her till I got the cold
in my chest and it near give pneu
monia yet! Yes. anyhow"
The stranger made sound express
sfve of his sympathy. For while
they drove in silence.
Sunny thing happened in the bank
today" Mr. Schwenckton resumed con
versationally. "When I went in to
get a check cashed-" He stopped
short In consternation-how tactless
to mention having cashed a check!
"What was it?" asked his compan
ion.
mot much-a dollar or so. spent
It." said Mr.. Schwenckton pointedly
81 mean what was the funny thing
that happened?"
"Oh, that! Well, a lady standin
alongside of me in the bank she hand.
ed in a check and the banker he said
to her, what denomination and she
says sort of snappy, Well she says.
I'm Presbyterian, but I don't see
what business 1t is Of yourn.' she
says"
The laugh in which they Joined over
this yarn seemed to establish between
them more confidence. Mr.. /Schwenck.
! ton, always warm-hearted, was sorry