The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-01-07
SHORT SHORT
Story
Complete in This Issue

of a prosperous man, and conscious
of their social position; draped
tastefully around the top with the
folds of nicely tailored trousers,
also evidently aware of their exalt-
ed status in a world of ready-made
suits.
Hating in front of her, the shoes
settled themselves into the position
of the shoes of an accomplished
straphanger.
For a while she watched them
absently; then her gaze travelled
slowly upward. Her expression was
only that of idle curiosity; but as
she glimpsed the face under the
soft hat, she gave a start that sent
Solomon and his friends into splash
ing frenzies.
Solomon" she conided INGRAM
matically as she took a renewed
grip on the tin pail, Solomon, it's
him; it's Clifford Wayne himself, in
person! He hasn't seen me-" after
a second stolen glance. cor per-
haps he didn't know me-" she added
as less pleasant afterthought
Crash! The sudden impact threw
the passengers into scrambling,
screaming confusion. Hoarse shouts
of men and shrill cries of women
arose from inside and outside. The
truck which had caused the acct
dent roared deafeningly in its at
tempt to drown out the others; ex-
cited spectators gabbled and
pushed,
1t is at such moments of excite
ment that we lose our heads. Solo
mon was no exception. Bruised and
battered, he flung himself against
the roof of his churning prison. 1t
moved, slipped, gave way; the pail
tilted, and Solomon felt himself be-
ing carried away bodily in a rush
of water that swept him along in
spite of his mad struggles to hold
back. there was no time to waste;
he must save himself from being
trampled beneath the feet of the
crowd.
Only one way offered; he must
jump; jump as he never had in his
young days in the shop, when they
had been forced to cover the tank
to discourage his aerial ambitions.
And jump he did; with a mighty eff
fort, a twist of his shining, supple
body, a slap of his tail, he left
the foamy deluge, and scared into
the air as if released from a spring.
In graceful, cleaning curve, he
swept upward. For a second the
arch of his flight was a golden-red
rainbow. Then he came to rest in a
place totally different from any
which he had before known.
Half-strangled, he wriggled fur
Their into the retreat in which he
found himself; then resorted to ag-
onized twisting and gasping as that
retreat seemed to be t; zen with
violent commissions. Something
prodded at him, tried - dislodge
him. He was choking; the world
was growing blacker He --eped in
termittently, with distel.~sd gills.
His struggles grew more feeble
"a fish" the man stared blankly
at the wet, slippery body which he
had with difficulty removed from be-
tween his collar and his neck.
"What-"
The red-haired girl was scarlet
with embarrassment as she rose to
her feet, having released her death
grip on the portly gentleman's
knees. Hes minet" The words
were very faint as she held out the
tin pail, in which Solomon's panic
stricken lends we're hiding motion
less. "I'm sorry; he got out of
here"
II say, you're the girl 1 met at
Joan French's party, who ran away
before l could get more than one
dance with you. No explanations
accepted" as she laughed and start
ed to speak. II know when I've
been snubbed. But tell me this
where have you been keeping your
self? I've been looking for you ever
since"
Solomon" murmured the red
haired girl, as the man sat down
beside her, disregarding the excite
ment and confusion around them,
"there is Santa Claus. You're it."