Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1904 — A DOUBLE RESCUE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A DOUBLE RESCUE

By ELLIOT WALKER

“I’ll klsß you for that!” cried the child tremulously. “I’d marry you if I was big enough.’’ Her arm clung about the man’s muscular neck as he tried to dodge the Impulsive caresses. Laughing faintly, he carried bis light burden across the street, put her down iu sufety and beckoned to a white fuced, horrified woman on the other side of the track. Curly did not quite comprehend how he had done it Just an instinctive leap, a clutch at the pink frock, and the trolley’s fender had grazed his leg as he Jerked forward, trylug to cast the lit 1 tie girl from him, with a flash of thought that he himself was gone. Voices cursiug the motorman, who •was not in the least at fault; voices and hands applauding hummed in his ear without meaning as lie straightened up with a long breath of relief, his eyes on her grateful, childish face.” “Marry me, eh 7” he whispered mischievously as he disentngled the clinging fingers. “Oh, no, my dear, you wouldn’t; not if you were ten yeurs older.”

“I would! I’d be twenty-one then,” holding his none too clean hand with both her tiny ones. “I’m going to vyait for you. Every day I’ll remember Just how you look, and”— “You tot!” smiled her rescuer, hastily pulling from his breast pocket un envelope and extracting a card photograph from a rather soiled bunch. “Here, take this. Look ut it once in awhile. That'll be thanks enough for me, and maybe you won’t entirely forget a poor fellow who won’t forget you in a long while. Bless your little white soul! 1 didn’t know I had a soft spot left” “Aliena Raceway!" quavered the thin lady In black, coming up witli u rush after painful indecision in crossing. “How dared you disobey me? Have you thanked the kind gentleman properly? Which is he, Aliena?” "He’s gone," answered her charge, with a wail of disappointment, her glance roving through the crowd. “Oh,

dear! I didn't even And out his name. I’ve got his picture, though, to remember him by. See, Charlotte.” The governess gazed and bit her lip. “A pretty hard face,” she murmured. “It Isn’t!” cried Aliena in wrath. “It was just saintly when I kissed him." “You kissed him! You dreadful child! Come home at once. You! Judge Raceway’s daughter! Why, the man might have had consumption—or—or germs. lie may hove given them to 3’ou!” “He gave me his picture, anyway, and you and your old germs can go to pot,” retorted Aliena impolitely. “Say, you needn’t drag me along, Charlotte Spicer. I can walk.”

Curly stood Irresolutely in front of the saloon. The crowd Jostled him, but he didn’t move along. A flashily dressed man seized his arm, “You’re shaky this morning, boy,” he accosted cordially. “Let’s get inside. I’ll break a small bottle with you. That will put you on your feet” “I’m on my feet now,” returned the other roughly. “Let me alone!” His companion stared. “Curly!” he coaxed good naturedly. “Come on, now. Don’t stand here in the sun. Yes, yes, I know how a fellow feels sometimes. It’s the norves. Settle 'em, and you’ll be all right” “You don’t know how I feel, Joe, and you never will,” smiling qneerly. ’’l’ve had an experience. Just say to the crowd that I’ve cut my hair, and the sooner they forget Curly the better it will please me. Say I’m Todd Shipman now, the same who came among you two years ago, when I was kicked out of college. Joe, I’m twenty-one today. Lord knows, I .want a drink, but I don’t take it I’ve a little money coming, and I was going to ’blow* it In good shape, but something has changed my mind. ►You’ve been a good friend and square. Goodby and luck to you.” 1 The muscular figure straightened .with a half friendly, half warning ■flash in the gray eyes. ▲ strong momentary pressure of fingers which were quick at dealing

poker hand* and Shipman’s broad shoulders swutag down the street “Beats me!” meditated his sporting friend and, more softly, “Maybe he Is right though—twenty-one—birthday-new leaf—hum!”

“Hhow him in,” said the Judge, a bit testily. “Right here in the library, John. Turn up that lamp a trifle.” He pored oyer the card. “Can’t be Otis Shipman’s sou,” he rwninated. “Let's see. Todd’s a family name. Why, it was ten years ago that boy went off—goodness knofi's where—and glad they were so be rid of him, the wild rascal! Seems to me I heard he had done mighty well, but that didn’t cure him, I imagine. Yes, I remember, a curly headed, gray eyed scamp, bright as a dollar. Too bad! Too bad!” When the visitor emerged from the library after that hour of rapid conversation be went straight to the drawing room, and his host, with a puzzled visage, pattered upstairs. Shipman stood under the great chandelier, a bronzed, well formed man, the rings of clustering hair low on his broad brow. He trembled at the sound of soft approaching steps. “My father said you wished to speak with me,” came a clear voice as a girl, tall, bright eyed and sunny haired, came quickly In without embarrassment, looking at him keenly. “I do,” replied the stranger. “I have every day for ten years prayed for this meeting thnt I might thank you.” “Thank me!” starting. "And for what, please? Oh," she cried, “I—l do know you now! You are my picture. I have it yet in n tiny frame. You who saved me when I was a little girl. So often I have wondered, dreamed, that I might some time see you again. And here you are.” “Yes, here I am,” solemnly, with his hnnds clasped behind him. “I have had a talk with your father, ne has given me permission to tell you my story, if—if you care to hear it.” “Of course I do.” Aliena’s cheeks were glowing. “Let us sit down. Dear me! I don’t even know’ your name.” “Shipman—Todd Shipman of Colorado Springs.” “Oh!” she gazed nt him Interestedly. “That day,” began the man, his tone reverent, “the trustful embrace of a little child turned my steps. During all my struggle her face has been ever before me—an inspiration. I have been true to it It has been my one thought to live nnd work for this date, this anniversary, that I might tell her what she did. You do not seem strange to me, but as I expected to find you. Goodby! May God bless you!” “But you will come again?” cried the girl, giving him her hands as he rose. "If I do,” the deep voice trembled, “you—you will understand.” The fair head drooped and nodded almost imperceptibly; her fingers tightened on his. He bent his lips to them and stepped softly away. “Mrs. Todd Shipman,” murmured Aliena as she heard the front door close. “Quite an attractive name!”

"DEAR ME! I DON’T EVEN KNOW YOUB NAME."