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FOR YOUNG -PEOPLE
‘V
" ONT be disturbed, Miss Earle; that
D is only the one-o'clock whistle."
“But it isn't, doctor, I assure
you. It is only fifteen minutes before
one, and I am sure there must be a fire.
Won't you let us go. '
I)r. Wheeler looked with amused eyes
at the anxious faces of the girls in his
class, all members of the college fire com-',
pany. jcivct,-21' 41-e $tLl‘dCVlylIS.%i Den-
fifmihelongcd to it, and every girl was
supposed to respond promptly to the fire
signa. But I)r. Wheeler hadn't much
faith in what they could do in case of fire,
and he did not conceal his amusement as
he watched their varied expressions when
he refused the request for disinissa.
Ile (lid not enjoy this pleasure for very
long, however, for in a moment the doorf
of the classroom was hastily opened. and.
a voice called: ."Still here. doctor? Don't
you know thatyyour house is, burning
doivn?" ' '
That was an etitirely,dit'ferciit matter,
and in an instant the class as a whole was
hurrying acro<’s.thie campus to the scene"
of the excitemeiit. The fire had 'alr'e:idyf
gained some headivay, and, as the local
fire department had not yet arrived, stu-
dents and viienibers (if the faculty were
supplying the need as best they could.
Some of the girls were supporting the
big hose on their shoulders-it was so
heavy that at frequent intervals the lieu-
tinant was obliged to give the command:
“Niimbcr One. drop to the rear. The
rest move forward." Other‘ girls, lined
tip along the walk,-were passing to safety
various objects rescued from the burning
house, while, over all, like an anxious hen,
hovered the worried president, giving
orders right and left, and directing every-
one and everyt ing.
oh, how cold it wasl They all
sliivercd in the biting wind as they strug-
gled to put out the fire. The hose leaked
a little, and the water froze immediately,
turning the girls’ mittens into balls of ice.
As they worked on. a shiny. new. auto-
mobile came down the road. puffing and
tooling. and, at the sight of flame and
smoke, ‘came to a sudden stop. The
owner, a broad-shouldered chap, jumped
into the thick of the confusion. to lend
a helping hand to the volunteer fire com-
:i
ran)’.
“Girls, I am simply freezing to death."
said Frances Brie, as she handed over
the nozzle of the hose to her successor.
and dropped to the rear. “I wonder if
that automobile man would mind if I bor-
rowed his lap robe. I‘m going to borrow
it. anyway. He doesn't look as if he
would object." She wrapped it round her
shoulders as she spoke, and joined the
line of those who were passing articles
from‘ the burning home.
The fire blazed merrily on. gaining
headway every moment, until finally the
gg6'fdel 7l?’Iz&'ell 7712122’
village engines and firemen reached the
spot, and the girls gave up their posts
to more experienced fire fighters.
That night, as the students gathered in
the big gymnasium to identify the college
gowns, coats and other articles picked
up at the scene of the nre, Frances Earle
gave a cry of unaffected horror. “O gir
Here is that man's automobile lap robe
that I borrowed! “'hat am I going to
do about it? Does anyone know who he
w
Please, some one, tell me what to do."
“I happened to be watching him when
he discovered the robe had disappeared,
and he certainly looked like an ogre."
teased Dolly Stevens. “I never saw such
a black expression on anyone's face!"
“Yes," added Polly Merndalc, "and
you'll get into the newspapers, and the
president will be so pleased!" She is al-
ways charmed when any of us obtain
notoriety or advertising: Just imaginel
girls, somethi-fig: like this: ‘A prett
.‘ .
Cbc Dtlgrim Dress, Ioston, ‘new park ana Chicago
He wasn't to be quieted until he had
heard the whole story. Then, after laugh-
ing over it, he said he didn't see why the
robe shouldn't be used, instead of being
put away for the maths to feed upon."
“II: was a goo fellow, sister." he
argued. “or he wouldn't have stopped to
help you girls at the hre; and he prob-
ably isn't suffering from his loss, if he
can adord to keep an automobile. So
please, please, let me have it."
“Well, if I give it to you.” said Frances.
“never let me see it again. I‘ve suffered
enough on account of it, and I'm glad to
get rid of it, anyhow. But remember, it‘:
yours only provisionally. It isn't mine to
give, and you must be very careful of it."
Tom promised, and carried away his
“find,” as he called it. When autumn
came, he made good use of the robe. Sev-
eral times he drove to the football games
in the neighboring college town with the
lap robe proudly displayed, One day the
alumni football team-the "lias Beens"
of Dartford-was to play the Varsity
eleven, and, as usual, Tom was there to
see the. game. He was prcpafing to enter
Dartford in another year, and was con-
sequently interested in everything that
went on there.
On this day, the game was splendid.
Deceit risk 26, I91.‘
for the wounded hero. From their posi-
tion they could overlook the whole field.
This was not one of the big games of
the season, and as spectators at such times
were comparatively few, no grand stand
had been erected and the occupants of
the high cart had a fine view of the entire
9
L.
As the game progressed, Dick Car-
rotliers turned his attention to his com-
panion. “Fine little horse you have here."
he remarked as the referee's whistle called
a halt in the game. “Nice cart, too, an
a‘well. I never! That‘s a mighty fine
robe you have tliere.”
“It is nice," answered Tom, losing a
little of his shyness. “My sister found
it!"
“Found it? Where P" asked Dick inter-
estedly. “I used to have a robe like that,
and the last time I saw it, a pretty girl,
wrapped up in it like an Indian squaw,
was hurrying across l)enliam campus,
after the fire departineiit arrived."
must have been this very robe,"
cried Tom excitedly. “My sister was at
Denliam last year, and this was left there
one day, last winter. There was a big
fire on the college grounds-I think it
was Dr. Wheeler's houseAand all the
girls helped to put out the blaze. It was
y‘t:t-I‘-The alumni were strong, stalwart fellows, awfully cold, and Sis helped herself to
lege girlfomesses to the theft of a valu- heavier than the members of the Varsity some chap's automobile robe, and some-
able lap robe. ‘
her sense of honor.’ You
might as well give up
thinking of taking your
degree. The president will
never get over this."
Before bedtime, Frances
really began to ivorry
about her innocent bor-
rowing. But since no one
seemed to have recognized
the owner of the lap robe,
she was not able to return
it, though it was becom-
annoyance
had left it in the gym-
nasium, but vihen she
went to her room later, I
there, on the table ivas the
bugbear, marked, " 'or
Miss Iiranccs Earle, who
was SC(‘ll wearing it."
She carried the robe
back to the gymnasium
immetliatel,, but when she
returned from chapel next
morning, it was on her
desk, this time with a
note, "We cannot become
receivers of stolen goods.”
She gave up in despair,
then, and thrust the objec-
tionable article into the
depths of her closet, with
“Now, stay there till your
real owner comes along!
Everyone in college knoivs
where you are, anyway."
The incident of the lap robe was soon
forgotten in the college, and Frances her-
self, after inserting an advertisement in
the local newspaper, had almost forgotten
about it. Only when she came upon it in
the depths of her closet did she remember
it again, and blush at the thought of pos-
sessing it.
“Tim college closed for the summer
vacation, Frances had given up hope of
finding the owner of the lap robe, and,
after consulting the president, determined
to take it home with her. As she un-
packed her trunk her younger brother
seized it. and commented on its size and
beauty. “It's pretty nearly like the robe
I saw at Denni<on's," he said. “That
cost fifty dollars. but I think this is
larger. Where did you get such a beauty,
Frances? May I have it?"
" MR nimvr six win -nut loll‘!
SlI0t'LrrN"Y ll i-cw,"
trained, as they had less chance to prac-
ticc together. They played well, however,
and one fellow in particular attracted
Tom's attention. Tall, well-proportioned,
good-looking, he towered above his com-
panions. and seemed to be the best player
on his side. But, alas, he was not destined
to stay in the game long. When the pile
of men was disentangled, after a rather
strenuous tackle, it was found that Dick
Carroihers had sprained his arm so
badly that he had to lcavc the field. As
Ilt‘ made his way to the side lines, he
spied an open place near where Tom was
sitting in his cart, and called:
“llello, youngster, want some com-
pany? I see there is nothing left for me
to do but watch this game from the out-
ide."
'Tom bashfully made room by his side
oi
, W, ch 1.
Temptation too great for team, though, of course, not so well how forgot to put it back in the machine
I
ien the excitement was
over. I wasn't a bit sorry
when I heard it, but if it's
yours, of course you must
take it."
"So your sister is that
pretty girl, young man?"
rcturiicd Dick. "I've al-
ways wondered how she
came to be wearing that
lap robe, and what he-
came of it afterwards, but
I had long ago given up
any expectations of hav-
ing it again. I gave my
address to Professor
Wheeler, and he promised
to send it to me if it ever
turned up, but I suppose
he forgot about it in the
flurry of the (ire. Where
can I rid your sister?
And, by the way, what is
your name?"
Torn could hardly wait
until the game was over.
to hurry home and tell his
sister the story of his
meeting with the former
owner of the lap robe, and
vihat he had said. Frances
laughed when she heard
the story. and the
stranger’: request, but she
said that it was only fair
for her to be punished by
being compelled to meet
the owner of the lap robe,
and explain to him all the circumstances
of the theft.
ew days later the stranger came to
the house, and after he and Frances had
talked over the story of the hrc, he
straightway presented the lap robe to
Tom, to have as his “really own,” and
though Tom protested that he ought not
to take it, he finally allowed himself to
be persuaded. All that winter he made
good use of it on his pleasure trips in the
little cart, and when he entered Dart-
ford the following fall, the lap robe
went with him to adorn his room, as a
couch cover.
Years afterwards, when Dick and
Frances were married, Dick used to say
that it was only right that such a theft
as hers should be punished by life im-
prisonment.
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