nd for that reason he would better
keep out of sight.

"So," he continued, "if you will kindly pull I will kindly twist."

Steve was always polite, and never more so than when excited.

The suggestion appealed to the innocent station master, who saw no
hidden intent in Steve's retreat, and the change of position having
been effected, the two men went to work.

For a time Steve twisted gently, but firmly, while the station master
tugged and jerked, but still none of these things moved her.

All at once there was a transformation scene, and it came about as
suddenly as a flash of lightning from out a clear sky. The
participants never could give a clear and harmonious account of what
happened, and all that an idle on-looker could tell was that while he
was gazing he suddenly heard something strike the roof of the car; in
another instant he had, after the occasional custom of nations,
recognized the belligerency of Sarah Maria. When the din of battle
had subsided he beheld Steve arising from the earth somewhere in the
rear of the car, while the station master, on all fours, was in the
act of picking himself up from a spot just in front of where Sarah had
lately made her heroic stand.

Steve was in no wise perturbed or even surprised. He realized that the
bovine belonged to the gentle sex, and anything was to be expected. As
long as Sarah Maria and his wife spared his life, he felt that he had
no just cause for complaint; both ladies were erratic, and he must
simply look for whatever happened.

Unfortunately, as Steve regarded it, Sarah Maria had not taken her
departure, her long rope having caught around a tree and detained her.
She was well out of the car, however, and the station master washed
his hands of her.

It was by this time nearing dusk, and Steve set out on his long walk
toward home with many misgivings. Under happy circumstances a walk in
the country along the brookside, through meadows and woods in the
evening is quieting, but Steve found it the reverse of this to-night.
Not that he had no still moments, in which the brain might work and
memory hold sway; there were such, indeed, at first, for Sarah Maria
set out with him so gently and quietly that the station master
concluded she must be one of those feminines who wax irritable when
their way of life is disturbed, and that once relieved of the box-car
she would proceed as a domestic animal should.

Even Steve began to entertain hopes of her reformat