The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-15
TIE EVENING STOR Y
Corson.e coneh g
By suse clsments Wnlas.1

icy DOCK Tor various 1nfant49 HIS Dut
even then he had never hated the time
worn volume as he did now that he
was asksd to carry a whole quart OF
her invaluable cough syrup to n4s
mother.
It was very good Of Aunt Betsey. who
was the custodian OF the precious vol
ulae and compounder OF its prescrip-
tons, to send the gift, but whisky
bottle done up IN q newspaper does not
match brand new winter ovsrcoag,
and there was certain to be some one
on the train to recognize him and pass
tbs story on
For a moment he contemplated send
ing the bottle by express, but the APP
pearanee Of the train prevented that
and assuming as much dignity as his
burden. would permit him he clambered
aboard
There was no parior car on the sub
urban train and the smoker was hlled
/ with laborers returning from their
days work up the road. Corson hates
the smell OF q pipe, let alone hal
hundred, and he beat hssty retreat to
the next car.
He started forward with word OF
/ greeting as his glance took in. Euniee
/ Barbour, but to his surprise, that young
woman favored him with a glance SC.
chilling that he was glad to sink into,
the nearest seat.
he could tell from her glance that it
was the bottle which was responsible
for the cut but he could not inagint
/ E4N4A4G9 ignoring because Ne car
RED a package done up in newspaper.
He wondered what sudden freak had
/ induced her action.
He was still puzzling over the mat
ter when man across the way leaned
forward.
Lets have swing, partner he
| shouted hoarsely. Il amt had one ir
an hour"
1 heard, but his bibuloUs travelling COM
panion was not to be denied. GO
ahead. Be generous he implored.
You know how It is yourself
His voice rang through the car and
the contrast between Corson and the
other was too much for the rest of the
passengers. They shouted with glee,
/ all excepting Eunice, who rose with
white lips and made her way to the next
car. Corson stood the chaff as long as
he could but at last the mans persist
ence won and with flaming face he fol-
/ lowed the girl.
There was a vacant seat beside her
and COrson took it. She moved over
l to be as far distant as possible. but 1t
/ is not easy to be exclusive when shar-
ing a narrow seat Neither could she
| evade Corson's low spoken words.
what have I done2'F he pleaded
There was no answer from the win
dow and he leaned a little closer.
Surely I should have the right to
defend myself" he pleaded I am
! ignorant Of my offense."
This time she noticed him. With
/ flashing eyes she turned to face him.
! III you persist in speaking to me, she
said, firmly, It shall appeal to the men
in the car to rid me Of your very IN
| pleasant attentions"
In her intensity she spoke more dis
tinctly than she knew and braaTny
4 hand shot across the aisle ana shook
| Corson's shoulder "See here, young
fellow warned q hoarse voice. You
quit Tnashin' or of you 60, and I won't
/ be particular as to whether we are at
a station when you get OF, either
Corson looked helplessly at the GIRL
4 f,uf her face was adanant except when
sbe thanked her companion with a
smile It was evident that there was
no appeal to her, and Corson wisely
/ concluded to let the argument wait until
a better time.
It was hard, though, to sit quietly
beside the girl he had proposed to
five days before and be denied even the
right to make an appeal. He could
/ imagine nothing except his appearance
with the bundle, but surely GRANDMA
Brad1ey's cough medicine was innocent
| enough in appearance If not IN taste
He glanced across the aisle. The
giant appeared. to be sleeping, but as
reused to sudden watchfulness ana
/ Corson slilfully changed his motlon 20
suggest that he was merely trying TO
look out of the window. The man was
! SUSPICIOUS, SI1lls DuI mol DCA4AG oAA1
| and for the rest of the trip Corson
kept his eyes fixed on the oeH rope
| and betrayed no interest in his com
panion.
opportunity at the station after the
giant had gone his way, but the gam
showed a very evident intention OF
SQUIRTING Miss Barbour to the car, ana
they moved down the station platIo s.1
/ in single file, Eunice first, Corson roi-
/ lowing and the giant bringing up IN
the rear ready to pounce upon Corson
at the slightest chance
1 Carson boarded the same car as did
the girl, and the giant swung himself
on to the back platform 1t was eVloent
that he was thorough IN Whatever ne
undertook, and Corson was not anxious
/ to give him an excuse. Corson was
not a coward, but he knew how little
chance he would have against man.
who quite evidently was USED 10 fOuen
| and tiirnbles. so he sat on the cage OF
the scat and stared at the ceiling
while his busy brain worked at several
problems all looking toward eh I'M
mediate understanding Win ounce
They had had a quarrel once oeLOrs'
and he had been miserable for days
ne was resolved to end this as quickly |
ae possible, and to that end followed
6er ofF the car when her street was
reached. -. .t
he Tras Mistaken for the giant got on, |
too. and in the same order as az ne
station, they proceeded down me
street Half block along, the Bar
bour's big Newfoundland came rush rush
iY,lr IN the street to welcome MS mis-
t tres and perceiving a friend in Cor
80, threw his huge bulk against the
young man. t1,e
,,,-,fs S7fslodeed the bottle in Corson I /
arms. and the dog went flying up tn
street alarmed at the noise
At the sound, Eunice turned, her race
son had struck the dog, but the bottle Il
at his feet told its own story, and she
glanced curfously at the dark, viscuous
dlfd slowly creeping across the sine
ELI y-bere was a familiar odor il he1
nostrtIs, and the expression in her face
t.lrrled from anger to mirth as she came