The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-20
SMOKE
KLAUER's GOLD BUd

themselves up, and guess the best
thing can DO is to stop the old ma
chine right now"
The "old machine" had made only q
half circuit. Mr.. Hawkins and his fat
woman and Mr. WATERBURY and his
old maid were right at the top when
something went wrong with the ma
chinery and the motion ceased. After
half a minute there were loud demandR
to know what had happened. The
wheel man told them as well as he
could. Some cog, lever, cam or ratchet
had given out, and It might be & full
hour before that big wheel took up its
slow and stately movement again. i.
Young man, this is a purity how-de-
do!' exclaimed the fat woman when
the news was shouted aloft. Here
am UP here, half scared to death, and
down there is my Samuel almost in a
IT.
'rwelI, I'm not TO blame for it, re-
piled Mr.. Hawkins.
Il believe you are. I can see villain
written in every line on your face. Lay
as much as the tip Of your finger on me-
and III make you rue 1t to the last day
of your nfe,"
shouted the young lawyer at her.
Cant you see that your hitching
around may upset this carr"
I'm a dead woman know I ami
she walled, as she began to shed tears.
Didn't tell you to keep stil12"
She sank down in the bottom Of the
car. crowding his legs until he had to
haul them up. and Mr.. Hawkins swora
according to Coke and Blackstone.
In the next car below Mr.. Winter
bury and the old maid were also hav-
ing some conversation. He was q young
man and looked like a good thing and
her heart went out to him As her
heart went out, she exclaimed:
What a romantic bower for a pair
of lovers! All around US the meadows
overhead Gods sky. hope you ap-
preeiate the beautiful? ~
I'D appreciate a chance to punch
that fellows head down therei" was
the savage reply.
ever
You may ride all you please. after /
get out"
It was an unkind remark and the
old maid took it so, and Jared I'd ana
told Mr.. WATERBURY that he was evil
IDENTIFY lOafer in disguise, and THAI
her brother down below would waiIon
better manners into him as soon as the
wheel turned. Then the rivals caught
sight Of each other and began to shake
their fists and indulge in epithets.
These things scared the fat woman I'M
til she began to shrek, and angered
the old maid until she threatened to
stab her vis-a-vis with a hatpiu If hs
didn't give over. He gave over. but
not until he had said:
If ever catch that 1ons-nosed
young man on the solid earth III rend
MIN limb from limb, and II hung for
It I'll 20 to the gallows with a song on
my ios."
A thunderstorm had been creeping
I'D The owner of the machile didn't
know whether he had earnad his $40
or not. He finally decided hat he
hadn't, and while seemingly indus
rFiously at work to make repairs. he
accomplished nothing and left all his
patrons to get wet
There was a strong wind aheaI Of
the rain, and the people aloft sat with
their hearts in their mouths. The thur
der roared and they roared with it, The
lightning cut UP didos and shrieks rent
the air. When the rain came all were
tat woman and the old maid, and they
privately informed Messrs. Hawkins
and WATERBURY that their vengeance
would be deep and deadly and last
through three generations.
The owner of the wheel was q man
soaked in a minute. This included 1b8
who believed in giving full measure for
the money He kept the wheel still for
the full time he had agreed upon, and
then added ten minutes. BY that time
the storm had ceased and the sim Of
joy shone again. Messrs. Hawkins ana
WATERBURY gave him one long, lingsr-
ing look as the wheel came round. ard
then 1esped from their seats and
walked away
They walked toward AMI past The
girl Of their hearts as she stoo l smiling
beside her mother, but they didn't seS
her. They. didn't want to. The hun
derstorm had washed their love away.
never to return. Henceforth no mora
caramels-no more roses II was as il
nothing ever had been nothing but
I law and literary Worlz.--f CsolyrfEist-
1905, by Ruby Douglas.)