The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-08
TIE EVENING STORY
Nc NNonaan 81 &c q.
q EIIiott Walker.l

| biles. First. no shelter for the ma
chine; second. I won't have one round
there's no use talking. Better go
along"
In the sudden darkness of the sum-
mer twilight came a binding naSns as
the big touring car-the chauneur'
gesticulating angrily; two other seoWl-
ing men, a woman and a child.
With a rush Of wind the storm
broke. A deafening thunderclap shook
the earth. The rain, almost norl-
zontal IN the flying air, drove a deluge
Of great drops under the hastily ar
ranged covers.
Pm going to get out!" shrilled a
SMALL scared voice. Il want TO De IN
house. Mamma, comet"
A tail figure Ieaped from the piazza
1 of the little hotel, showed 1sadd ASIDE
and held out a pair of shirt sleeveo
arms.
you shall. babyl'' he shouted. ITS
a COMPOUNDED shame! You, too.
madam, Let the men take care or
/ themselves. Hurry, or you'H pc
1 drenched!"
/ ly, for the child had jumped reckless
+ ~. Thank you, sir. l feared sne
would fall. Yes, I think it is best L II
/ be right in
I She fumbled for a bag, spoke rapid
/ lv to one of her companions, and sprang
4 from the step unassisted, to run up the
short path after the uncoated ngure,
/ striding swiftly with the little girl
/ clinging to his neck.
Ladd's loud voice came to her ears
/ 2 bove the din.
you're all welcome. say. I'll bed
and feed the crowd, but that pesky
machine can't lodge at my place. NO
gents. Sorry, but I've sworn to pass
EN- along
"a fine specimen you are to run
+ hotel" scoIded the man by the driver
Its my house. retorted Ladd-
We'll. keep it and be hanged l
roof Wen be here in the morning
old curmudgeon- Take care OF Nrs.
Dixon. Push her along, Henri! Never
mind speed limits. s
and the car dashed away through the
mud.
Mr.. Ladd, bareheaded and dripping,
gazed after it with a satisfied grin
Too bad to break up party, ne
grunted. This storm will last good
hour. They'll get nice ze-niie Trip
/ to Jepworth, splashing soft dirt. Wen,
I've got two guests, anyhow, and to-
morrow I make my third nick on on
/ Hanks tombstone"
He chuckled his way into the barn.
Lois Dixon sat in the dining room, a
small apartment largely given over 70
social usage other than the del8nts
/ of the table. A high chair had been
found for Dot. who was assaulting bread
and milk Seraph Ladd, corpulent ana
apologize, talked from the adjacent
! kitchen.
"Oh. no. my dear" she was saying
THE Tamaracks isn't much OF no
tel Folks stay here for meals, ana
/ we take in a few transients and occa-
! sionally a regular. The regulars are
mostly men who come to fish and Kill
/ time There are good trout in the
tamarack swamp brook, but it's pesky
hole. That man you saw is regular.
He has been here week
Il can hardly say I saw him. Every
thing was done so quickly. m quite
/ dry now, and so is Dot Your nus
band doesn't appear to approve OF au-
tomobiles,'' this last sentence with an
aggrieved intonation.
He Doesn't" exclaimed Mrs. LAID
rather warmly. Jason IS good-natured
about most other things, but after our
dog was knocked across the fence (poof
/ old thing he was only gnawing bone
in the road, Jason swore an oath never
| to let q car stop overnight again 30
he boarded up the shed. MY. the way
some of these people whiz along coun-
try road is fearful Your supper IS
most ready. Mrs. Dixon. take 1t you
are a widow woman, because
yes, I've been widowed Tor nVe
years" Lois interrupted. I'VE were
simply taking a short pleasure drive. A
slight accident delayed US for an hour,
else we should be at home by this
time We were making for JepWorth,
where I have a sister"
Il see," Mrs. Ladd began to place
dishes Il sort of wondered"
"A friend of mine and his brother,
i besides the chauffeur explained Lois,
blushing a trif1e. 1T did seem queer
that I was left so unceremoniously to
the care of strangers; but I can look
out for myself. and I always go pre-
pared for emergencies. Still, 1 should
have thought
"Ohl It's the machine. every time, .
laughed the old woman Men seem
to forget What with their wrangling
and hurry for cover, you and Dotty
were better out of it.
Apparently" Mrs. Dixon's tone
was sarcastic. However, to let me
come in. unattended, and to leave all
exclamation to me when he knew ]
was upset and trying to calm Dot
she paused. Seraph was cycling her
shrewdly.
"Considerate, must say" observed
the hostess ''Well, draw up and eat
"Merceyi you have cooked enough
for three Lois laughed outright.
Its not all for you, my dear. Our
regular hasn't had his supper. He
turned up only a few minutes before
YOU did. I'll tinkle the bell for him
You don't mind company, do you
He's a real nice man, but sort Of
quiet this trip. Acts sort of impatient
and nervous. too. which isn't his usual
; way"
81 must ask you to introduce me
then. III be glad to thank him fol
helping u.s."
The bell rang softly in the hall
: Lois, busying herself with her napkin
and with Dot, did not glance at this
entering figure.
Mrs. Ladd, Impressed by the impor-
lance Of the act Of introduction, spoke
up smartly.
NAT. let me make you acquainted
with Mrs. B1akeley. II mean Mrs
Dixon. Mr. Blakely, Mrs. Dixon Thii
is her little girl. Dear Dear! WASH
it funny that I should have got yot
, twisted"
Every funny" murmured Blakeley
/ s.---.i-,.. lrir. IL HI.