The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-23
TIE EVENING STORY


cit Is TO Laugh"
by NJ J. Phillfps.7
Bob Wentworth tucked his sister and
AlInseI snugly into their cutter, and
started old Dobbin on a brisk trot. for
mere were three miles OF crisp white
lpaa 70 De covered, and It was almost
ehoreIIne. When they were fairly ua-
Ger way, Wentworth turned to his
pretty sister, christened Elsie. but
known as sTOots's to all her many
t trends and said. 7 hear you're going
10 get married, Toots."
Miss Wentworth's very becoming
nusn was no doubt due to the weather,
1or the thermometer lowered about
zero; at any rate. she answered very
composedly; "Oh, indeed; and who told
you, Mr.. Smarty?''
"A little bird. Elsie. from Chelsea, a
little bird" He bent waggish glance
upon her Il say. which one is it go
ASK your little bird" she retorted.
Bob tried a new tack well, Harry
Crossman is a nice fellow"
Indeed he is" replied his sister.
Good looking"
Yes"
think''
DO your"
And more money, too"
Romantic disposition. too" Bob was
warming to his theme ANY fellow
VINO viii go west and be q cowboy for
a year must have some romance about
him. Now, I don't believe that Luke
Cotter has even been out Of the coun-
ty.''
He was in Chicago last summer"
with g load of stock. He stayed
all of q hours. Seriously, Toots, I
approve of your choice. Cotter's all
right, but all he's got is a 40-acre
farm, and that's mortgaged."
He seemed almost dissatisfied with
n e4e5f
moments silence, he burst out. boyishly:
"Oh, I say, Toots, be a good fellow.
Which one is it, and when is it going
to be? 'Fess up. now"
Toots rehectively smoothed her muff.
Then she said, cautiously: do you
promise not to tease me?"
Gross my heart
The girl looked down pensively.
They've both asked me-
"GOOdi'
'.And@and they're both coming to-
morrow for their answers
''Hurrooi"
You're not to tease, now"
Il won't, honest"
wen, I haven't really decided which
it is to be-
Bob chuckled gIeefully What
beautiful situationi Toots, you're a win
ner; I've always said it. Peck's Bad
Boy wasn't 1t with you for getting into
trouble. When are you going to de-
''I don't know"
Miss Wentworth essayed to say more.
but her courage failed her. Bob slapped
Dobbin with the reins, interrupting a
Iong-drawn whistle to grin expansively.
He raised his hand "oh. I krOw
what you're going to say; and my ad
vice is, don't say it. You want me to
help you choose. And I won't. I know
you. Toots. If I picked one, you'd
- --.4s
up you'd blame me. No. my dear. A
man should select his own neckties and
woman her own husband"
II think you're just as mean as you
can be-" pouted Toots
THE lady or the tiger" apostrophized
Bob, waving a long arm at the horizon.
THE gallant cowboy, or old Stick-in-
the Mud. The heir sto-WelI, thousands,
and the poor, but honest, youth. The
hullO, what's this
A sharp turn in the road had brought
them to a most interesting tableau. A
team of horses, attached to sleigh,
stood facing them. Behind the sleigh
a man in a fur coat chung stubbornly
the rope an angry steer was plunging
and believing. Evidently the animal
had been tied insecurity to the sleigh,
had worked the knot loose. and had
been about to make a dash for liberty.
At this moment the driver had discov-
cred the status of things and taken
hand.
The steer swung abruptly to the left.
The man in the fur coat was swept off
his feet by the move, and spraWied
full length in the snow. The steer
charged the rail fence by the roadside,
scattered the rails as If they were 50
many matches and galloped into the
smooth meadow lot beyond. The man
still dangIed at the end of the rope
AS the animal began moving IN wide
circle through the field, he attempted
repeatedly to rise, but his heavy coat
and the plunging of the steer hamper
Bob ieaped out the cutter. Luke
Cotter" he remarked. His arms tan
gied in the rope so he can't get up.
The beast can't hurt him, but that
dragging will play the mischief with
There was a rapid thudding of hoofs
down the road from behind, and
borseman a handsome fellow WITH
dark hair, dashed by with smile and
q nod He swung his horse through
the gap in the fence, and bore down
on Cotter and the steer. BOD cllInben
hack into the cutter and grinned. "Har-
~ Crossman." He settled himself to
eniov the denouement. THE plot thick
ems His sister sat silent and breath
within half a minute the big bay
was running easily in the rear OF me
orostrate Cotter CrOssman shrewdly
autfcipated the steers next turn,
grasped the rope midway, and set ms
horse back upon its launches; Check-
ed in rnid-career, the steer rolled over
in the snow.
Cotter scrambled to his feet, freed his
arm. and secured a firm foothold- Then
he and the steer fought it out. In vain
the animal threw his weight against
the rope; he was conquered ana, ac-
ceptfng philosophically the fortunes OF
war. he suffered himself to be led back
10 the sleigh This time he was tied
bevond the possibility of escape.
Beyond q brief word Of thanks to his
o,-1-ed 4y,e most nrofo.nd silence. Cross
man rode up to the Wentworth cutter.
HIS black mustache curled back dis
closing Do-lty lips, like those Of a spoil