The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-31
THE EVENING STORY
The Conquest of Cutler.
(By Louise Merrifield.)

Ter. There was no mistaking that With
IT'S polished brass rails, its red morocco
cushions, and its trim, slender lines, it
was the smartest bit of sailing craft on
Lake Glenora
And for over three weeks Muriel
Arden had had the sole exclusive use
on ~, ana mad exercised the privilege at
every opportunity. To Tenant, it was
more than mere girlish wilfulness. 1t
was frankly Haunting in his face her
conquest of Cutler, and her defiance
OF himself, and preference for things
belonging to said Cutler
He watched her as she neared the
pier. If she saw the tall, moody figure
in gray hannels, she made no sign. Hat
back from her tanned, clear-cut face
she held her way steadily towards the
open bay, one hand on the little brass
tipped pilot wheel, and looked neither
to the right nor the left.
Phil Tenant muttered something I'M
der his breath, and turned quickly on
his heel towards the hotel. 1t was after
seven. If he hurried he could still
catch the night boat for Chicago. Per-
maps he could even get away before
she returned 1t was growing late. Up
at the hotel they were lighting the col
ored japanese lanterns around the YER
andas. There was to be a hop that
night He remembered Muriel had told
him she was going to it with Cutler
He avoided the main entrance with its
palms and pretty girls, and slipped up
" Ills own TOOIn TO pack Ills suit eases.
On the way upstairs he met Cutler,
who looked anxious and annoyed.
Did you see the little girl any
where?"
Tenant turned on him holly.
Whom do you refer top
Cutler laughed easily, without mall
ice, and ignored the resentment in the
others tone.
There's storm coming. up, and l
didn't want her to go out in my boat
alone"
AS he passed on downstairs leisurely
Tenant paused and looked after him,
his fists clenched tightly. He would
have enjoyed f1inging him down the
whole flight for those words. THE
little girl!' 1t was the easy pro-
prietary familiarity that cut. That
any man on earth should dare to use
that tone in speaking of Muriel-his
Murieli Then like a flash came the
memory of that straight, cold little
figure in the launch as it had passed
the pier, of the proud little face that
would not turn his way, and he went
on upstairs with a logged, bitter sense
of all things gone wrong. Perhaps
she was Cutters little girl
The Chicago boat was due at the
Glenora at $3.50. At 8 the music of
the Hungarian string orchestra came
softly from the palm-hidden ballroom.
For a moment Tenant hesitated on
the veranda listening to it. Muriel
was in there, he thought. She had
probably returned and was dancing,
perhaps with Cutler, while he was go
ing away from her forever. He had
been a fool to come at all. 1t had
been her half laughing challenge that
last night on the roof garden. They
were with the Wilburton party Cutler
had been there also, but Muriel had
sat next to Tenant, and he had fan
cied that last instant on the stairs that
she had meant more than mere fir
tation when she had said she hoped
he would be a member of the summer
colony at Glenora.
He had taken her at her word and
gone to Glenora, and what Miss Arden
had begun on the roof garden, she fin
ished at Glenora. But Tenant was
slow, slow to fall in love, slow to be-
lieve that he had the ghost of a chance
with a girl like Muriel Arden, slower
yet to risk that chance in one last
throw. And while he had waited sure
of himself, but doubtful of Muriel
Cutler had come down with his launch
his motorcar, his coach, and all the
lion or so, and Muriel had seemed to
waver.
The night air was still and heavy.
Suddenly a sweep of cool keen wind
blew in freshly from the bay. 1t
caught the frail Jap lanterns and toss
ed them like leaves to and fro The
bamboo curtains at the long French
windows rustled and swung inward
and out on the lawn, the palms and
willows bent before it with a 1.-THE.
swift obeisance
Tennent damned his hat low over
his eyes, and started on a run for the
pier. The rain splashed in his face,
ana a glare of dazzling light shot
across the northwest heavens. He ran
faster. If he could make the boat
house before the storm broke. he
could take the steamer. Just as the
thunder burst in low report from
h a 1<~A-l l. Il
cutters boathouse, and as the next
flare of quick lightning came, he saw
that it was empty. The Mike" was
gone from it's place
The pier was deserted except for a
sleepy boy at the baggage shed. Tenant
called for boat, for anything that
could ride through the black rolling
waves that licked along the piIing by
the dock. There was no time to get
back to the hotel or to give the alarm
for the life savers. MurieI was out there
out in the storm, and the peril of the
night, alone, and he must go to her.
Shaking the boy, gripping him until
he squealed with PAIN Tenant yyrung
from him somehow that the only boat
to be had was Cutters electric motor
boat small, low affair that only car
ried one. and that in fair weather.
You amt going out on Michigan
with her, are you?" asked the boy Ten
nant smiled grimly, and sprang into the
boat as the next wave lifted it up 1t
was a mere silver of a thing built on
the lines of racing shell. He had owned
one of his own the previous summer
and understood the mechanism With
the wind cutting sharply across his face.
he whipped clearly out into the BAY.
Somewhere he would find her, he told
himself. bending low, over the little
pilot wheel. and holding his breath as
the boat took the water fairly There
was a certain fitness about the proceed
ing that pleased him.
Muriel had headed the Mike" due
west, straight out through the narrow
channel from little Lake Glenora into
Lake Michigan. Two arms of land and
rock stretched out to meet Michigan
On one, Rock Point. stood the big sum-