The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-26
THE EVENING STORY
Daisy and Modred, Jr.
(By w. F. Bryan

Daisy shifted when the Carterets sre-
gested sending the dog in by express.
She glanced at the st. Bernard puppy.
ana Tossed her small, shapely head.
/ - guess I can take him twenty
miles" she insisted, as she tugged at
the leather leash. "As though I couId
! let the splendid fellow come to his
new nome in an express crate! It's
awfully good of you to give him 70 me
and I am sure that he will NOT he the
| town." ~
| II wish I could go to the station
WI. Wlsn you, said Carteret regretfulIy.
long distance CALI
| Nonsense" was the disdafnful re-
trouble '' Oie oi
She shook hands with carteret
Kissed Grace, and, with a final wave
or her hand, started down the road
toward the station.
Daisy had always wanted dog
ana Grace Carteret, knowing her
longing, had saved her one of Cham
p1on Modred's puppies. She couId
not wait for her new pet to be Grated
and expressed, and her tender heart
reVolted at the idea of turning the dog
over to the careless ministrations of
the express agents. 1t was only twen-
ty miles to town, and Modred, If.
would not mind the half hour stay in
the baggage car.
1t was a hot and dusty walk to the
station even in the crisp October air.
and she was glad when at last She
came in sight of the tracks and the
little red building. She strobe cross
the platform. proudly leading Modred.
ter.
Il suppose that I may check nv
dog! she asked with a stress upon
the word my" The man smiled.
sure" he assented, but the road
is tied up. A freight train ran off the
rails at the bridge and it will be some
time tomorrow before the trains run
again." *
ITO, orrow?" gasped Daisy. at
must be In town tonight"
agent; Il don't think they'll take the
dog, though. That's one of the Car
terets' isn't it? Better take him back
and have him expressed in when the
snarl gets untangled."
With a nod of thanks Daisy turned
away. But she had no intention of
turning back and confessing failure.
She had declared her ability to get
Modred, Jr., to town and she was go
ing to do it. 1t might be against the
rules to carry dogs on the trolley. but
Daisy, from her ripe experience, knew
men were but human, and that regu-
latfons were not always observed
Modred. Jr.. ambled amicably beside
Of campaign.
tor she explained. "Then. while
put on my pleasantest air, you must
look very tired and detected and he
simply can't refuse to take U.S."
Perhaps if Modred, Jr., had played
his part well the result might have
been different, but Modred, Jr., was
only puppy, and the world was still
his friend. When the fnterurban car
came along and the conductor drop
ped from the step to explain to the
girl that it was against the rules to
carry dogs, Modred, Jr., rose on his
hind legs and planted his paws affec-
unheedful Of the fact that on the way
to the trolley he had padded through
some deliciously cool mudholes.
Modred, Jr., meant well, but the
conductor sprang back to the plat
form, muttering uncomplimentary re-
marks about dogs, and the car sped
on, leaving the two standing in the
road regarding each other dismally.
walls, and Daisy decided to walk on to
the next stop. Modred, Jr., nothing
loath, trotted beside her.
1t was the same story with the next
full to hold Modred, Jr., on a short |
leash The conductor was a grabbed |
old man, with more regard for rules |
than beauty The second rebuff only |
served to make DAISY the more deter
mined. She had often done her fif- |
teen miles in the country in summer
She could do it now and, ignoring the
fact that her dainty shoes We're
scarcely designed for walking, she
started off.
Before the end of the first five miles
she bitterly repented her decision. Her
ankles turned with the high-heeled
shoes. while Modred. Jr., was in dire
distress. This was far different from
playing about the yard at home, and
finally he sat down and fatty refused
70 90 any further. The limit of his
puppy endurance had been reached.
There was no house in sight of the
spot where Modred, Jr., took his last
stand. For the last mile the road had
run through the woods, and Daisy
had recourse to the feminine relief of
ears. The darkness was closing in
and the dry leaves rustled dtsmally as
The wind blew through the branches.
Around a curve in the road flashed
an automobile headlight, and the
oair with an exclamation the chauf-
Feur brought his machine to a stop
and sprang out.
whats the matter?" he cried.
What are you doing out here at this
time of night"
but she was too miserable to be dis
1ainful. Relief even in the shape OF
Dick Wainwright, was too welcome
% be scorned In the revulsion OF feel
ng, Daisy was sobbfng out her trou-
oles on his shoulder. while Modred,
r. divided his attention between the
pair and the big car that
ouffed and painted in the roadway.
At am stubborn" sobbed Daisy.
You were right, Dick, when you said
t the other night. I was too stub
born to go back to Grace and confess