The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-09
THE EVENING STORY
BY Hook or crook.
by Troy Allison.l

OF the creek. is the most fascinating
pursuit of mankind 80 .
me girl had braced her pole in the
crook of an alder branch and was min
nlhg her white linen skirt to clear her
trim ankles.
believe have heard that men were
h I,,ole fascinated by the pursuit than
on tnat theory" she said, peering into
the empty basket at his feet
gu Just wait-that fly is a wonder,
ana a. ;, VIII soon have 'em taking no.
But we've promised to catch enough
LOT oinner-and there are ten hungry
girls and ten voracious men that can
ear ike a circus menagerie-to say
notning of the chaperons.''
III not try to catch enough to go
round-I hate chaperons," he jerked his
pole up and down vindictively. We've
Deen camping for four days, and this is
the nrst minute I've had you to my
many for 20 people, that's four-tenths
OF chaperon to a couple-too rich for
my system
And what. may ask, is your sys-
tenn she made grab at her pole.
which had gradually slipped half its
length into the creek
Dora Newton. you have a most irri-
tat1ng habit of playing with a mans
words-and with his heart he said, his
eyes fixed on her fine young arms,
barred TO the elbow. ~
Il wasn't playing-I was earnestly
seeking nformation-the desire for
knowledge is strong within me-and I
really wanted to know your-system,"
she landed tiny perch and helplessIy
held the rod for him to take the CULVER
ing fish off the hook.
He put the fish in the basket, and
they regarded the lack of proportion
OF basket and fish gravely.
1t needs to be illustrated" he said
solemnly, mot the fish-but the sys-
tent could teach it to you"
II don't know that you are q quail
way that made her line cross Ran
dolph's, Prof. Jordan is coming
down tomorrow to stay in camp with
us two days. and the inference was
that Prof. Jordan, as teacher, could
not be discounted!
''Humph! The old fossil!'' grunted
Randolph.
Fossil? He's not more than forty
and he certainly is a man of brains"
Your tone, Miss Newton, intimates
that I am mere matter of physical
bulk, and you are further aggraVating
me by getting your line tangled in
mine just as I was about to have a
bite
She cast her line in new spot with
a sudden show of humility.
"Well-you see / hadn't realized
that you had attained the degree of
psychic development necessary to tell
when fish was about to bite
Personally" he continued, prof.
Jordan bores me immensely-think
I'll run up to town for the two days he
intends to illuminate the camp with
his intellectual light. Would you mind
telling me IL you are going to marry
that dried up Greek root 2" he drew in
his line and fixed it for deeper water.
HE hasn't asked me-yet," with a
toss of her head that intimated she
was prepared for future developments.
81 didn't know my vacation was to
He was delighted that he remembered
the word.
rs he really as bad as all that Sounds
three or four shades wickeder than
Greek root but I am glad you are at
east generous enough to credit him with
We rsa tility."
Doesn't make any difference which
head you classify him under. If he's
coming here to spoil the party I might
as we'll go back to town and stay. 1
asked you to marry me seven times
10 look at the matter seriously. Thought
maybe all this scenery and the moon
light nights, and the-er-hammocks
would develop little sentiment IN your
;oul-but If there's another man in the |
have nothing more to say"
$50 hammocks are included in your
system? L never sat in hammock with |
Prof Jordan" ref1ectively.
IT could really imagine no greater JOY |
hama hammock and the fossilated |
Jordan" he said sarcastically.
''I have to thank you for the sugges- |
fon,' airily, when you are in town to- |
night, gasping for a breath of |
,ool air, don't think you are entirely for |
,otten, shall be remembering your idea |
and trying the hammock. The moon |
light here is-fascinating," she mumur- |
ID, irrelevantly.
His pole dipped down with an unex- 1
,ected jerk, and with the effort to catch |
t mis- foot slipped on the edge of the |
,ank and he found himself suddenly |
in the creek. He caught |
me glimpse of the girls Mortified eyes,
md with an inspiration heaven born or
wicked, according to the point of view,
lie remembered the trick he had learned
n boyhood, and disappeared from her
light.
She stood motionless, her hands clasp
d convulsively to her breast. When
le came to the surface near her, sput-
ering and gasping with more energy
han an expert on the subject would
ave pronounced natural, she dropped |
N her knees and clutched him by the
rm.
20, Dicky!" she screamed, throwing
er 1.-the young body on the edge Of the
reek and reaching her other hand to
i'm, hold on-tight-I've got your
Randolph. dripping wet. scrambled
p the bank and helped her to her
eet.
"I-caught YOU" she reiterated
azedly, clutching each wet sleeve
nth nervous fingers. her face white
nd tremulous.
"You poor little girl, I didn't know
gu would be as frightened as this"
e said contritely, unhesitatingly put
ing his arm around the crisp white
st thought you were-d-dead,"
he stammered. and Randolph, look
1g into her eyes was satisfied with
is system.
Dora he said finally, the last
ngering touch of Jealousy dying
ard, you never loved that dried
Ireek root. did you? p
She freed one hand and stroked the
amp hair from his forehead. 81 like