The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-08
THE EVENING STORY
His clever Ally.
(By W. Crawford Sherlock

{ length on the grass beneath an old oak
| tree and addressed his fox terrier, VINO
surveyed his master with evident IN
terest and understanding. There was a
| frown on the broad forehead OF the
young man and a troubled look In ms
| big brown eyes. Tip sat on his haunch-
es, wagging his diminutive stump OF
tail vigorously, one eye fixed intently
on his masters face while with the otn-
er he watched the movements of
squirrel on an overhanging branch
Pm in love, Tip" continued Gran
vile, Ticking the ashes from his cigar
with an impatient gesture. You know
you've been paying your addresses 10
that little spaniel of Miss Browning s.
Yet you can't understand why don't
tell the girl so and settle the Wnole
matter, do you? Tip, canine aHalrs are
different from human affairs. Men
have responsibilities and dogs don t.
That's the whole difference in a nut
she'll"
Tip gave short bark as if he fully
ccmprehended the distinction and
good income, Tom, but it is not Dig
enough to support two establishments:
If get married my mother would
have to live with US, and you know,
from your own experiences, that sne
is a woman of decided convictions"
Tip shuddered at the remembrance
of a whipping he had received for the
slight offense of chewing up one or
Mrs. Granville's gloves in a moment. OF
observation-disclosures and then hung his
head.
well, Miss Browning also has de-
cided views on certain questions OF lite
and she and my mother disagree upon
almost every subject. The natural re-
suit of bringing such opposite natures
together and compelling them to ave
beneath the same roof would be
trouble, Tip, serious trouble; too. 1
would have to side with my Wife
to side with my mother against my
wife. In either case my position
would be decidedly unpleasant. l
don't expect you to fully understand
this, old fellow. You were separated
from your mother when you were too
young to comprehend the meaning of
f1lial affection. But human beings are
quite different and have a certain duty
to perform in looking after their ma
ternal relations. Now, these are the
must be done, but 1 don't know what
1t Is to be-
The squirrel had disappeared from
view and Tip fixed his undivided at
tention upon his master, evidently
meditating deeply over the perplexing
problem. The stumpy tail ceased its
pendulum-1ike motions and his sharp
ears were pricked up In an attitude of
earnest attention.
This crisis has come upon us sud-
denly, my boy pursued Granville af-
ter a few moments of silence. Things
were running along all right and there
was no necessity for Immediate action
until this big fellow from California
Wentworth's his name came upon the
scene. He's been showing Miss Brown
ing the most decided attention. Took
her out three times last week in his
auto and twice to the theater. In fact,
every time 1 went there she was out
with this COMPOUNDED Wentworth and
1 haven't had chance to say word
to her since he came.
The terrier whined sympathetically
and his master continued:
Hes twice as old as she is, Tip. but
that don't make any difference in
these days when men of 70 marry
women of 20. There ought to be a
law passed that would prevent people
from marrying when there is more
than five years difference in their
ages, and if ever go to congress I'll
introduce such a measure. That won't
help me now, though, and If don't
make a move he'll win out and leave
me at the post. There you are, Tip;
I've unbosomed my secret soul to you,
the only friend in whom 1 can con
flde, and I look to you to straighten
this tangle out for me-"
If the fly that lowered about Tips
head had been Wentworth Granville's
After making sure that his winged
tormentor would worry him no more,
Tip glanced around and espied the
squirrel several rods away, engaged in
making his morning meal from some
crumbs that had been left in the
woods. Forgetting his masters trou
bles, Tip dashed off in pursuit, leaving
Granville to solve the question that SO
greatly pcrplexed him. The young
man, left to his own devices, lighted
81 a
lation as to the length OF time that
must elapse before he could hope for
sufficient income wherewith to main
tain his mother and wife in separate
worth did not succeed in carrying off
MISS Browning before his eyes.
The calculation was interrupted by
a series Of ear-splitting yelps and
Granville. fearing his pet had come to
grief arose and hurried down the path
along which Tip had disappeared. AS
he reached a clearing, hundred yards
or so away, he stopped short, his eyes
resting upon a curious scene.
In the center of the clearing stood
Wentworth and Mrs. Granville. The
former had one arm around the lat
ter's waist while, with his walking
vigorously parrying the furious rushes
of the enraged Tip.
"I'm so glad you've come. Jim
cried Mrs. Granville as her son drew
near. ~ on are just In tlne-
at looks like I'm around at the
wrong time grimly returned the
young man as he proceeded to calm
the excited Tip. 81 don't quite. under
stand what it all means: I didn't
know you knew Mr.. Wentworth"
mot know Tom Wentworth ex-
claimed Mrs. Granville in surprise.
"Why, I've known him ever since I
was a child. He's Catharine Brown
ing's uncle, you know. and while he
was looking up his niece he found me
out and we've renewed our old friend
ship Tom tells me-" a pretty flush
had crept into Mrs. Wentworth's