The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-01-02
IN Chase of a Red Hat.

lady killer. But Huxley tired of his
conquests. Women bored him.
Hinkley was dawdling down the !
under q red hat came out of store |
and passed him, hurrying to her cab. I
His hat was knocked off and his cane
went Gathering. and If she said any ]
thing in the way Of apology he didn't
catch the words. This was a new ex-
perience for Hinkley. 1t aroused his
sleeping interest.
AS the clubman sauntered down
to Twenty-third street and headed for
Sixth avenue, intent on showing his
form to the ladies of the shopping dis
trict, he came across the girl in the
red hat again. She was entering
dry goods store. Hinkley entered after
her. She went to the parasol counter.
and he followed. Aside from the red
hat, which was very gorgeous affair.
the wearer was a handsome young
woman Of about twenty-three. She
knew that Hinkley was following her.
Had she seemed to know 1t, however.
he would have turned away. The
young woman did not seem to know
that he was on earth. AS she looked
at all sorts and kinds Of parasols she
walked on his feet or elbowed him
out of the way. Sometimes she looked
past him, and sometimes over his head,
but never at him. When she had
bought red parasol to match the red
hat she took it and walked out
Mr.. Hinkley was no longer bored.
He was getting move on. Life had
come back to him with a rush. He
followed the red hat out and saw it
| get into a cab. He took another cab
and followed on and landed at the
| Grand Central depot. He followed to
the ticket window and heard the young
woman ask for ticket to certain
Long Island village. He was at her
elbow, but he was ignored. There
was plenty Of room for her to turn to
and walked on his feet again and pass
ed through the gates and took her
train. Mr.. Hinkley always carried q
case Of good cigars with him. He had
soft and gentle voice. Passing a CT
gar into the window and speaking
with a pur he inquired of the ticket
man if he happened to know the young
lady.
Judge Durso's daughter and lives
at Blankville," was the reply, accom-
panied by a wink.
He shouldn't have winked. Mr.. Hink-
ley wasn't running after" the female,
but only following clew to assist him
to throw off the shackle Of ennui.
That evening at the club certain mem
bers were astonished to see that Hinlx.
ley was sitting up and taking notice of
things in a way that he had not done
for months. Some figured it out that
his aunt was dead at last and others
that he had got sure thing on the
races, but he gave up no information
At 10 o'clock the next morning he was
on his way to Blankville. During the
night he had decided that his Water
loo had arrived. He found himself ir
love. He had passed thousand WON
en- without futter Of the heart
only to be caught by girl wearing 6
red hat. 1t was her hat and her tota
Indifference to him. 1t was the ha
and the way she had walked on his
feet. It was the hat and the way She
had looked past him and elbowed him
His summer suit had been ignored
His faultless form had gone for moth
ing. His ego had been Inundated. In
stead of bringing thirst for revenge
these things had brought love and
spirit Of forgiveness.
Mr.. Hinkley had no difficulty in find
ing Judge Durso's residence. 1t was ;
manor house situated mile from til,
village. The villagers who directed
him would have liked to ask all abou
him and his hopes and aims and ambi
tons, but he did not give them time
Just what he was going to do when h.
reached the manor house he didn'
know, but he was a firm believer il
the old saying that providence take
might make inquiries of some sort
He might leave his card. He woul,
make himself known in some way. II
entered the grounds with all sorts O
plans running through his mind. bu
the whole boiling of them was 500
put to flight. A watchdog came tear
ing down to the gate to meet him an,
seized him and rolled him on tn
grass. Then the gardener came tearin
after the dog and rescued the man AM
stood him up against the fence an
called him a tramp and threatene
him. Then the old judge came dow
with stately step and put Mr.. Hinkle
through severe cross examination
and at the end called him a prevar
Gator and talked about the grand jur
and indictments. He was finally pei
mitted to limp away in ignominy. bu
he was only forty rods from the hous
when girl in red hat came tearin
along in an auto. He started to rails
his hat and get out of the road at tn
same time. but got mixed up, and tn
auto struck him and hurled him int
the nearest fence corner. The gir
' never looked back.
I Mr. Hinklay had no honoc hrolyor