The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-08
THE EVENING STORY
Compounding a Felony.
(By Colin 8. Collins.)

efHs Icy CO1n .. COlInSJ
81 don't see why your father OBJ
jects to me-" cried Dick Rand. I'm
sure he can not object TO my char
acter, my business position or my So
cial standing. and he admits that he
| liked me until I asked his permission
| to marry you"
HE still likes you" explained Rhoda
earnestly. Its simply that he does
not want me to get married. Dick.
You see. he wants me home with
him.
| That's just what I want said
!, Dick vtciously eve some rights in
( this matter. OF course, don't blame
him for wanting you, too, but you
maid just because your father wants
you to remain single"
! 81 should not marry without his
consent she said softly.
you'll marry, and with his full
consent. If have to waylay him with
a gun some dark night and cry Your
daughter or your life at him." de-
clared Dick with a chuckle.
Rhoda did not share his mirth. HOT
ace Hartsell. her father. was a stub
| born man, not easily moved from a
decision. When she was seventeen ne
had declared that Rhoda was far TOO
young to marry, and to that declara-
| ton he had chung, though Rhoda was
| now twenty-five.
More than one aspiring sutton had
been warned Off by the gruff old man,
whose tenderness exhibited itself only
in an engrossing affection for this
| daughter.
Long before an interest had really
developed into love, other eligible
young men had been scared off; but
with Richard Rand these tactics were
| unavailing. He loved Rhoda, and he
was as determined to win her as was
| her father that she should not be won.
Mr.. Hartse1l had exhausted all OF
his customary expedients long since,
and for the first time a young man
had been able to gain Rhoda's love
| and her consent to marriage.
Hartsell had taken a grim satisfac-
| ton in refusing his sanction. He knew
permission, and Dick had just come
| from the library, still smarting under
| the injustice of his dismissal.
| Rand did not linger long with
Rhoda. He was afraid that he might
be led into some injudicious speech,
and presently he left the house and
made his way down town. He
| dropped into the Frivolity. the vaude-
vile theater. Ben Graham. the mana
ger, was an old ctum and Dick fire.
| quently dropped into carry him of
| to supper after the performance.
Tonight he found Graham busy at
a typewriter. "Just a minute" called
| the manager, as he looked up from
his work. I'm writing the home Of
fee. Go inside and look at the pic
| lures"
I'm tired Of pictures" declared
Dick, but he stepped through the door
leading to the auditorium and leaned
against the rail at the rear Of the
| seats, watching the motion pictures.
He became so engrossed that he did
not realize Graham's approach until
| the lights went up and the audience
began to stream up the aisles. Graham
waited for the house to be closed and
| then led the way across the street to
| their favorite haunt.
| Dicks gloominess had disappeared
| and for an hour or more he sat at the
table laughing and Joking in a man
ner far from suggestive of a lover who
| has just been tol6 that he must not
wed the girl Of his heart.
| Horace Hartsell was far more
| worried than was Rand. When bust
ness took him to New York he sent
Rhoda to visit relatives until his re-
| turn and then hurried home because
| a friend wrote him that Dick had left
| town.
| But Rhoda was sare at her aunt's
and Dick did not return for ten days.
When he did come, he was more
5aunty than s, eyer and faa there - was vas
manner when he dropped into Horace
HartselPs law office the day following
| his arrival
He found the lawyer just about to
leave for home. and together they de-
|
vator.
"Come over to the Frivolity," plead
! ed Dick as they reached the sidewalk.
There is something I want you to
mo, thanks" was the brusque re-
ply ''I don't like those speciality
shows. It's waste of time"
| 'This is something very special"
| insisted Dick.
! Nothing to interest me-" declared
Mr.. Hartsell. "I have some papers to
read over for Blatchford. I promised
to give him an opinion in the morn
ing"
"You won't Gomez" demanded Dick
| Certainly not was the trritated
response.
ION your own head be It," said Dick
so1emnly as he turned away. Some
| thing in the tone alarmed the elder
| man He turned his steps to follow
Dick and presently they entered the
deserted lobby together.
| Graham was apparently waiting
for them, for at their APPROACH he led
the way into the empty auditorium.
In response to his shouts white cur
tain was dropped on the stage and
from the balcony above came the
whirring noise of the projecting ma
| chine.
| On the screen, in pickering letters
| of light appeared a legend announc-
| ing that the dives of New York would
be shown. In a moment this gave
| way to an interior that fairly repre-
scented one of the drinking resorts
known all over the country by name
and reputation. or lack of it.
| Seated at the tables were gay par
| ties, and the lawyer gasped as at the
nearest table he perceived a figure so
| like his own that it might have been
| his twin.
Been having a mighty good time
| in New York" chuckled Dick, as he
| turned to Mr.. Hartsell. ST thought
you'd like to see this film before Ora
| ham puts it on next week. Wait for
| the rest"
''Is there more?" was the reply. ac-