The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-04
TIE EVENING STORY
Grateful to Hiram.
(By Anna Munson.)

Iremway in connection vifb ~ - - "a
oer passion. In Lakehead he has tba
reputation of being a woman hater oT
ene uost pronounced description. ana
certain age, who had designs on HI
was the only person in all the Lake
Iona district of whom the erizzIe6
Woodsman WAS afraid.
FOR that reason it seemed strange
that HI should take such an interest
in the affair between Norma Downine
ana Bryce Logan. The Downings had
a camp at the upper end of Lake
Iona, and it was Gordon Downine
VINO loaned money to Hi for the Dur.
chase OF the gasoline launch in which
he made morning and evening trims
around the lake.
Iona, with its alternate bluffs ana
valleys, was largely dependent on this
water bus for service. The wagon
road ran far back into the woods to
by the road to the Downing canop
was matter of several hours. In the
boat 1t required less than an hour
even when stops We're made at the
otner camps, and Gordon Downing
was regarded as public benefactor
Wnen ne started his water express.
Bryce Logan had come only that
spring, but none of the regulars was
regarded with greater favor by rrem-.
way than this jolly young fellow. To-
gan Always had pleasant word and
a cigar for the expressman when hi
drew into his dock with the mail and
supplies. . '.0
Then, too, there were notes to he
carried TO the Downing camp and let
tiers to be brought in reply. More than
once N had arranged for a moonlight
trip around the lake, and had given
his strict attention to the motor and
the steering wheel; -et he could NOT
help gathering that, for some unrea-
sohaole prejudice, Gordon Downing
was opposed to the match between the
This fact caused Hi to think that the
banker was not as clever as he was
generally considered to be. since anv
man IN his sober senses would be glad
10 nave Bryce Logan for a son-in-iaw.
80 matters stood when, from the
Fullman special, there stepped onto
the Lakehead platform a portly form
tnat every one recognized as that of
Gordon Downing.
II was the invariable habit of the
banker to spend August with his fami-
y, ana MS appearance in the middle of
july caused little ripple Of speeula-
ton. Sensations were few in lake
mead and even so natural a happening
as the anticipation of vacation caused
tank for want of better conversational
topics.
Only Hi realized that there might be
SCAAACClAOu between TINS u0Ilnely
visit and the presence of Bryce Logan
OF the lake. He knew that Bryce had
Planned to return to town before the
banker should arrive, and he guessed
that some word of Logan's presence
there had reached the capitalist, the
more particularly as there was a CLINT
IN Dowping's eyes that betokened trou-
BILE.
When the new arrival reached the
landing he found Hi bent over the
motor tinkering with its parts, failing
TO evoke the responsive pant that an.
nounced the conclusion of the repairs
I'm sorry, colonel" he cried, as hi
looked up and pretended to see Down
ing's wrathful face. "'It Jest had tt
happen that the motor would breaI
down the day you came. I amt haG
no trouble all season until now, no sir
not one little speek of trouble. Better
leave your trunk and I'll fetch 1t ovel
by then. Jim Saunders III take yol
over in one of his rigs"
Downing raved and swore at thu
thought Of a four-hour trip in a stiff
riding blackboard, but Hi held out M
hope, and presently the city man wen
rafting off behind a sorry pair of nag:
that constituted the livery service o.
Lake Iona.
Twenty minutes later, when Hi judg
ed that the blackboard was well in
though by a miracle, and casting of
the painter Hi started up the lake. Tht
postmaster, who had come down will
the mail for the camps, called aftel
him that he had forgotten the letters
but HIS only response was a wave O
the hand and the reports of the motor
changed into a steady hum as tbs
highest speed was thrown on.
Along the lake the campers,
anxiously watching for the mail, were
surprised to see the launch shoot
past with a short toot of the whistle
in lieu of the mail.
No stop was made until Logan s
camp came in sight and Bryce him
self came running down to the land
ing.
"Gordon Downing's come" an
nounced Hi 81 pretended that the
boat was busted, and he's on his way
to his camp with Jim Saunders rig.
It'H be a good three hours before he
gets there. If you really want the girl
We'll go and get her. It's an hour
back to the landing, and before Down
ing finds out and can get back to
state, where you don't need license.
Are you coming2"
"You bet 1 am" cried Logan, as
he sprang into the boat. ''Ill get a
coat on the way back. Come on, HI,
let's get in motion"
GU QOH llCSQ SOdbg 6AONAN
Hi. 81 guess Miss Norma IL marry
you without a coat"
st hope So" answered Logan
gayly "The main thing Hi, is to get
her to marry me-"
There was a little point which
formed a bay for the Downing camp,
and on this point Norma was accus-
toned to wait for the launch and OBJ
tain Logan's letters. They found her
now, waiting His arrival and the
guide steered for the shore.
Hi turned his back on the greet
ing, but turned again to add his argu-
ments to Logan's.
YOU'D better. Miss Norma" he
urged 'I heard your pa say he's
goin' to take you to 'Yurrup' to get
away from Mr.. Logan. He knows
that he's here, and you know your pa
when his eyes get small and he
smiles. You been there. guess.
That's the way he looked when he