The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-24

RAISED upon q diet of biblical liter
ature until he had passed his eighth
year. Sammy Temple took eagerly to
the nickel novels when at last know
ledge OF their existence was commune
Gated to him. First, he liked the stor-
les OF men who sailed strange craft
In the sky above. the earth below or
In the waters under the earth.
Later, these were as naught beside
the bold detective. who could arrest
ed, and who ran murderers to earth
just to keep in practice for greater
things.
Captain Begss. the solitary town
constable. at once became a more Inn
portant figure than Ben Dwyer, who
ed the motive force on the little
branch line. Sammy had liked to
dream of the day when he should be
an engineer. too, and would have
charge Of the great iron steed.
He had planned to sneak past the
switch at the junction some night and
run down the main line clear out to
California. or maybe to Mexico, or up
| to the goldhelds Of Alaska. A fellow
could go anywhere on an engine like
that.
But after The Boys Own" and the
| detective books, the engine. tied to it's
| iron roadbed, seemed tame. Dwyer
was deposed from his pedestal and
Beggs was installed thereon, although
he was only a constable, which is not
| at all like real detective.
Detectives are people who tell con-
stables when the latter have the right
prisoner, and he looked forward to the
day when he could show his badge
and say to Capt Beggs: "Onicer, there
stands the man who killed Cyrus
Blake, arrest him!" He was ready to
bet that old Beggs would be surprised,
and how the other fellows would
stare!
But meanwhile there were oppor-
tunities to do a little detective work
about the farm, and Sammy became
vastly interested In the movements of
Dave Ryder, one of the summer
boarders at Cassell's, who would stroll
ostentatiously toward the village. only
to be seen returning from the opposite
| direction an hour or so later.
| This action was suspicious. Detec-
| tive Samuel took the trail and. like
| the human bloodhound that he was.
he Swallowed the suspect. 1t was
rather disconcerting to have Ryder
| turn after a mile or more had been
covered. and rudely command him to
ss him on hls way Hyssn f hesrt
rose hot within him, and he as
sured himself that Ryder must be a
| very desperate criminal.
| But practice makes perfect and the
maintain a safer distance between
himself and the object of his sus-
picions. and at last he tracked him to
his lair.
| The lair was disappointing. 1t was
not cave reached through a cum
even a rude shack such as the one
In which Billy, the Silent Sleuth,
| found Pete Pomero. the head OF the
train wrecking band.
1t was Just a little nook in a bend
OF the creek, with a fallen log for a
seat. and with his own sister. Lucy.
1 sitting there apparently waiting for
| the arrival of the desDerado.
| 1t was rather disconcertinE to find
ones own family mixed up in such at
fairs, but duty is duty and Sammy
| wriggled as close as he dared and lis
tened to the low hummer Of con-
| versation.
/ 1t all seemed absurd simple. Ryder
was not planning burglary. He was
kissing Lucy many times and between
caresses they were discussing how best
to approach her father on the matter
Of their marriage.
Judged by the stern, unyielding
standards Of Josiah Temple. Ryder
was far too gay young blade to be
trusted with Lucy, who was destined
to marry minister when her father
could find minister of whom he
could fully approve. Lucy feared to
let Ryder speak to her father, lest
she be forbidden to see or speak to
him. Ryder, on the other hand, was
urging her to consent to test of fate.
"I feel like a scoundrel, meeting you
In the woods this way" he urged. If
your father refuses to give his consent
then we will elope."
Lucy shook her head in dismay.
IT couldn't do that" she cried. at
would break fathers heart"
Better his heart than yours" sug-
gested Ryder selfishly. Then came more
caresses and pleading. and Sammy
through the brush. and headed for
home.
: He had been wasting all his time on
a pair of silly lovers, when he might
! have been better occupied with his
books.
As he turned into the yard his faith
er called to him from the porch: did
you read your chapter of Josephus %
he demanded.
Sammys face grew long with dismay
Josephus was dull reading for a 10
year-old, but 1t was a duty. like wa
tering the stock and feeding the chick
ems. In his eagerness to trail Ryder he
! had forgotten all about it.
What were you doing?" continued
the old man.
. IT was down by the creek" explain
! ed Sammy's uncomfortably.
And what were you doing down
there?" came the prompt question.
Sammy was no George Washington
but the habit of truth was strong with
| in him.
1T wanted to see what Dave Ryder
was doing down to the creek he tx
!. planned.
And what was he doing?" asked the
| elder.
''Kissin' Lucy" was the startling re-
Spouse, and the old man sprang from
his chair in sudden anger.
r~xl ~ 10 60 %I,af ~fox t,<z - L.
Z to tell all he could remember of the
) conversation. He found relief in the
t statement that Dave wished to marry
: Lucy. but his lips frightened angrily as