The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-22
TIE EVENING STORY
Ransomina E.,.r
(By Carl Williams \


reason to insist that Paul N;shS. no
toM the rule, for he loved Ida Thaver
uoss IN general. his own brindle buli
~ - parllcular, and Miss Thayer's Ros-
ton terrier but little less.
Fancy, the terrier. had bsa, ~.
nrst gift to Ida, and Paul believed thae
constituted the strongest tie he
sWeen' them. for in dogs they bsd
iound common bond of sympathy
ms Nlsbit had industriously sought
70 strengthen. with no small results
though he had not vet dared 70 n,,t
ms rate TO the test and possibly lose
gained. hau
That Ida Thayer liked the friendly
clean-cut young man was evident h,,t
friendliness is not love, SO Paul waited
LOT the opportunity that should show
MIN moro clearly where he stood.
anu dog 1t was that again tight |
eneo the bonds. The hydrophobia |
scare struck Wellington, and the edfct |
went forth that all dogs must be rnuz-
zied, while the local papers diIated on |
the danger that threatened, and called |
upon all broad minded citizens to de- |
| stroy their pets before the town |
should gain an unpleasant notorietv
through an epidemic of rabies.
N1sDlt, coming up the walk to the |
Thayer home with the latest diatribe
| in his pocket. found Ida dissolved in
| tears.
|
she cried as she saw what he carried
| Il wouldn't mind muzzling Fancy but
| the idea of killing her. And father
believes that horrid stuff, and hes
| he's going to have Fancy chloroform-
| ed tomorrow"
Poor little Fancy" said Paul. as
he stopped to pat the dogs head and
| wished instead that he might rest his
hand upon the golden strands which
crowned the shapely head of Fancy's
| mistress.
| "Of course" he continued, eff we
arc threatened with an epidemic of
rabies, it is we'll to take every pre-
caution; at the same time, to kill all
| dogs because one of them might go
mad is as absurd as to want to kill all
| human beings because some men are
| afflicted with mania for murder.
| am going to take Sir Herbert out to
the Oaks this evening. What do you
say to an abduction?"
Mr.. Nisbit!' Ida's voice startled
| him. He had never heard her speak
in that tone before. Anger and sur
| prise were mingled in her voice, and
| with a sinking heart Paul realized
that she had misunderstood him.
| "I didn't mean to abduct you,' he
| cried. 1T was Fancy 1 was thinking
| Of If Fancy should be sitting out on
| the lawn this evening and a long, low.
| rakish car should happen along, and
! if, after the dust died down, it should
| De IOunQ IndI Sn6 ndO disappear Gu
| don't you think that would be better
| than chloroform? Out at the farm
| there will be no stray ours to carry in
| lection, and she and Sir Herbert could
| have glorious time with the run of
| the grounds under Chester's watchful
| eye. He loves dogs as we'll as I do
| In her eagernesS to atone for her
misunderstanding, Ida caught Paurs
| hand impulsively.
You are so good" she cried. Then
l-I,A Io% e1,A tan1d in h iCl
hand, and Redeemed as her fingers un-
| clasped their grip. AT was so worried,
1 don't think know what 1 am doing
today" she continued. II could think
of no way of saving poor Fancy, and
it seemed so wicked to kill the poor
little thing"
"Then it is settled?" he cried. 1.-THE
piratical auto will be along after sup
per. Don't you want to go too and see
what fine quarters she will have? It's
splendid run and there will be
moon tonight. OF course If you don't
want to turn kidnaper-"
But 1 do" cried Ida, when it is
Fancy who is being kidnapped. know
that when this absurd scare is over
father will be only too glad to find
that Fancy is still alive. He liked her
until the papers commenced to print
these horrid things. I don't suppose
that it is really thwarting fathers
wishes
you're merely assistant kidnaper,"
explained Paul. 1.-THE principal is re-
sponsible for the acts of his agents
The responsibility is all mine.'
AS the summer twilight faded into
dusk, PauPs racing car puffed noisily
into the Thayer driveway and Cog |
gled figure sprang up the steps and
caught up the doomed pet. Then he |
gave Ida the leaders of the two dogs, |
and the car recommended it's noisy |
putting. In q flash they were in the
street again.
@1aol
farm, which was Paurs hobby. and
when Ida saw the two new kennels that
had been built, in compliance with |
Paul's telephone message to his super
intendent, she went into ecstacies.
They were side by side, fronting |
great lawn, in the center of which was
and artificial lake, fed by brook. 1t
was an ideal place for summer play
ground, and it was not long before
Fancy was chasing Sir Herbert over
the grass, and making herself at home
generally.
THE gate is always closed" explain
ed the superintendent. There is no
chance of a visit from rabid cur, and
the grass and water will do them
Il wish | could stay here, too" ex-
claimed Ida with sigh as she gave
Fancy a final petting and, prepared to
follow Paul to the car.
"Pn bring you out whenever you
want to see Fancy" he promised.
wen come every day if you wish"
''I should like to come tomorrow,
assented Ida, ito see how our victims
are getting along. Our abduction is
successfully accomplished.
'"rhat shows you how much Of
novice you are" retorted Paul as the
car started 1.-The abduction is not a
success until the victim is restored to
an anxious family, and the ransom mas
been paid. This is only the hrst CHAP
ter"
And the second is the homecom-
ing" ~,
That's the third" corrected Paul
1.-THE second has to do with the ran
SON.
And does Fancy have to be ran