The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-19
THE EVENING STORY
Playing q Hunch.
(By Colin s. Collins.)

(By Colin S. Collin5.)
His name was James Gisman West
colt. but his friends insisted that the
middle initial stood for Goat" for
Jim's cheerful desire to be of service to
his fellow man was forever getting him
into trouble.
His misfortune In this regard had
caused him to delay his declaration OF
love for Alma Sheldon. When a man.
however innocently, Is forever playing
the clown. he does not stand an excel
lent chance Of being regarded as a ro-
mantle and eligible person, matrimon-
tally.
The worst Of it was that Jimmie
never learned by experience. He was
as ready as ever to change a ten dollar
bill for a stranger after having beeu
caught with counterfeit the day be-
FORE and that he was not always
swindled was proof sufficient to him
that the world was not always to be
regarded with suspicion.
And so 1t happened that when
strange woman on the suburban sta
ton platform thrust a child in his
arms and begged him to take it to her
sister in the city. Jim accepted his
charge.
"I'd ask some lady to take him." ex-
planned the woman, only there don't
seem to be none going in on this train"
That's all right was Westcott's
| cheerful response. There will be some
! one on the train, If I need help with
though he was going to be as good as
gold"
Followed by the woman's voluble
| thanks Jimmie climbed aboard the
| train and hoped that none Of his set
| would select the same car.
He did not dare go near the smoker,
so he ensconced himself in the rear
seat of the last car and thanked his
good fortune that the through train
| stopped at the stations most favored by
the people he knew. Those who. like
| himself, were going to the Tavor-
Harding wedding. would prefer the ex-
clusiveness of the Pullmans carried on
the more important train.
| The baby was good-tempered and
playful, and Westcott was having the
| time Of his life when the train came to
a halt at the first station. and an in
coming passenger uttered shout and
bore down upon him. 1t was Ben Roy
ster, with party of wedding guests.
Look who's here!" he shouted, at
tracing the attention of his compan-
ions. This is rich, Jim! 1 never sup
posed that you would fall for the
abandonment game"
His mother is to meet me at the
station explained Westcott, miser-
ably conscious Of the fact that Miss
Sheldon had boarded the train. "She
couldn't afford the fare to come out
and get the child. He's been having a
vacation in the country at his aunt's
because the hot weather in town is
bad for him.
That's a better story than the aver
/ age" agreed his tormentor. when
you get to town, Jim, turn him over to
the desk sergeant at the nearest sta
ton house. You'll be late for the we'd
ding by the time that you have ex-
planned all about it."
How did you come to be on this
train ?" demanded Westcott. Il had
intended to run down to your station
and take the express myself.
Train was late and the stop was
cut OUT explained Ben Register. I'VE
kicked when we heard it, but we are
glad now. I wouldn't have missed this
for a million Pullman cars"
4 The noisy speech and the presence
of the score of people crowding about
Westcott's seat reused the tiny travel
err. His eyes wrinkled and from the
button of a mouth there was emitted
a yell which was scarcely hear '. ABOVE
the delighted shouts of the little au-
dfence The fresh outburst started the
child in earnest and Westcott looked
miserable.
Vainly he sought to quiet the child
with his watch and a bright silver
coin. Neither the ticking nor ,, 5ns 81.
very chime of the repeater stilled the
cries. and at last Alma Sheldon came
|
to his rescue.
She drove into their seats the crowd
of tormentors and then took her place
beside Westcott Her golden chatelaine
proved more efficacious than the
watch. and presently the baby's cries
: were stilIed, to westcott's great relief
) Hes a splendid little fellow" h
i. declared Hell be as good as gold i
, Royster keeps out of the way"
!, Hes a fine little chap" she assent
III MI
|, a little DETERMINATIONS to tax
; charge of a strange child? There ar
so many abandonments, you KNOW.
t mot a Bit insisted Westcott 20
, course there are inhuman mothers, but
you see, this wasn't his mother' ou
: his aunt
Miss Sheldon smiled at the explana
ton.
r "You could see that she was worried
: because there were no women comln'
into town." Westcott went on. Sh
; told me 1 could find some one to lool
out for him on the train. or course
Y didn't suppose that I should run int
| all of you; in fact, was thinking onl.
about the poor mother who was wait
| ing there in town for the baby sh
| hadn't seen in three weeks. Just fame.
e not seeing a child for three weeks an
{ then being disappointed because ther
was no one to take it at the other end
. The last part OF the sentence was
!. trifie ambiguous, and Miss Sheldon
e smiled again as she wondered If per
haps such trouble might not exist
both ends of the journey. -
IT was a kindly smile, though, 10
e Westcott's faith was in pleasant con
trast to Registers cynical jests tina
even now came floating back to tn
E rear seat. She was glad that they ha
n already entered the outskirts of tn
!, town Their arrival at the station
,; would soon end the situation
y aIn case there has been any mistake.
n she suggested, sit would be we'll to tax
: the child to the police station 20
e can tell the depot police, and the
: should the mother come later she ca
| he directed to the station house"
"She'n be there" declared Westcot
| with cheerful optimism. and MISS Snei
I don liked him the better for 1t. Tn