The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-28
The EVENING STORY
Testing a Hero.
(By Bryant C. Rogers.)

Uncle Jim Briggs was the brother OF
the widow Castle, and therefore the
uncle Of Miss Nettie Castle. Uncle Jim
was western man and hard-headed
and 1ong-headed, and Miss Nellie was
good looking, sought after. and had
only one silly notion in her head
Uncle Jim had come on a visit, and
he found out that silly notion before
ne had been i'll the house two hours
He also found out that his sister.
though a mother forty years old, did
not know how to manage a daughter
of half that age. He was an old BACH
elor and that he should know how
girls ought to be managed was a credit
to him. though somewhat a surprise to
his sister.
Mary" he said after hearing her
complaint, girls are like mules. If you
want one to go in certain direction
mead her right in the opposite way. AS
understand this case, there are two
young men in love with Nettie. One is
a plain, quiet, everyday fellow, and the
wants everybody else to-
That's about it," replied the mother.
young Mr.. Tompkins is college grad
uate.- He is conceited and a braggart.
He talks so much of himself that Nettie
has come to look upon him as a hero
His father is the banker here Young
Mr.. Harper has just set up for himself
as lawyer. I thought it would make
match until the other came into the
field
And what have you been saying to
why, I've been telling her what a
silly girl she was, and what thought
of Mr.. Tompkins."
"Just so. Took just the wrong course
with the mule. Do you suppose I'd
ever sold the Blue Jay mine to the Red
Horse folks for half a million dollars
if I'd given out wanted to sell? Leave
Nettie to me for awhile Most all girls
want heroes
Uncle Jim was on his vacation. After
a few days he dropped in to see the
young lawyer on some pretended bust
ness and sized him up. AS for. Mr..
Tompkins, he was a caller at the house
almost every evening. Uncle Jim had
not reached the subject in hand, yet,
when Miss Nettie carelessly asked him
what he thought of Mr.. Tompkins.
Say. dear, that young man is all
right" was his reply. Hes got dash
about him, he has. He's going to be
heard of by the outside world within
the next five years.
But mother doesn't like him. She
says he boasts too much.''
mot at all. He knows lot, and
why shouldn't he tell some of it? Ha
might talk a little less. but he's got
stuff in him, he has. I've seen young
Harper, and he's a poke. Can't talk
for shucks, and he'll never get a case
higher than a dog fight You did well
to give him the sack"
But II haven't, Uncle Jim. don't
exactly think him a poke. On the con-
trary-"
ooh, don't waste any time on him.
He lacks dash. and there's nothing OF
he'd peril his life to save yours. On
the other hand. young Tompkins would
rush into the flames to rescue you"
Then you don't blame a girl for be :.
ing a little ronnantic?" asked Miss Net
tie after puzzling a little.
'T commend instead of blame. The
difference between a poke and her
is all the difference in the world. A
woman admires strength and bravery
in a. man. She wants to know that he
look and act like hero to your
Yes. He's told me lots of brave
things he has done. II he had lived 400
years ago he would have been knight.
I'm SO glad you agree with me. and I
wish you'd tell mother you do If Mr.
Harper were a little different"
But he can't be. Born for a poke.
don't think you are the sort of girl to
want to marry coward"
"Pd have the awfullest contempt for
a man that showed the white>feather.'
Sure you would. Tompkins would
make a record out in Montana in a
week, while the poke would be an OBJ
ject of ridicule. You just go ahead and
marry the right man and your Uncle
Jim will draw you a check for $1,000"
But / don't want to hurt Mr.. Har-
per's feelings. He is really nice, you
know
mice, but a poke No sand, as we
say out west. Wouldn't shoot. Wouldn't
rescue you. Wouldn't make stand
against score Of Apaches and die with
his last cartridge. Go ahead and mar
ny the right man. I'll bring your moth
er around to think as we do
1t was a curious thing that after Miss !
Nettie had found a hacker and sup
porter she began to think of the poke"
oftener and make more excuses for |
him. She found herself wondering ii |
Mr.. Tompkins would be a real hero If
the test came. She had seen men who |
had been presented with medals for |
bravery, and they didn't look and |
swagger bit like he did.
Then came day when she and Uncle |
Jim were invited by Mr.. Tompkins To
go over to the shore in his auto. 1t was |
q ten-mile spin to the little watering
place. They found other people there,
and there were bathers. in the surf. |
They were looking on when a woman
screamed for help. Uncle Jim began to
kick off his shoes. Miss Nettie hung !
on to him and screamed. Mr.. Tomp-
kins threw his cap on the ground and |
seemed about to plunge to the rescue.
when he changed his mind and shouted |
to bather:
You. there, There's woman drown
ing! Rescue her and I'll give you q
dollar."
She was rescued, but the hero would
not take the dollar. AS soon as oppor-
tunity offered, Uncle Jim said to his
puzzled niece:
Mustn't blame Tompkins. A brave
man often gets Illustrated that way.
The spOke' would probably have tainted
dead away"
II don't believe ftp' bluntly replied
Miss Nettie with a toss of her head,
and thereafter she seemed to be doing
so much thinking that when Mr.. Tomp-
kins explained that he had a sore |
throat and did not wish to get wet, she
made no comments. Uncle Jim did,
however. He said that no real hero
ought to get wet when he could pay
cash to prevent it. and that Mr.. Tomp-