The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-15
THE EVENING Story
In Debt to Freddy.
by Lulu Johnson.l

ne knew that the portly Carson could
not follow.
The laughter of the other guests at
the uniqueness of F'reddy's escape an
gered Carson, whose self esteem was as
huge as his girth. and his fact turned
an angry red.
you come out or I'll come get you,"
he threatened, as he sought to pull the
leaves of the table apart.
| Il won't come out" defied Freddy. Il
guess you wouldn't let me read your let
| tiers
Another outburst of laughter greeted
this sally, and Carson's face grew even
more apopletic. His penchant for writ
ling tender notes was we'll known to his
friends, and he lost the last veStige of
| self-restraint as with a savage jerk he
pulled the sections of the table apart,
that he might reach through and cap
! ture the defiant small son of his hostess.
| His testing demand for the love letter
winch the 8-year-old had written to his
baby sweetheart now threatened to pass
from a joke to an ugly incident, and
Iseveral of the men who made up the
Bayard house party quietly but quickly
moved through the archway landing to
the library.
Mrs. Bayard stirred uneasily in her
chair and glanced around for her hus-
band. but he was not in sight; and be-
fore she could rise to call him, Freddy
had shown that he needed no assistance.
There was sudden scramble and then,
from the end of the table, Freddy rolled
| out upon the floor to regard Carson
with an irritating look of content
where's the letter, youngster?" the
man demanded rather sternly.
Eatin' it,, explained Freddy momeu-
tarily pausing in his mastication to re-
gard Carson with a pleased smile. 81
| en- write another after you're gone"
And that's what you went under the
| table for?' demanded Carson, a smile
breaking through the scowl.
| Sure" assented Freddy. IT knew I
could eat it before you could get me.
That's the way they used to do when
they plotted against kings-only they
didn't climb under tables,' he added
proudly. II thought of that myself"
Take thy freedom, sapient young
ster," decreed Carson. Mrs. Bayard,
I owe you an apology, am afraid"
Mrs. Bayard nodded and tried to
smile. and her small son slipped from
the room to the den upstairs. Paul
Dayton sat in the window seat watch
| ing the white flakes of snow sitting
down upon the winter landscape
| Come in, Freddy" he said kindly as
| he saw the youngster hesitate. 1.-TWO
| letters in one afternoon is rather an
embarrassment of riches, isn't it? Who
| is the fortunate maiden?''
Its Bess Pyfrom," explained Fred
| dy. II can always write her after
| school. 1 put the letters in a box in
| the hedge, and she comes and gets it;
/ then she writes me one and 1 get it,
and then I give her the answer in the
morning, and she gives me the answer
at recess, and we're going to be mar
ried some day. he added irrelevantIy.
MY congratulations" offered Day
ton gravely. and Freddy beamed his
youthful thanks. Just so did Dayton
speak to the "big men, and it was de-
| Iightful to have his love affair treated
with the seriousness it deserved, par
ticularly after the adventure down.
stairs.
This isn't the second letter. he ex-
planned. 81 was going along the hall
and Mr.. Carson met me and asked me
lxrrI7 7 10 nd 7 told hi n
he said to let him see the letter."
'"And what response did you make to
his impertinent curiosity?" demanded
Dayton.
explained Freddy with a grin. Now l
got to write another"
(which trust will meet with a hap
pier fate" said Dayton.
You bet it WILL assured Freddy.
"Pm going down the back stairs. II
don't see why the big fellows can't let
me alone. They all have sweethearts.
guess everybody has sweetheart"
have a sweetheart" assented Dayton a
little wistfully He felt that he cut but
a poor figure with the other men in the
Bayard house party, but Marjorie Bay
ard had no more devoted admirer than
himself though he did not tell his love.
He was still weak and wasted from
the fever that had sent him back from
the Philippines a mere wreck of his old
seIf
Marie said it was all right when l
asked her. volunteered Freddy. Marie
that's my nurse-said it was silly, SO
asked Marie and she said every man
has right to a sweetheart"
81 guess she must be right" assented
Dayton absently.
sure she is assented Freddy.
''She's always right. Who's your sweet
ton tangent
'I'm afraid that I have none" said
Dayton with a laugh that sounded |
dreary in spite of effort.
81 told you who mine was,p remind |
ed Freddy.
''But 1 can't tell you when 1 have
none," pleaded Dayton.
Freddy regarded him searchingly for |
a moment. His silent query seemed to |
be answered, for he tossed his head.
Il can lend you Marjorie" he offer |
ed. "She hasn't any real sweetheart. |
OF course lot of men want her to be |
their sweetheart. but she gets tired of
'em so soon.
''That would be very NICE said Day
ton politely.
II think I'd like you for brother"
said Freddy appraisingly. Il never had
a big brother"
.'They are great stuff, big brothers
are" assented Dayton, and in spite of
himself, note of eagerness crept into
his tones. Freddy nodded his head Wig
and, taking his place at the
desk, laborously composed a second let
ter, While dayton stared OUT VI Inc VIII
dow in moody reflection.
Since his return from the Philippines
he had hated himself for the weakness
that seemed to set him apart from the
other men, He loved Marjorie Bayard
more than ever, but Carver Carson
seemed to be the favored sutton.
Dayton's illness had made him |
actually sensitive, and he feared the
contrast between himself and the
buoyant animaIism of Carson.
He was still looking out across the
-, Streaf xxra TlI0ah i'm deem |