The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-29
THE EVENING STORY
He Whom Diogenes Sought.
(By Belle Maniates.)

/
! (By Belle Maniates)
1t was fully expected that the YER
dict would be mot guilty" Not. that
evidence demanded such verdict. but
the case had resolved purely and
simply into a political affair. and the
Jury men were all of the party in pow
er- me defendant was Walter Ledeen,
d popular young politician, clubman
anu society man. His air of confidence
main out. When night came with no
returns, he grew nervous. By morn
ing ne was Whfte-faced and his finger
nalis We're gnawed to the skin.
AZ last the foreman announced that
mere was no possibility of an agree
hent The last, and in fact all of the
ballots, had stood eleven to one for
| acqulttal. When it was divulged that
Jerry winters was the one who had
stooo out, amazement and indignation
ran nigh among Walters clique Jerry
was an associate of the defendant and,
moreover, was said to be engaged to
the defendants sister, Edith.
10 all remonstrances, inquiries and
demands, Jerry had one answer-"The
evidence showed that he was guilty.
/ did my duty"
1t was clearly borne in upon the OBJ
durate young juryman that any po-
iltlcaI aspirations he might have en-
| tertained were doomed. 1t was to be
expected that Walter would consider
him an enemy, but all Riverton
watched with much curiosity to see
what Edith would do. Jerry proceed
ed Immediately to find out,
Il couldn't do otherwise, Edith" he
| said manfully. st strained every point
could. I tried my best to find flaw
in the evidence. There was none 1
could not perjure myself
GERRY Winters" flashed the girl, cit
was my brother you wanted to con-
victi''
Don't, Edith" he pleaded with a
harassed look. 81 tried my best to
forget that fact; I had to give an un-
'Jerry!' she exclaimed wildly,
don't ever dare speak to me again.
hate youi We are not only strang-
ers henceforth. but enemies"
Edith he said, sadly, nothing
could make me your enemy
AS time went on, Walter had a new
trial and was acquitted. His vindict-
iveness toward Jerry, however, did not
diminish, and he did his best to in
were men who respected Jerry for his
action. But neither the animosity of
Walter and his coterie, nor the ap-
probation of law abiders mattered
much to Jerry. All he wanted or
cared for was Edith and Edfth's love.
But she cut him publicly and with
disdainful demeanor.
One day in early autumn, when
baseball enthusiasm waxed high, when
crowds gathered and waited and
where the scores were shown. cru
cial game was played in Riverton.
The home team, the Stalwarts, were
to play against the Lions. This was
to be the game of games, for if the
Stalwarts won it meant the pennant.
All Riverton turned out to witness the
game and shout for the Stalwarts.
A gay young crowd was on the
grandstand behind the plate. Among
them were Walter and Edith. To their
right, alone, was Jerry.
"'Grand. gloomy and peculiar, the
secretary sat alone" quoted Walter
with sneer and glance at Jerry.
Edith looked, but she did not sneer.
She found herself looking surrepti-
tiously and longingly at the lean
faced, honest-eyed man who had
squared his shoulders at society's dis
appreciation.
There seemed to be some delay in
the starting of the game.
1.-THE umpire's sick and they're
looking up another reported Walter
after a tour of investigation.
In a few moments the manager for
the StalwartS approached Jerry, who
had played two seasons ago with the
Stalwarts and was considered expert
authority in all matters pertaining to
the popular game. After short con-
ference Jerry left the stand and went
down to the grounds.
"Oh, Jerry's going to be umpirei"
exclaimed some one sitting near
Edith, whose interest in the game was
now intensified.
t'The manager of the Lions won't
consent" said Walter. "to have an ex-
member of the opposing team act as
umpire"
But the manager of the Lions knew
of Jerry's proficiency in the game. He
had heard also Of his stanchness in
- Sc
measure at glance and announced
that he was perfectly satisfied with
the choice.
It was a close game. and people
were breathless in their intensity and
crazy in their cheering. At last came
an awful moment. 1t was the last
inning, and to that point the game
was a tie. Then came 4 play that
called for close decision. 1t was SO
close that the spectators. and even
mine whether or not the man was
"out."
Jerry decided for the Lions The
Sta1warts were manly and abided
stoically by the umpfres decision, but
Kisses, jeers and groans came from the
bleachers and from that part of the
grandstand where Walter and his
friends sat.
had made him unpopular only with a
certain class, but now he felt that
every one was against him. He knew
he was down and out for evermore in |
Riverton.
Angry groups were gathering here |
and there on the way out of the |
grounds.
You'd better not go down the
street just now, Winters said the |
manager of one of the teams. you
know what crazy fools a baseball mob |
is made up Of"
Jerry's Jaw came forward and he |
said decisively that he would 60 now. |
He went.
There were mutterings as he passed |
out of the gate and walked down the |
street. He walked alone until he was |
a block from the grounds. Then some |
one stepped up beside him-a girl-a
very fair, tremulous girl. who said
tfmidIy and softly: