The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-13
THE EVENING STORY.
The Matchmaking Of Bobby.
(By Lulu Johnson.)

i
(By Lulu Johnson.)
With smile of glorious anticipa-
ton illuminating his chubby face. |
Bobby trotted up the street as fast as
a pair of very fat and very little legs
would carry him. He was going to
see Dick Brant Next to visiting Alice
Mayling this was his greatest treat
Richard Brant could not make
amazing cookies and preserves like
Miss May1ing, but he could tell stories
OF Indians and grizzlies and other
creatures dear to the small boys
heart. Miss Mayling's stories carried
morals and were about little boys who
were so very good that Bobby found
them extraordinarily uninteresting.
Had it not. been~ that the Mayling
cakes were as good as her young
I heroes Bobby would not have been a
frequent caller on Alice Mayling.
This afternoon as he was warming
his dimpled hands before the open
fire he regarded with secret awe the
deft fashion in which Brant rolled
Brant had been a plainsman until he
had run across mine while he was
| looking for stray cattle and he could
throw rope and talk real Indian
| talk.
81 looked for you yesterday" said
Dick Brant gravely as he sank into
chair on the opposite side of the fire.
place.
st was seeing Miss Mayling," ex-
planned Bobby. "She makes cake on
| Thursdays"
| "And you deserted me because Miss
Maylfng was making cake!" cried Dick
solemnly. In reality. though he used
mock pathos, he was a little Jealous
| of Miss Mayling's popularity with his
little chum. Somehow Bobby seemed
| to Brant the most sincere friend he
had made in the big eastern city.
| Cake is nice just out of the oven"
nv 1of ,,I Do1.1 81 II
a little cake for me, and, of course.
I have to go and eat it,
IT suppose so,' assented Dick. "but
was very lonesome yesterday"
I'm sorry" said Bobby with
| prompt penitence and a troubled face.
Wouldn't it be nice" he added, eff
could go to see you and Miss May
ling at the same time? You could
tell me stories and she could bake
/ cake
He stared into the fire, lost in rap
ture at the thought of this most val
| liable combination. Dick looked scared
and blushed. He was little used to
u feminine society and suggestion like
Besides, he had been secretly studying
Miss Mayling from afar.
II "Then you wouldn't be lonesome
4 any more" resumed Bobby, the vast
attractions of his good idea growing
on him. mot even If I didn't come
and see you, cause then you and she
would have each other. But of course
, would come to see you" he added
quickly. at would be awful nice.''
81 guess 1t would" assented Dick a
little absently.
'"Then why don't you?" demanded
Bobby with engaging directness.
ITO begin with, don't know her."
explained Dick. you see a man has
to know a lady before he can call on
her-and I've never met Miss May
. ling
When Bobby finally trotted away he
, was thinking deeply 1t was absurd
that his best man should not know
Miss May1ing.
At the next baking day at Miss
Mayling's the thought was revived.
and with denial that meant immense
determination to him, he obtained
permission to take his small spice
of her sight he carried it to Brant
his fat legs speeding wonderfully.
, "Ain't it fine?" he demanded eager
" when he had watched Brant devour
envy that almost assumed a poignant
! degree.
"Simply great" admitted Brant with
| enforced enthusiasm. II tell you. Bob
> by, the woman who made that cake /:
a wonder of a cook
: Bobby beamed his professional sat.
isfaction: 81 thought you'd like it, he
!; said confidently. "She makes nicer
cakes than that sometimes I'll brins
! you another when she makes fruit
I cake"
Don't do it, advised Brant smil
2 ingly. eff the fruit cake is as goot
! as this. I'm liable to abduct her ant
force her to bake for me for the res
| of her life''
whats abduct?" demanded Bobby
When the word haa been explained tt
g him, he wrinkled his pudgy brows
q But if another deep idea had come
to him, as that contortion would seen
: to denote, it remained a secret in hi
q fat breast. "Give us an Indian story,
: he demanded.
e "An right, son. said Dick as h,
. stretched himself out in his easy chair
l. and prepared to entertain his small
: Spotted Panther carried off his Indiar
bride from the camp of hostile
| tribe.
He was unusually graphic in hi
story telling, for as he went on he be
gan to imagine that he was Spotted
y Panther and Miss Mayling was the In
): dian maid. Thus sadly had the un
principled suggestions of the schemint
6 Bobby contaminated Dick Brant's goot
n manners. But it must be admitted il
n his favor that it was not the cake, blu
the memory of her womanly sweetness
r that fired his thoughts and lent elo
n Quence to his tongue.
+ 1t was deeply impressed small DO,
who climbed down off the chair arm
|. when the tale was done and regret
/, fully announced that he would hav'
u to be going home. The very next da.
u he went to visit Miss Mayling, will
o the more or less peremptory reques
that she bake him a fruit cake.
&C "Going to have a tea party, Bobby 2
; she asked gaily. But Bobby SHOOT
> his head solemnly and declined to b.
# drawn into trivial conversation.
" az want it for some one-some on
who doesn't get nice cake" he con
descended at last, examining Mis-
= Mayling shrewd1y as he spoke.
= "If you don't tell me who it is,
|, won't bake it for you" she teased, an
II ticipating the revelation of some new
- love affair. Bobby was as popula
= as he was tickle, and Miss Mayline
hardened by experience with tn