The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-07
THE EVENING STORY
BiIl's sunbonnet.
(By Belle Maniates !

It was morning IN Idaho and the
sun was beaming pleasantly upon
Barry Vail as he rode alongside the
Dig irrlgating canal that he had been
sent to inspect.
Many settlers on the reservation.
Jim 2" he asked the foreman.
They are coming, now that they
see the canal is a go. The nearest one
Is Judge Rand. His shack's up yon-
DER. He's In luck. We go right through
Judge Rand! Vail wondered if it
long ago. He concluded it was not
possible.
Which way do 1 take to his
ranch? ?" he asked
Hes generally clearing sage
osusn this time Of day. Follow the
canai ana you'll likely run on him"
van rode on fitting his sombrero
back and humming a love tune. He
was In contemplative mood this
morning and the word Rand" car
REQ MIN back to the East where he
mad been born and bred. but whose
dust he had shaken from his feet five
years before. At that time he had
oeen In love with Kate Rand. an i'm
Perious, self-willed girl One fateful
Gay she had announced her intention
acter and dress of a page. His vonnr
conservative scruples were Mortified.
he objected, and when she persisted
u car Tylng out her intention, his die
talorlal attitude moved him to break
the engagement. Immediately after
ward he secured an appointment as
civil engineer in the West. Lately. his
love affair viewed at long range. ap-
peared very boyish affair.
Wnen ne came upon the solitary
Llsure digging doggedly at a resisting
root, he recognized the man who had
come SO near being his father-in-IaW.
Inere were mutual recognitions of
pleasure and then the judge explained
Ina ne had been caught in the finan-
all his worldly possessions.
Just enough left" he said. "to
make a payment on 100 acres here
whIch | shall put to potatoes. The
spirit of the West has caught me.
Barry, I wouldn't go back into wall
ton"
After Vail had related his own ex-
perlences and inquired after the for
most sheepishly:
you?"
The Judge was silent for a mo-
ment. Then he said with a sigh:
can you picture Kate in the primi-
tive life? She had an opportune in
vitat1on to accompany some relatives
on trip abroad"
And you live out here alone?" ex-
claimed Vail pityingly.
mo, have my helper, Bill. We
are very comfortable-a little shack
Tor living room and dining room
combined. Two sleeping tents and an
out-of-door oven-a place for these
parts"
But Vail was not listening. His at
tention was concentrated on a slender
figure that was approaching in the
distance. The figure was clad in
khaki trousers, blue shirt, a red kerr
chief and sunbonnet.
who in the world is that?" he
asked.
The judge turned hastily and look
ed confused.
ooh, that's Bill! 1 want him to go
to the next ranch on an errand for |
me. Excuse me a moment, 1 will be |
back"
He fastened toward the sunbonnet- |
ed figure and after moments con-
the way from which it had come.
your Bill doesn't look equal to |
much hard work." observed Vail
dryly.
house work." assured the Judge Hes |
wiry,. willing, enduring and best of
all, intensely interested in the de- |
Ve1opment of the ranch.''
f'You see a good many queer sights
in Idaho" remarked Vail. "but I'll |
ing a Sunbonnet."
"Bill lost his one and only SOM |
orero in a reckless ride last week. He |
went to the nearest ranch to buy or |
borrow one, but the only superfluous
neadgear they had was this sunbon- |
net to which he is quite attached, as |
ne is a little fearful of sunstrokes."
well, 1 must return to the canal. |
intend to be neighborly, judge"
"Of course! Let me see, come over
-nn OrrnyU dinner
Vail chuckled softly as he rode
away.
ct wonder If the Judge thought he
could string me that way? I have a |
yery firm conviction that Bill is Kate,
Ind remembering my boyish horror of
male attire the judge headed her off.
suppose he thought he had deceived !
ne with his evasive statement about
Ter trip abroad, and invited me to-
when he will take pains to
lave Bill, alias Kate. absent I know
If no reason why we should not meet
n friendly fashion. I know I admire
Ter a thousand times more than I
.ver did for coming out here and
wearing any kind of clothes for work
ng purposes. I'll just go over tonight
whether I am welcome or not and
tay to supper. Fancy the Sybarite
Kate cookingi"
Late in the afternoon he rode up
o the shack, and as he expected,
Bill" clad in feminine attire, was
n the doorway. She was different
.irl from the handsome languorous,
expreSsioned Kate he had
.nown There were the same regular
eatures, the high-bred figure, air and
rose, but the eyes were full of life
nd the mouth curved in almost gen.
lie lines. Her pale face was tinted
With rudy gold.
He wondered what his reception
vould be, remembering the angry
arting.
at am very glad to see you, Mr..
vail," she said, courteously, with ex-
ended hand, as he came up to her.
He instantly took the cue, addressed
or. aS Miss Band and avnided all al /