The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-12
THE EVENING STORY
Her scarecrow.
[By Clarissa Mackie. /

the sound of the wind sweeping through
the ten-acre cornfield was like the roar
ing swell OF the ocean in her ears.
Now and then she tore a plump ear
from the juicy stalks and thrust it in
| her splint basket. She did this leisure
", Tor 1t was yet early morning and
| there we're hours before dinner-and
| she loved to walk in the corn.
| The rustic of the leaves drowned all
other Sounds. and thus it was that she
came suddenly upon a man crOuching
| On the ground before her. AS her pink
skirts came into his range of vision he
leaped to his feet and stood, half turn
ed for flight
The girl grew white with sudden fear
and in her turn made as if to run away.
The mans face lost it's strained fnten-
Isity and relaxed for an instant She
saw that he was young and good look
ing-and that he was afraid of some
thing.
What do you want? Why are you
They're after me-" he said grimly.
''Who?"
''The constable"
What have you done?" She did not
shrink away from him as he expected
~She might do.
Nothing at all-if you will believe
me! The Laurelton railroad station
was robbed last night and it seemed
picion. As a matter of fact I'm one
Of the faculty of the Moreton school
and I'm taking a walking tour through
New England.
Il submitted to arrest, but on my way
to the lookup my gorge rose at the
thought OF the unnecessary ignominy
to be thrust upon ne-so I broke away
and lost myself in this field. 1 suppose
they will get me in the end, for am
dogtired now"
She lifted her troubled eyes to his
and read truth in their steady brown
depths.
Something black came into view
among the stalks and then disappeared.
For an instant she started and then
laughed TnvoluntariIy the strangers
face relaxed into a smile.
They will trace you by your clothes
your appearance?'' she asked quietly.
He glanced down at his plain gray
clothes and nodded assent.
Come with me-" She led the way
through the corn, and he followed her
starting back with muttered ejacula-
ton as a black coat sleeve came into
view.
Its nothirg-its only one of the
scarecrows in the corn" she treasured
him. Il thought you might take it
down and put on the ciothes-they're
black-and the hat is different-thev're
all clean. You see, they've been out in
the rain. and she hesitated.
That's glorious idea of yours he
said gratefully. He pulled the man of
straw from the post and tore away the
tattered garments.
Now" he said. but she had rus
tied away toward her basket, and he
heard her plucking juicy ears in the
distance.
When he came toward her with his
gray clothes on his arm he forgave her
the smile that lurked about her red
lips.
1.-The truly great are modest he said,
looking quizzically at the torn and
shrunken garments that were distribu-
ted more or less effectively over his
F,-rar, bI, 7
thank your
by making good your escape" she
said quickly. I'VE don't want to make
q failure Of it now. Give me your gray
clothes. There-Pn put them in the
bottom of my basket, and some day
when it's all over you may come for
them. Now follow this row down toI
the open field. Cross that to the or
chard, and in one corner among the
apple trees there is the shed where we
sort apples for market. In the loft
overhead there IS clean straw. where
you can s.eep till night, when it will
be safe for you to go on. Goodby!"
In an instant she was gone and he
was alone in the rustling corn. He
heard the distant shout of a mans
voice and another voice in reply. Then
he turned and went swiftly down the
green alley toward the orchard.
November winds were whisting
through the lifeless stalks now gather
ed into great shocks over the stubby |
field. Aida walked slowly over the |
brown earth drinking in the tang of
the coming frost and the zest of the
dying year.
Sudd9nIy she came upon the place
where she had met the fleeing stranger
whom she had aided in the midsummer.
She looked at the fantastic figure |
perched on a shock of corn and her lips |
parted in Q joyous laugh.
1T is you-you have come back?" she
asked.
The scarecrow man grinned happily
7 came back for my clothes,' he ad-
nitted.
Aida flushed under the brown OF her
checks. They are in the house, told
mother about you. We have been eX-
oecting you to come back
Il am glad of that" he said simply.
You saw the Papers after I escaped?
You know that I spoke the truth to
Jou that day. They captured the real
,riminal." He regarded her steadily.
glad" FeAo ABOUT ''-aho we were very
Thank you-and hope you were not
lnnoyed that day-you met the consta-
lie and his mem" He was standing
reside her, looking down at her sweet
ace with a certain earnestness in his
wn that had never been there before.
Yes 1 met them, and told them I ,
lad seen one man-and that he looked
Ike a scarecrow." She laughed and ad-
ed mischievously, THE constable said
hat couldn't be the man because he was I
boxing for a dude.
They laughed at unison as the strang
r picked up a suitcase and prepared .
0 follow Aida toward the farmhouse.
When they were in sight of the com ,
ortable dwelling the man stopped and :
ooked wistfully at the girl beside him.
DO you know, I rather hate to part
With these 'scerecrOw garments'-.hey
ave served me more than one good
Mora +1,a,, one 80 vopaa+ad A1i5a eel
ering.
More II an one" with an enigmaticI
mile, so with your permission I shall
AIRY them away with me, that once in