The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-06
THE EVENING STORY
In a 1footed Grove.
(By Richard Barker Shelton.)


er bored with the whole matter. what
do you advise 20
The attorney grinned unpleasantly.
RIP up this fence and set it where
it belongs-20O yards to the south"
said he. "Your deed reads perfectly
clear. This fence belongs the other
side 81 the grove. The, grove is yours.
You've paid for it,
Hills frowned. 'I hate trouble
he observed. I'm a newcomer here.
I don't want to start on my career as
owner of this place by antagonizing
people,
Then let it CO." said the other dis
gustedly. Let EN- put their fences
onto your land as much as they please.
In little while. let 'em once get the
idea you're an easy mark, and they'll
encroach on you right and left
Hills Strengthened himself and his
eyes flashed.
''If it's a matter of PRECEDENT"
he began.
at is" said the lawyer, laconically.
IT know the crowd round here"
Very we'll, then" said Hills. "I'll
have the gardener and some of the
men fix this matter up in short order.
Back goes the fence where it belongs.
Two hundred yards to the south, you
say? Good! I'll see it goes there"
"A man may just as well stand up
for his rights" the lawyer remarked,
"and in this vicinity, I know perfectly
well what I'm saying when I advise
you to keep EN- off your toes at the
outset"
Hills turned on his heel and made
his way back toward the house, the
lawyer following.
Twenty minutes later Tim, the gar
dener, was tearing down the Offend
ing fence, while two helpers he had
inviegled into service were digging
postholes for its resetting on the other
side of the grove.
But next morning Tim, with a lugu
brious expression on his homely face,
appeared before Hills, who was loung-
ing in the library of the house he had
purchased.
1.-THE fence is back. SIR he began,
back just where it was before we tore
it down.
'Then take it down once more and
set it the other side of the grove"
Hills commanded.
All the morning Tim labored again
with his helpers; but at dusk, Hills
walking down to inspect the job, found
s'Hm!" he unused. Wen take
hand in this thing personally, think.
E5o. Tim!''
Tim, who was coming through the
bushes, fastened his steps.
you see how it is said Hills to
his gardener. call the men and move
it once more. I shall keep an eye on
it after you move it this time"
Once again the fence came down,
and went up again farther to the
south. Darkness came on, and Tim
and the man worked by the light of
lanterns. When the work was done,
Hills said CURLY:
II stay here now until this matter
is settled one way or the other. Bring
me down a bite to eat, Tim
Tim brought the lunch from the
house, and Hills settled himself with
hoo Inc Mi IN n fG
vigil at the fence.
1t was nearing II o'clock when he
heard footsteps and low voices He
arose and strobe to the fence. Two
men, armed with shovels and saws,
were already starting in on it.
THAT fence stays just where il is,
this time" said Hills quietly.
Does it, indeed?" said a quiet voice.
and out of the darkness stepped a
young woman.
you have no right to this grove"
said the girl. You, I presume, are
Mr. Hills, who has bought the Armi-
tage place."
1T am said Hills.
''This grove is ours she went on.
you are Miss Gray?" Hills asked.
The girl nodded.
Permit me to say I am equally sure
It is mine" said he. II have not
moved the fence without being very
sure of my position"
The girl bit her lips. "If my men
move II, what Will you 90
They aren't going to move it. Miss
Gray" said Hills verey quietly.
There is law in the land. We shall
see," she replied. II am not going
10 let the men make any trouble now,
out the courts shall decide it,
She moved away followed by the two
men, who were muttering angrily-
But Hills heard nothing more of the
fence, save a word from his attorney, |
who informed him the Grays had taxi
IN the matter to court, and through |
ais own alertness they had lost their |
Ease. Hills grinned, and was relieved !
hat the matter was settled.
Some weeks later he strolled down |
% the mooted grove. He was sitting |
IN a stump when he heard a strange !
sound to the left-the sound as of
some one sobbing. He arose and moved |
softly in that direction. There, seated |
IN a fallen pine, her face covered with |
Ter han is, was Miss Gray.
"Oh,'' she said, looking up in en-
1arrassment. "Oh!"
She jumped to her feet and started |
Miss Gray-Just moment, please" |
aid Hills, stepping quickly to her
Something in his voice made her
laIt her footsteps, even against her
will.
She faced him defiantIy. you'll |
pardon my trespassing. I trust" she /
aid slowly. But this grove is very 4
much to me-and-and since we lost /
+"
1T didn't understand about it, Hill /
is said contritely, but the girl was /
rome.
Next evening, after a busy day at |
he county seat, Hills drove over to |
he Grays'.
He had a tactful little speech all /
prepared, but somehow. face to face /
With the girl, the speech took sudden /
wings.
II have brought you the deed to /
hat grove" he broke out aWkwardly, |
and now you must take IL and put /
-our fence where 1t was originally"
lie hurried on.
Indeed not" said she. 81 couldn't