The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-01
THE EVENING STORY
Scarecrows.
5C<LECCIOWSs
(By George r. Warden.A

The woman who sat on the door
steps of her little house, situated in
the midst of about three acres of land,
was crippled with rheumatism. and
though she had white rag tied to
the end of a crutch and was waving
1t at half a dozen crows sitting on
the fence they seemed to regard her
with contempt. Presently they dropped
down into the field and began to
scratch. The rag was waved and the
woman shouted, and a voice at her
gate asked:
rs anything wrong with you"
A girl of eighteen had left the big
farmhouse on the hill, half a mile
away, for walk, and as she neared
the cottage the shouts of the woman
and the cawing of the crows had at
tracted her attention.
yes, there's lots wrong" replied
the woman The crows are scratch
week.
The girl entered the gate and pick
ed up stick and advanced upon the
crows with "Sh-o-oi" and they took
TO flight. Then she sat down beside
the woman.
I'm from Jasper's" said the girl.
MRS. Jasper is my sister, and 1 am
there on visit. I passed here yester-
day and was wondering who lived
here"
TITS me that has lived here all
alone Tor the last five years, child.
I'm a widow. The rheumatism came
on me Two years ago and now I can
ed up most all I've planted this sprfnr
m waiting for Farmer johnson to
for me-
But I can help you. You stuff old
cIotnes with straw and make them
look like man."
Bless you, dear: it will be the saw
ing OF my corn. You'll find trousers
and coat and hat hanging up in the
shed. l got them out the other day.
AN nour later the scare" was set
up on the corn ground, and there
were dismal lamentations from the
crows as they sought other fields
They had bluffed and robbed a poor
rheumatic widow, but when it came
to man with his hat cooked on one
ear and stick in his hands to repre-
sent a gun they realized that times
had changed.
That was May Kelly's first visit to
the widow Hampstead, but after that
scarcely day passed that she did not
run in with a gift of some sort and
to see that the scarecrow was attend
ing to business. One afternoon as the
couple sat on the step, and the girl
was telling the woman of her home in
the city, a tramp came along the road
He may not have been hungry enough
for food, but he did want a new out
tit OF clothing. He caught sight of the
scarecrow and his hopes rose. He
was no crow to be fooled with straw
stuffed man. He saw the women, but
he climbed the fence and shouldered
the scare" and walked away with IT.
Let that alone! You shan't take
it," called the girl.
Beg pardon, ladies' replied the
tramp with bow and scrape. "but
you do not understand the situation.
am invited to attend wedding in the
next town: and I've got to have a suit
TO wear. This isn't as good a one as I
it do"
TITS stealing and you can be ar
rested threatened the girl.
And If I'm to be arrested I must
have suit that is decent to go be-
fore the judge. I amt Dragging on
my looks right this minute, but If you
see me half an hour later you'll take
me for broker going to business"
widow as the tramp wake off
And the scare was such beauti-
full object" added the girl. when we
sat here looking at him I almost felt
another old hat and ragged blanket
in the shed, but I'll have to bring
something from the house,
Half an hour had passed when a
crow was sighted. The absence of the
scare" had been noticed. The one
crow became fiVe-ten-twenty. They
sat on the fence and held a caucus.
They determined to despOil that widow
Of her last grain of corn. Miss May
threw sticks and stones, but of course
hey laughed at her. All crows laugh
when they see girl throwing. The
widow, found rag and waved it to
save the country, but the crows wink |
I'd at it. Ragtime had passed with |
them. They were ready to drop to |
earth and begin scratching when the |
girl cried out:
Don't shoe any more. I'll scare the |
life out of themI''
In another minute she had the old |
lat on and the ragged quilt around |
ler and was running across the field. |
With agrand chorus of frightened |
avs the crows rose up and sailed |
away and then began circling round |
% see if it was the real thing or only |
l bluff. To convince them. the girl
:ook pose, and she was such a com |
cal object that the widow forgot all |
Ter sorrows in laughter. The new |
scare" had been in position about ten |
gun on his shoulder came out of the |
woods beyond the field and headed for |
he house. The ''scare's" back was
oward him. The widow saw, but
Jared not call out.
The young man would have passed
he object forty feet to his left, but
after glance at it his curiosity was
excited. He had seen scarecrows be-
ore but never one like that. 1t SEEM
ID to waver now and then, instead of |
1eing tied fast to a stake. Presently |
Miss May heard the footsteps of a
nan.
Here, you-what do you want!"
,alled the widow from the doorway
The young man wanted to investi-
ate that scarecrow. He walked
light up to the object and laid a hand
IN it. The brown eyes of the object
ooked straight into his.
by Georgei" gasped the young
nan as he fell back.
We'll you've done It'll" replied the
girl as she flung away hat and quilt
ind faced him with burning cheeks.
"A thousand pardons. had no idea
mo idea"