The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-01
THE EVENING STORY
The Luck of Larkin.
(By Stacy 3. Baker. )

Train 16-oride of the Prather sys-
ten1-left the. tracks at the curved |.
entrance to the Moorstown tunnel,
and resoIutely tried to piow its way
through the rock.
| Steven Larkin, after extricating
himself from the debris of the last
Pullman, found himself with a brok-
en- wrist and badly damaged side.
Lari1in was 1oe an actor ..AIy good feI-
low. come here.'' A bearded rustic,
gaping at some little distance away,
| hurried forward.
None higher than eight miles"
81 can't continue this way" com
planned Larkin, petulantly The
numbness of the sudden break was
deep, throbbing pain substituting
itself, brought with it disgusting
nausea.
mot much you can't" contributed
the other. It'll be hours before the
tracks clear enough for trains TO come
and go on. Best thing you can do,
an avaricious CLEAN creRt into
! the eyes of the localite-"Tl use
you as well as anyone. and Ior
as little money. You'll pa i'm, md bd my
side of the road, if you want TO go
down there and stay tonight. Doctors
will be in soon from all around. III
see that you get one. My daughter VIII
come to the door. Tell who you are,
land that I sent YOU, and for her to
give you the spare ROOM The Moors-
town man turned away.
In the gathering dusk of the evening,
Larkin made a comprehensive survey
of the badly dilapidated train, the
coaches of which, strewn along the
rails were here and there being eaten
into by thin threads of flame. sweat
begrimed employees of the road, and
| Moorstowners co-operated in rescuing
the wounded and dead. 1t was the
/ I m wreck 7.
Larkin, weak, limp, and in the
) throes of on acute pain growing
keener each instant, stumbled down
, the road in the direction given him
by the native. AT the door of
) small. gray house, with a white
i gravel path leading up to it,. path.
bloom of spring in its syringa and
/ lilac bushes, its long beds of pansies
! and lilies of the valley; Larlkin
SIZES The Slim gir r1ps answering s the sum
mons was the very antithesis of the
> image in the mind of the man. She
5 had dark eyes. keenly sensitive to to
I with the set jaws. A firm little
: hand assisted him to enter.
your father" gasped Larkin, now
: his hurt wrist and wounded side,
your father sent me here"
From the great easy chair in the
prettily furnished parlor, the actor,
t notice the start of surprise followed
s by the little smile curving the perfect
y lips of the girl.
:, said the girl simply. ST am glad you
y came. Others-ahd physician-Till
4 be here shortly
;, The parIor door closed softly as the
# girl went to answer the door. The
n carriage would have impressed Lar
y kin at any other time
# Other Victims. explained his !, hos.
i is small. There will be no more pa
Y, tients, but the doctor is here, and he
It will be in to see you. barkln &C
cepted a glass of some stimulating
/, beverage and closed his eyes for &
" brief moment
S, The door opened again. Careful fin.
i gers touched the broken wrist OF tht
sr young man. But, supersensitive, the
n youth instantly came out of his dazt
1t and little lines of pain furrowed nj!
lie strong face.
stefan. bad break" The docto,
rs clipped his sentences. TOO bad
Or Careful now" He examined tn
v wrist Suddenly his two hands CLOSED
st over the hurt member. There was al
V. audible snap and a. smothered scream
ie from Larkin. The wrist was Set
le "You must not move for a week
l. cautioned the medicine, man. after al
I'd examination. you have three broker
as ribs, and, although have bandage'
es them neatly, I won't be accountabl
II
Of go. Your .lostess-I can vouch 70
re- this-wilI be perfectly willing for yo
e. to remain, although should not as
m it if there was hospital, sanltarlur
or or decent hotel in the community.
On Iarkin too spent to protest, Ia
is back on his tilIow. He had been pu
r. to bed by tie determined physician
r. ! Thanks to q sedahve. he closed III
in eyes and slept.
Before the, week was done the hous
twas cleared Of patients with the on
exception of Larkin. He stayed OF
We Every day he was Ieartui lest tn
-. | enough to resume his interrupte
n ssWhere is your father?" asked til
- 10 actor one morning, gazing at the 81
= seen him since the day of the wreck
sse aI-I why he isn't here now
no stammered the crimson raced mai
She hurried from the room: Lark
gu followed her exit with surprised eye
"Hmm," nuttered the man.
'Ie wonder wha+ I've said to hurt M
to old chap didn't look very homes
ng Maybe he is in jail But when IL
M Girl returned to the room the fus
urt was gone from her cheeks, and 81
18th subject was not brought up again.
Sc Larkin, by complaining about no
Urn existent pains, kept the doctor fro
lay allowing him to leave the house.
an. He and MS nurse became cl :,
on, friends. There was nothing or Il
the rustic about her. Her mind was ke'
the and broad. She was well fnforme
md Larkin delighted in telling her tai
So, u of the stage: ltories OF ms own stru
ore giles and the conservative success Il
IoUine Miss Nun-tflis was her mar
ons followed him with large eyes and
iem wonderful interest
Am, ct have, always cared for the stage
She said simply, and brought hi
III | around to the subject again.