The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-14
THE EVENING STORY
In a Dead Town.

whats doing?" Clay asked. a. he
stepped from the dining room out on
the hotel piazza.
Lights were winking up and down
the towns hilly street as glow worms
were winking in the gardens round
about. A little wind. blowing south
erly, brought the freshness of the river
and the scent of ploughed earth from
the cornhelds in the bottoms beyond.
Clay had fed well, therefore his mood
was complacent. Not so Mason, who
stood in wait for him. Discomfort lined
his face even more than common.
''Nothing's doing. You can bet on
that here always, and anyhow" Mason
answered sourly. ''Deadt st town this
side the planets-that's the size of
Ashmore-''
'Yet-you stick to it," Clay inter-
rupted.
Mason laughed a hard laugh. 'I
have to stand what amounts to death
in life, because another man persists
in living after he is dead he said very
low. Haven't they told you about
Grandad? Just a breathing lump he
is. Ninety-five if he's a day-he won't
let us see the record. almost blind,
deaf as a post. belfast now for seven
years-yet with the appetite of a coal
HEAVIER! keeps him alive the doctors
say-that and his grip-cn life and his
money
20. begin to understand" Clay in
terjected.
Mason ran on eagerly: CT shouldn't
grudge him hfe-to a hundred and far
beyond tiff he had any sor. of con-
sideration for anybody but himself.
Keeps me tied to his chairarm virtual
ly. This is the first time I've been out
except to go to the postoffice and the
bank. in d month. And I had to lie to
get out now. Told him there was d
chance of getting big interest of gilt
edged short-time loan-it was the first
thing / could think of, after 1 got your
note"
II shouldn't have written-not If I'd
known. This is my first time here, 3"
Clay muttered confusedty.
Mason stopped him with an eager
gesture. do you grudge water to a
man dying of thirst? ?" he asked. AN
other lie will square m&-I've only to
say, the collateral was f1shy, and
Grandad viii pat me on the back.
Meantime, let's be MOVING I want to
show you-say! you'll help in a good
deed ?"
"Unless there's a girl in it," Clay an
swered chuckling. "A petticoat always
scares me stiff
I'VE know you're lying Jack" Ma
son flung back.
They were going with long strides up
the main street. At the third corner
Mason turned sharply about. saying.
wait, 1 mustn't startle Elsie
Next breath Clay heard him whistle
softly In thick shrubbery just inside
a ragged garden.
There was no answering sound, but
in half a minute, Mason was back,
with a slim black-clad shape beside
him.
Get your carl know it is in the
garag e-never mind how--and meet us
a block from here" Mason said
breathlessly. you're going to run
away with us across the state line
and be best man at our Wedding. It's
the only chance for us-you're safe
and discreet-if anybody else knew it
would ruin u.s."
'eTeII me how? go into nothing
blindfoId,'' Clay said almost stubborn
ly, in Mason's hushed key.
Mason flung up his hard crying fret
fully: MAN, don't potter. Every min
ute counts We must be married, and
back in place long before midnight
and there's run of twenty miles each
way"
whats the use of running?" Clay
persisted doggedly.
Mason clutched him feverishly. ITO
save the fortune I'm Shaving in prison
for" he said. "Grandad means to leave
it in his will that I am to marry the
girl he has chosen for me. Obviously,
if 1 turn out to be already married to
somebody else, that provision is void,
without hurting the will otherwise"
81 see! Meet you in two minutes, y
Clay said, running away. But as he
turned the next corner he Stacked to
a slow walk asking himself if he were
not doing wrong?
An hour or so later, he had no such
doubt. EIsie's radiant ewes. her smil-
ing mouth, treasured him. She was
worth a lot of risk. CLAY decided. He
felt chivalrous pity for her, ana was
ready to go all lengths to help her. Ma
son had told him briefly, their love
story--it was a rustic Montague and
Capulet affair-her people the EnslyS,
had been at odds with the Masons
time out of mind. Then GTandad had
all a rniser's instructive hatred of I'M
success for them. Their fortunes had
fallen until Elsie went out sewing-by
an irony of Fate she was even then,
making fine white lacy things, of the
very newest shapes and patterns, for
Flora Mcleod. the girl Gran dad ap-
proved.
NO doubt he would have insisted
upon the marriage, except for his de-
termination to keep his grandson be-
side him Flora came dutifully once a
week to call on him-though he could
neither see nor hear her. he knew the
feel of her hand, and ate with enor-
nous relish the good things she fetch
ed him.
Lucky, me boy-that's what you
are" he mumbled tootalesely as he
guIped the dainties. Beauty fades
but cooking stays by a woman to the
end
Clay came home at q most reckless
speed, deposited bride End groom in
their several places, and tried to sleep
afterWard. But the effort was vain.
He had a sense of something impend-
| ing. a feeling that he had incurred a
rusk. and needlessly.
To rid himself of 1t he got up about
three O'Clock, dressed, and went out
side, resolved to walk until daylight.
He had got about ten blocks away,
when a quick light-fiask made him
IL IL.