The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-10
The EVENING STORY
PIutarch's Mission.

she
why she called him Plutarch she never
explained, but that cognomen was be-
slowed upon the animal generally re
ferred to as Billy, the day she bought
him in the city and had him shipped
out to the village
Miss Cherrie had plenty of friends.
Among themselves they had said goat
was a queer pet for girl to keep
around but when any one was asked
why a goat shouldn't be codoIeo'
combed, petted and fed on the pest
Of the land he could put forward no
good objection. That the Vale goat
appreciated his position in society was
to be noted in his walk, that the pad
boys in the village had better let MN
alone was shown when Miss Cherrle
went for them with a horsewhip and
the village constable afterwards fright
ened them with threats of chains ana
dungeons.
Three months after his arrival from
the city Plutarch owned the Vlliase.
1t was his privilege to wander Where
he would and be unmolested by man
or beast He took on the dignity or
governor and the exclusiveness OF the
/ president of butter trust, ana MS
DAYS were full of complacency. Then
came the shadow of trouble, and it
soon developed into solid substance
A new bridge was built across
creek, a steep hill graded down and
macadam road brought the autos
| chug&lnS through d N44AdSO N4AA~A- -
hitherto been avoided.
| The dogs ran out, to be knocked
down and rolled over. Some were
! killed and others went limping away
| to be wiser next time After a rev
weeks PIutarch Vale was about the
only living thing in the village who
hadn't come to the conclusion that an
auto had the right of way over every
thing. He hadn't been 1mpulslVe IN
his actions nor had he jumped to con-
/ Of
and sized things up as he chewed ms
cud He had recognized the fact that
an auto was bigger than he was, ana
that it kicked up far more dust, but ne
was not dismayed. He was goat ana
he had never yet met anything that
could stand head-on collision with
him. He would daily for awhile and
then to business. Some or those VINO
believed they could read his thoughts
said he was picturing to himself mile
of highway filled with smashed autos
and grooming men. Others warned
Miss Cherrie that the fatal day would
dawn for him, but she refused to fence
him in
one Sunday morning the goat made
ready for business by eating an I'M
usually hearty meal and jumping
fence half dozen times to get the
kinks out of his legs. Then he trotted
off to the public square and waited
After a quarter of an hour, during
attention to the insulting remarks OF
the half dozen oilers on the tavern
steps, he espied an auto. There We're
three men in it, and they had no cause
for haste.
Plutarch walked to the middle of
the street and posed himself. His heart
did not beat one faster. The auto
horn walled at him, but he did not BAT
an eye. The coming vehicle might
have sWerved from its course, but it |
did not. TIL goat might have sidestep- |
ned and saved his bacon, but he was no
such goat Head down and his tail
Jerking, and the collision came.
The auto die not rise thirty feet into /
the air and come down with ker-
chunk! 1t was the goat But for a /!
young man in the tonneau of the ma
chine the auto would have passed on !
with dignified Indifference He order |
ed a stop and got down Before MN
Law the huddled remains of what had |
once been goat in his halcyon days
He. was now smashed, frazzled, broken
pulDed Never again for him!
Some men would have dropped a I
silent tear and passed on to kill a dog
in another village, but not Fred Glea-
son. His inquiries as to the owner of
the victim were answered, and he
proceeded to the residence (
Of Broker Vale and sent his card IN to J.
Miss Cherrie. She came into the parlor
nrepared to find a book agent and
make short work of him, and was
therefore somewhat surprised to be-
hold a gentleman who bowed and
starn1nered, and finally said:
'sI was told on the public square
that you were the owner OF a goat,
Eyes, sir"
would you be willing to put price
on him and let him go p
'sSir, I am not selling goatsi'
NO but you see-you know
II have goat, but he is not for
SALE
IT know, but you see II have kill
ed him and wish to pay damages
what - killed Plutarch?" half
shouted Miss Cherrie.
Eyes He was in the street and
made a dive for my auto We were
going too fast to stop and
It will never forgive you. sir
neveri He had as much right to the
proud of the feat you accomplished.
You probably chuckled over it. The
wonder is that you did not sneak away
after your crime!'
Mr.. Gleason, but before he could get
further she haughtily said:
ssIt was an insult to come here and
tell me you had slain my goat! I shall
lay the facts before my father"
With that she turned away, and the
young man found his way to the front
door He had been embarrassed and
confused but he had noted that Miss
Cherrie Vale had big brown eyes,
chestnut hair, a handsome face and a
figure to be admired. Had it been
some old woman or spinster her words
would have angered him, as he had
done all that could be reasonably
looked for, but in this case. while he
felt Inundated, he kept the picture of
he girl before his eyes and took a
solemn vow to himself. A boy and a
spade were engaged, and in a grove a
1uarter of a mile down the highway
he remains of Plutarch were laid in
heir last resting place.
IL LIZ IL