The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-06
THE EVENING STORY
AngeIa,s Arrival.
(By Eldridge Maxwell.)

What news? ?" queried a lank and
unshaven individual, removing his
pipe from his mouth and throwing an
ancient pack of cards on the table
before him.
Jaw. nothin' to int'rest you, Shorty.
You amt interested in females, 1
reckon
| "Females!" chorused the remain
ing occupants of the room.
why, sure, amt you heard? The
boss sisters comm to visit him."
How old is siIo?" inquired the
youngest of their number, called
Handsome Bob Barnes because of
his fondness for the cracked mirror.
"Oh, I amt sure" draw1ed the
bearer of the news, but Skinny here
seen a photo of her up to the house,
an he says she's somewhere round
twenty. Curls an dinples an purity
as a picter. amt she, Skinny"
WAL, now, L caP1ate she's a purity
fair lookin' gal as females CO." said
Skinny, slowly. Course you can't tell
much by these here photographs, but
I'd say as how'd she'd show up purity
fine
when does your ding-busted fe
male woman arrive?" asked Ham
LETT Wilson, betraying a spark OF in
terest.
DAY after tomorrow, the boss
says Train gets in the junction at
two-thirty," replied the man who
seemed to be the possessor of all tho
information.
Give us some particulars. Pete"
demanded a scholarly appearing per-
sonage called Percy"
Pete peered around the room and
swelled with Importance.
Far as L know" he stated conde-
scendingly, her names Angela.
Seems she's his youngest sister an
he amt seen her for about five yeara,
so now she's comm out from Moo
Yawk to take charge of the ranch
house an sect he gets fed decent,
he ended, looking significantly at
Hamlet" who was the ranch cook.
Huh growled Hamlet, con-
temptuously, 'I guess as how he's
survived this long on my cookin', he
can live a little longer"
Now, Hamlet, the girl don't know
what a swell cook you really are.
Hamlet consented to lend an ear
once more to Pete's relating of per
tickIers."
WAL" Pete proceeded, "I guess
that's about all, 'cept the boss says
it's up to one of us to go meet the
lady" He paused to note the effect
of his last statement. Each man,
with the exception of Hamlet pricked
up his ears, but Handsome Bob was
the first to speak.
well. boys" he said confidently,
cit seems to me that if the lady in
question is about twenty years old
and as purity as a picter with curlS
and dimples' and all such rot, wy
it's only right that young an pro-
gressive man like me should welcome
her to our happy home. She wouldn't
want no old codger like Skinny, an
Hamlet, wy, he'd scare her out"
"Oh, I don't know bout you,'' saIu
Pete holly. Il was th1nk1n o dom
the deed myself n
Now, boys put in Percy, don't
you think I'd impress her more'n
either Pete or Bob?"
Nav snapped Hamlet, and Percy
subsidized into moody silence.
After much discussion of the ques-
ton it was decided that all points
were in favor of Bob, much to his
Joy, for, as he told Skinny afterward.
he'd been thinkin' of buying a ranch
for himself an it would be kinda nice
up the landscape"
During the course of the next day, |
handsome. Bob might have been seer
to make many furtlve journeys to the |
cracked mirror. His spare moments |
as those of his comrades, were spent |
in polishing his spurs and doing in |
Vulnerable little things to improve his |
appearance.
The next morning Bob hunted a |
clean shirt and a gorgeous bandaRa, |
which he considered especially entranc-
ing to his charms. While waiting for |
breakfast. Pete came upon him en-
gagged in studying a battered volume /
of Shakespeare, which he had borrow |
ed from the boss.
well, I'll be darned!" Pete ejacu- |
lated. IF he amt readin' poetry!'
Jaw gwan." sputtered Bob, don't |
all gals like poetry2 How sweet the |
moonlight sleeps upon this bank he |
began, but with a howl, Pete hac |
fed.
At noon Bob shaved, and with the
aid of Percy manicured his finger |
nails, arranged his bandana in the |
most becoming manner and finally |
harnessed up the team of lively pintos |
a cloud Of dust and the cheers ano |
jeers of those left behind.
After what seemed endless waiting
The team hove in sight and as Hand
some Bob and little Angela, as the /
boys called her, drew near, the boy;
gathered as close as possible for q /
view of the wonderful damsel. The |
dust was so thick that only the ponief |
we're visible. but soon the walters /
could hear a loud rasping voice say
ing, 1.-THE ballot, Mr.. Barnes, is L as /
sure you, the highest aim toward which |
women should strive. Why should not |
Intelligent women have as much voice |
in the government of this nation az |
ignorant laborers? 1 ask you, Mn
Barnes, is it just to exclude from pub
lie affairs we who labor so yaliantly
for the betterment of the people?"
The rig came to a stop with a jerk
and Bob alighted to assist a lady of
uncertain age, attired in a garb de-
cidedly masculine, with a mans felt
hat and a pair of huge spectacles. She
pecred through these at the as
semblage of onlookers.
Why" she exclaimed in her loud.