The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-13
THE EVENING STORY
Colonel Grahan's Umbrella.
CBy Lawrence Alfred Clay)

!
Col Charles Graham, retired and
widower, and also the father OF MISS
Maude Graham. was walking the nool
| in one of his tantrums. The coiohe
was a man of tantrums- He had tnein
every hour of the day If there was tne
| least excuse for 1t, and he had Deen
known to get up four times during tne
night to yell at passersby VINO were
| talking, whistling or singing
The colonel had small tantrums and
large tantrums. A small tantrum was
discharging the cook after oinner al ~
! hiring her over again before breakfast
! A large tantrum consisted of striking
up and down, waving his arms, KICKING
at chairs, and exclaiming at his
daughter:
by the blood of Bunker Hill, but ]
won't stand it, won't stand 1t! do
you hear what I say"
yes, father"
After fourteen battles and twenty
two skirmishes I will not put up with
such things. will appeal to the sworo:
I will appeal to the law! Why. dem
it, girl. I'lI-Tl-F
And he'd go off to take something
from a bottle and smoke cigar and
forget all about it. This tantrum was
the champion tantrum of weeks. He
sat Maude down in a chair, and after
drawing a long breath and pounding on
the wall with his fist he roared:
1T was your fau1t-all your fault!'
IT don't see how was the mild pro-
test.
mo. you don't see how. You never
I am dead Wasn't there a special
sale of umbrellas advertised?''
Yes. father
And didn't I go to town and buy
one?"
And wasn't it a regular So umbrella
at sS25?"
'.It was
s.And I had had it but a week when
I had to go uptown again. You said
it looked like rain. Don't dispute me!'
Yes. said So
And I was fool enough to do it; and
where is that demnition umbrella now
-where-whers?
you think you left it on the train
And if you hadn't advised me to
take it would have taken it? And if I
hadn't taken 1t would it have been
lost? And now-now I am without
silk umbrella After fourteen battles
and twenty-five slxirmishes and an I'M
blemished record of forty years have
no umbrella, Think of it! Think of
itp'
but. father. if you hadn't left it on
the train" softly answered Miss Maude.
ssBut I never left it on the train. |
it, and I'll run him to earth if 1t takes
ten vearst may have said I thought
I left it on the train, but now know I
didn't. I know it was stolen. You adj
Vised me to carry it, and 1t was stolen!
A cOurt-nartfal would convict you IN
five minutes"
The colonel advertised for the lost or
stolen umbrella. He advertised that he
would give a reward of SO to learn the
identity of the thief. When he had
ID
with that thief to make the fortunes of
the inquisition seem a farce by COM |
parison. He never expected the adver- |
tisement to be answered. but he patted |
himself on the back after its insertion. |
He had shown the public that he was
no worm to be walked on.
When the colonel had purchased the |
he had had his initials &C. |
c. engraved on the handle. He had !
given them in his ad. Three days later. |
as he stood at his gate wondering who |
he could pick row with, along came /
a middle-aged man with an umbrella /
in his hand.
s.Har' called the man Of war.
.'Ha! yourself" replied the other
stolen umbrella. aren't you?"
Yes, and you've got it therei'
You go slow. sir! I bought this a a
special sale at A. &, G.'s. and here's my
ticket to prove that I did,
But there's my initials right therer'
shouted the colonel
''And they are also mine! My name |
IS Cyrus Grant. I've come from town
10 tell you that you'd better be care
sul how you fling the word thief
around For two cents I'd have the
aw on your
The colonel flew into the house and
old Mauds that she had brought about
he insult to him, and then discharged
he cook without a character, and sat
lown to remember that there were
walve umbrellas of the same make and
style in that lot That made eleven
others Just like his 0f course. all the
buyers couldn't have initials the same
Is his, but after an hour he was almost
'eady to admit to himself that he had
,ean a little hasty-just a bit. For that
eason he went out and told the cook
hat she might stay or a day or two
onger. That was as far as he would
20.
That evening, after dinner, as he had
rot snugged down in his easy chair for
smoke and a think, the doorbell rang
n an imperious way. and after a mo-
nent a young man was admitted. He
arried a rolled umbrella in his hand
The moment Miss Maude caught sight
4 it she fed from the room
well. sir?'' demanded the colonel,
Without looking at the card the other
landed him. i
IT am q traveller for the house OF