The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-12
The EVENING STORY
One Touch of Nature.

(Ry A. c. Brown.)
That girl is not afraid of anything
on earth, is she, Brooke?" The man
in the gray sweater nodded admir-
ingly at the tall, slender figure bend
ing over the biplane that had just
been run out of the hangar.
Nor in heaven either" snapped
Clinton Brooke jerking his cap fur
Their over his eyes. ''It's-it's not
nature for girl not to be afraid of
into his pockets and glared at his
neighbor- "Got her license yesterday,
and I'm going up with her today"
The man in the gray sweater al
lowed his eyes TO rest enviously on
Brooke's face. aren't you the lucky
SLucky!'' growled Brooke. when
1 almost lose my breakfast if I take
an express elevator in a high build
ing?"
why go. then?'
MY dear friend Grierson,'' Brooke
spoke crispIy, you forget that 1 have
lived next door to Celia Demarest for
several years In all that time have
never failed to take a dare. Neither
has She She dared me to go with her
on her maiden flight"
II think she's ready" Grierson in
terrupted.
Brooke turned up his coat collar
and started forward in obedience to
the signal of Celia Demarest's hand.
shoulder. Almost wish you were the
victim" he added, under his breath.
He hurried across the turf followed
by the cheers of the crowd, that little
dreamed that the jaunty six-foot
man was anticipating making a fool
of himself in the presence of the only
girl in the world for him.
Not that Celia Demarest knew that
she occupied any such pedestal. His
heroine worship was blended with
so much awe for her self confidence,
efficiency and fearlessness that he had
never ventured to suggest a closer
relationship than had existed all these
vaars. He sometimes felt that if he
uld only see her startled out of her
steady self-control, if she would only
show a little womanly fright over
mouse. a, trifiing feminine dislike for
spiders, an Evelike antipathy for
snakes he would be able to sweep
aside the barrier that separated them.
Hello, Clini" Cella's dark eyes
hand to him. q thought maybe you
were going to back out after all. You
were so long coming"
Back out.' Brooke forced a smile.
''Why it's the event of my life, Celia
You've no idea how I've been antici-
patIng it. Grierson's over there is eat
ing his heart out with envy
rs he really ?" Celia beamed at
him tomorrow. But Of course you
had to be first"
sFOf course" echoed Brooke.
where do I sit? Behind? Praise
be to Allah for that" he muttered
to himself as he scrambled into the
narrow seat.
ITS perfectly SAFE said Celia,
settling herself in front of him. 1--WE
wire She pulled her goggles over
her eyes. gave a final pat to her hood
and leaned forward to the wheel.
Chuff! Chuffl Chug! A little
wisp of smoke from the tail of the
machine and the biplane slowly left
the ground A cheer arose from the
crowd, and Brooke fancied he could
distinguish the voice of the envious
Grierson-which almost reconciled
him to his fate.
Celia smiled happily. isn't it
fraction of degree over her shout
der so that Brooke could see the
soft curve of her cheek.
''Its-it's gr-grand,' Brooke chat
tered through clenched teeth Are
"Oh, I don't know. The winds
perfect, and I haven't made any
plans" She touched a lever, and
Brooke closed his eyes.
"Gollyl What'Il it be when it
comes down % he gasped to himself,
and then turned his undivided atten-
ton to keeping his breakfast where
The biplane chugged through space.
Brooke had lost all his jauntiness
and had shrunk into his coat. Once |
or twice he wiped his forehead with !
the back of his hand. greenish /
color replaced his usual rudy glow |
He clutched the back of Celia's seat
with a desperate grip. Presently his /
head dropped forward on his arms, +
knocking his cap into space, and jab- /
bling Celia between the shoulder !
blades.
She turned suddenly, relaxing her /
hold on the wheel.
why. Clint she gasped, but the |
machine dipped perilously and she /
was rfght-about face instantly, all /
her faculties on the alert.
Brooke Strengthened himself reso-
1utely. etI'm-I-can't we-go back /
Celia? I'm AFRAID
Afraid" And the biplane jerked /
in unison with its driver.
I'm afraid-Tm-sick stammered /
Brooke Il often am in elevators /
''Oh. clint I'm SO sorry. Why
didn't you tell mel"
Brooke clenched his teeth and shut |
his eyes as he felt the machine settle /
earthward- In surprisingly short |
time the swallowlike swoop was
over and he realized that the world |
had come to rest He opened his I
eyes again and found himself in a :