The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-24
THE EVENING STORY
The Big Red Apple.
(By Clyde Johnson.)


situation as teacher in the Beech Hills
Orphan Asylum and had been re-
quested to report on a certain day and
by a certain train, and she would be
met at the station by the asylum car
riage. The young woman arrived as
per instructions, but the carriage did
not, and after waiting for an hour she
started out to walk the distance over
the highway.
1t was apple time-the time when
the biggest and best apples were ripe
and being handpicked. The way was
almost lined with orchards, and there
was only one farmer on the route
who would not have given her peck
of the best fruit had she just men
toned it. But she didn't mention.
She waited until she had covered half
the distance and then met up with
an apple tree that cast limb over
the roadside fence. Tramps and the
rest of the travelling public had
helped themselves till there was only
a single apple left. 1t was large and
ripe and red. 1t seemed to smile
down on the girl and ask to be eaten.
1t was a feat of gymnastics beyond
Miss Grace to climb the fence and the
trunk of the tree and lie out on the
branch and pluck the apple. A stone?
A club? Yes. Not one time in a hum
dred could the girl have hit the tree,
but the chances were with her. The
apple was hit in the head at the first
fire, and down it came. 1t had just
been bitten into when a voice called
out:
Taken in the act. by Ceorge!"
''What-what is it?''
Just this, young lady," replied one
of two men who had been hiding in
fence conner. 'I am the constable
for this township, and this is Mr..
Of n q
this orchard. He owns that apple
tree. He owns the apple you are
chanking on. We are here to watch
for trespassers, and we have caught
one. You are under arrest. You must
go with me to Squar' Bascomb's
house"
And you'll git thirty days in jail"
sneered Scroggs. rive had thieves
around till I'm tired of it,
.'Sir, don't you call me a thief"
exclaimed the girl.
But you see, you were taken in the |
act" put in the constable.
Two witnesses agin ye, and We |
can't git out of it, followed Scroggs. |
But what have I done-what have |
1 stolen?" was asked.
"Trespassed on my apple tree and |
stolen a big apple! Mebbe I'll have |
We tried on both charges. left that |
big apple there a-purpose to catch a |
thief
who saw trouble ahead, but |
was not frightened.
It's gone too fur-too fur" whis-
pered the officer. There may be |
graft where you come from, but there
hain't any here. You'll have to go
with me-"
Il won't go a step!' was the de-
fiant reply. 1.-The charge is so silly
that no court will entertain it. What
sort of a man are you, Mr.. Scroggs,
to raise a fuss about an apple?"
Its the principle look at, young
Then you'd better look the other
way"
IF she won't come along, then put
handouts and shackles on her. said
the old man to the constable.
The officer looked SO appealingly
at her that Miss Champlin signified
her readiness to accompany him, and
the three started off on a half-mile
tramp. After the one bite the girl
had carried the apple in her hand.
she now went at it and devoured it
to the core. and as she threw that
away Mr.. Scroggs- sighed doIefuNy
and the constable managed to wink
at her with his left eye without turn
ing his head.
Squar' Bascombe was a farmer, and
4 burly, good natured man. He had
to entertain a complaint, and while
Scroggs said he would be his own
lawyer, his honor said to the pris-
oner:
MY son Dick happens to be home
from college. He's studying to be a
lawyer, and you'd better let him take
your case. You cant tell how serious
It may become"
II shall be glad to have him.
Dick Bascomb proved to be a good
looking young man, and he hearten-
ed up his client by assuring her that
she would escape state prison unless
Scroggs could prove assault with in
tent to kill.
The owner of the apple had no diff
ficulty in proving by the officer that
It had been knocked off the tree by
the prisoner. and that the tree be-
onged to him; also, that she had
eaten it up as they came along also
that she had been sassy and def
ant. When the prosecution had clos
I'd its case, Dick Bascomb arose and
said: /,
May it please the court, I move to
luash all further proceedings in this
case
honor.
'on the following; l.