The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-21
The EVENING STORY
The Beton Experiment.

4
fail of rain.
Melville refined in as he came fully
within it's green GOODNESS. He had
been riding hard since breakfast
very warm and STILL Melville glanced
at his reeking horse with something
of compunction. He had not meant to
use the beast so hard, but once I'M
der the spell of swift motion, had let
the good creature overspend itself.
| go on! At a walk! Don't you
know anything about cooling out?"
somebody called from the hedge-row's
ambush.
Melville started, look all about. The
horse stood droop-headed and painting
he had not dreamed it was so blown.
He sprang down and led it two PAGES
| forward, then said anxiously: II don't
know the first thing about cooling
out Please come and tell me-who-
| ever and wherever you are!"
| mo needi 1 can tell you here. Just
keep walking your horse up and down
-slowly-untiI the sweat begins to
! dry. Then mount and ride him wee
then rub him down, let him have a lit
! tie water-after that it won't hurt him
| to crop little grass
| 'Rut-I have not time. [ must be
| in Exeter by 10 o'clock" Melville pro-
| tested. rs there nobody around-no
place where 1 can leave him and get
J fresh horse?''
what you deserve is a motorcycle.
you by throwing you,' the unseen
critic answered severely. 81 won't tell
you where to get a horse-you know
so little what to do with, one.'
"Then I must go and look for my
self" Melville countered. Meantime,
1 wish I dared turn this poor creature
on somebody's grass
'Is he yours?" the voice interrupted.
Melville dodded, saying, 'I bought
| him yesterday on purpose for this
ride
Twill you sell him ?" the voice again
Melville shook his head, answering.
''I'll give him to anybody that will
| take care of him properly-and tell
me how I may be in Exeter on time"
you aren't afraid of motors?" the
cross-examiner asked.
Melville laughed significantly. THE
chug of one would be sweeter than
angel voices to me about now" he
said But I was told there was only
one in the county-and it not to be
had for love nor money"
Truth, for a wonder" the. voice
hedgerow greenery-it parted finally,
letting through a figure puzzlingly
nondeScript. 1t was swathed in a long
khaki garment something like a Rus
sian caltan, but so cut as not to inn
peded motion. A high collar hid the
throat, a SLOUGH hat pulled low mask
ed the face above it. Below were
puttees and small, very feminine feet,
80! You come to my relief! The
lady of the auto? Otherwise Miss
Beton?" Melville said. recalling the
gossip of the county town, heard
while he was horse buying.
again you speak truth Wonders
will never cease it said, then lifting
the hat a trifle, 81 dare say you think
shall take you and your horse at
especially when they disconcert the
other fellow. Come on. Lead your
horse. l will see that he is cared for
properly and returned to you or your
agent. in good fettle. My charge will
be henceforth consideration on your
part for any horse you may ride. And
in reward you shall get to Exeter
He followed her obediently to one
of the sun blurs. 1t resolved itself
into open gate. giving upon a !!
lush pasture, beyond which a group |
of buildings showed queer and quaint |
in the sunshine. AT his guides
"halloo," men came in view. In
trice they had relieved him of the
horse, now limping as well as droop-
headed; a breath later there was an
odd looking ancient runabout MAX
ing wheezy noises outside the pad
dock gate. His guide had disap-
the men She came back equipped
with goggles a thick motor coat,
heavy gloves and very rakish cap.
In full guessing outfit" she said
called, because 1t keeps the gossips
guessing whether 1 myself am driv-
ing the car-or letting George do it,
Your chauffer?" Melville asked.
Surely they didn't miss telling you
about George?" May Beton said,
him to a seat in the car.
AS he settled himself he answered
with a puzzled sigh, "They surely did.
Now why?"
Cant say. unless to prove the days.
of miracles are not wholly past" Miss
Beton answered with a touch of bit
terness. There is something super
natural in gossip holding its tongue
to a rank stranger who is in virgin :
territory. Because of the tongue !
holding 1 will tell you things to make
you understand other things. You {
have heard l am terror, mad !
woman. caring nothing for Mrs.
Grundy. Also a schemer utterly god
less. oh, know my character-when
my friends CD are through with it. !
The truth is. I am trying my best to
save mind-and lose a fortune"
There was a timbre of appeal in her
voice though she had spoken evenly.
Melville involuntarily laid his hand
upon her gloved one, saying. Tell
me about it. Everything. Maybe I
can help" 8
ANY real man can help" the girl
said, very low. "You see, George is '
my cousin-also my step-brother-
My mother. a widow. married my c
sort of family economy-UncIe Lenox
knew he had to take care of US. v
George is just my age. He was the
hansomest fine lad. Over study I
brought on illness. 1t left him
wholly imbecile and decrepit, almost q
like an old man. Then my mother
lied. little later his father And /
by the way, George and his fortuneI
are left to me in trust. If he comes 1
to himself he has everything except 4
an annuity of five hundred dollarsI a
that is mine in any event. Sol t