The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-24
The Eueni,,g Story

Suburban Sally.
(By Dorothy DouglaA)
Sally was never quite sure whether
the idea occurred to her through the
channel Of mercenary thought or SIM
ply because she wanted to break the
mono v of life.
| She had been left q most -lightful
little home. an excellent garden and
ample sta bling for horses and cour
vehicles. In all. her property amounted
to not more than an acre. and Sally
found time hanging heavily upon her
hanGs when she had accorded her cid
gardener entire charge Of the ground.
He was the only outdoor servant Sally
could afford to keep and he acted also
in the capacity stableman.
There was an excellent pair of gray
mares in the stable, small trap al
her graadfather's old family omnibus.
The latter was thick with the dust of
years yet it was the hinge upon which
S2llr's business venture swung.
| II could drive perhaps twelve COM
niIters to their train each morning and
take them home in the evening". she
unused. If I charged a dollar a week
and had even ten passengers would
not have to sell off the horses. Ten dol
lars week means considerable to me.
| Besides she reflected when she had
all but determined On the idea, 1.-The
horses would have a little exercise and I
a trifle of amusement. I feel sure that
i the gentlemen who occupy these
charming houses on the Elm road will
rather drive in my omnibus -N"- q
crowded trect ar
/ Sally's mental prophecy proved corr
! rect. the gentlemen who committed to
In r1$t 1&~@ -
/ crowded cars and leaped at the idea
| suggested on the tiny cards that Sally
had sent about the neighborhood.
/ Her grandfather's old omnibus had
been polished until it looked like an
ebony mirror. The harness on the
mares shone. thanks to Shippers dill
I! igent arms. Sally. in the high box seat
/ with the reins in her strong hands. was
q charming vision to greet committing
bus -nese men as they came from their
4 doors In the morning and from the hot,
dusty train in the evening.
Il II people prone to criticism considered
Sally mad, because Of her original ven
! ture she neither knew nor cared. She
was taking ten dollars a week in a
perfectly legitimate and altogether
pleasant manner.
; During July and August, when SUBJ
!. urbanites brought out guests and rel
atives fer a breath of fresh sIr and
fresh vegetables from their gardens.
Sally's ten dollars a week swelled to
twenty. Commuters seemed willing to
!crowd into her omnibus rather than
into street cars and Sally was obliged
to permit an occasional passenger onto
her box seat. This, she strongly OBJ
jected to. since she had determined to
remain. as far as possible. a stranger
to her patrons
It was not until the advent Of Dick
Ha1stead into her omnibus that Sally
found her dignity slipping from her
1t was impossible for any one to re-
main very far above the human throne
when Dicky was near. He seemed born
. merely for the purpose Of etching
smiles on the faces of those with whom
! he came in contact.
II say, Halstead." yelled Roger Evans
from the inside of the coach. no one
is allowed on the box seat unless it is
crowded to capacity inside! Come down
or your perch!'
I'm sitting here in the interest OF
/, humanity" returned Halstead. 1.-The
off mare has a wicked look in her eyes
|; this morning. She may want to bolt
. when she passes the steam roller" He
preston MY manly strength is re-
, quired-here on the box seat
: To those inside the wagonette Il
, seemed as If Halstead had made the
statement in a spirit of fun. In real
ity he had feared the off mare fol
some days past. Since the advent OF
. the great steam roller on the quiet
+ country roads Sally had had as much
!, | as she could do to handle the horses
: Her teeth had been set grimly and the
muscles of her arms ached with the
, struggle, yet she had kept herself wei
: in hand and not one of the passenger
t realized the fight their little driver ha6
t been having with her mares.
: Sally was only less spirited than he1
t horses. She would not admit defea
t even though her soul cried out agains
the battle she was putting her ply
D steal strength into.
81 Dick Halstead also saw the girl,
4 ! determination to master the animal
q and he watched the conflict with ad
g miring but vigilant eyes.
nj He had found himself profoundly il
d love with the girl on the box seat bu
Il his judgment informed him that Sail,
was not q girl to be courted during
: business hours. She would requir
moonlight and flowers. just like an
e ultra feminine creature. He knew
= that under the cloak of dignity sh,
wore there was a most wonderful
:. charming Sally and that was the Sail
a Dick Halstead wanted for his own.
r They were approaching the corne
d of the road where they were wont t
II meet the snorting, powerful role
II with its deafening noise.
e Halstead turned to Sally. Her fac
had gone white. He looked ahead 70
I more gigantic than the first. Tn
It mare might pass one rOad-fiend, bu
e assuredly Sally's hands could no
make her pass a second. It meant
n frightful spill at least on the precar
9 ious road. Halstead for a second fear
e ed to take the reins suddenly from tn
e girl. She might fight to retain then
A..