The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-06
The Euening Story
At the Sign of the Owl.
(By Sherwood Grant.)


her work.
The other two girls came from the
dining-room to take a look also, Alice
in a brown and white checked apron
mixing cookie dough in huge bowl,
Georgia cool and cheerful even while
she wrestled singie-handed with the
problem of the window hangings in
the two front rooms.
1t was the opening day of the Owl
tearoom Not a propitious day by any
means, with the thunder rumbling
over the hills. and the quick patter Of
heavy rain every now and then in late
autumn showers.
But somebody's sure to drop in"
Alice said hopefully. Doesn't the
house look sort of sheltery?"
Even Winnie stepped out on the
broad, old-faShioned porch and looked
first at the house itself, that was to
bring them all plenty of ready cash, if
not fortune 1t was all they had left
that seemed tangible. They had been
left to the care of an uncle after their
parents death. and only the house up
at Medbury remained now, after the
passing of Uncle George. The money
had been used up on their education
and maintenance. So they had decid-
ed to join forces and retire to Med
bury to cogitate on the future and its
possibilities.
Georgia, named for her uncle hope
fully, had fixed on the solution. They
w
turn, the old house into the contest of
tearoomS, a. sort of inn of happiness,
and, since an old owl appeared to be
its sole tenant, they caught the bird,
stuffed it after it had given up the
ghost, and bestowed its name and
symbol on the new venture for luck.
Il think 1 hear a car" Winnie's
head was raised in expectancy She
was admittedly the beauty of the fam
lily. Georgia supplied any element of
pR mi
was a born homemaker. She could
have set up her tent to CHEEKY light
housekeeping on almost any earthly
spot.
The car came into view just as a
peal of thunder rolled overhead.
There were two occupants, no, three,
for one was lying down on the back
seat. The girls held their breaths as
it turned into the drive under the two
big elms and drew up before the porch
steps. Two young men sprang out.
They seemed worried and excited.
How do you do, ladies % one said,
raising his cap. We've had an acci-
dent. Would it be possible for US to
get shelter here and some sort of med
zeal help?''
Alice rose to the emergency at once.
Bring your friend right in," she
called, and led the. way into the. sitting
room across the hail, where it was
quiet. Georgia and one of the men
went to the telephone to call a doctor.
The injured one was carried in and put
into the best spare bed, and the car
rested safely out under the old wood
shed.
I'VE were making up time on that
last stretch of road" explained Madi-
son King, the cars owner. My friends
are visiting me over at Kings Rest, my
mothers place. We struck a fallen
tree the lightning must have hit, just
below the gully, and it tipped the car
nearly over and. flung Tom out. Could
1 phone my mother, too, from here,
please ?"
Winnie, in a deep, cautious whisper
out in the kitchen. Kings Rest was
the one place of interest around Med
bury. Eleanor King and her mother
had gone to school together, years be-
fore, but on their return the girls had
decided firmly to rise or fall on their
own merits. Mrs. King could have es-
tablished them forever in Medbury,
coming at all. Now fate swung her
only son up to their door and he was
asking faVors of them.
Paul hampton was the third in the
party. Georgia told the other girls he
was a well-known writer and to be
sure and put more pepper in his salad
than in the others 1t would be good
for him. They laughed and worked ex-
citedly, getting up their first meal for
the unexpected guests. The doctor
began his examination of Tom Bowen,
a cousin of the Kings Just as he
emerged with a favorable diagnosis.
Mrs. Kings handsome dark blue
limousine turned into the little drive
way. The Owl was very busy appar
emily.
He can't be moved for week any
way, but he's all right" the doctor
said. briskly. THE girls will look
after him. know. Mrs. King. I'll send
a nurse
Then. while the men were with Tom.
the three girls and Mrs. King talked
together out on the porch.
Il haven't been here in years." said
Mrs. King; mot since before my mar
riage- Perhaps you do not know that
1 was your mothers maid of honor at
her marriage here? 1 was very fond
of her. This one seems to have her
eyes and voice, but you have her man
ner''
Georgia flushed happily, and Win
ME was all aglow.
Maybe we have, but I assure you.
Mrs King, Alice has her sweet dispo-
sition," Georgia said radiantly.
1t was a wonderful week that fol- |
lowed. Tom recovered with suspicious
the nurse declared. He fair |
ly luxuriated in his dainty meals and
the attention of the three hostesseS. |
Madison and hampton rode over daily |
with flowers and books, all manner of |
things, supposedly for the invalid, but |
some way they remained out in the sit
ting room for the girls to enjoy.
AS soon as he was able to be moved, /
there came a check from his father |
that the girls eyed doubtfully-
81 Think said Winnie, judiciously, |
that we should be altruistic in this. |
He was our guest. Can't the Owl af- /
ford a private guest, girls?"
1t appeared that the Owl could. The
check was returned with the sweetest /
of notes, and Col Bowen came down
in person from Boston to meet the
three Graces who disdained mere pelf.
as he put it There ensued such a
series of motor parties and visits up at
Kings Rest that the girls declared
the Owl would need a guardian if they
did not give up such frivolity and at
tend to business But the autumn
days slipped away into early winter