The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-24
The Euening Story
Hidden House.
(By Clarissa Mackie.)


given him, he would stay with the
bunch of regular reporters who COW
cred great cases, instead of hanging
around police headquarters picking
up stray items and sordid city court
news.
Remember, Jack the man has been
in prison for twenty years-once he
was a great politician, a rich man,
respected by all-but he was found
out in a big steal. He's done time and
now he is out. What is he going to
do with the rest of his life? Bring
me the story-and you'll get yours.
see?" The chief smiled significantly
and Jack, with his meagre data con-
corning the present whereabouts of
Lawson Roberts, hustled away to
catch the first train for remote
Long Island village, where it was said
Roberts was in hiding.
At Sandyways Jack guardedly ques-
toned the host of the solitary hotel
He reasoned that Lawson Roberts
would seek sanctuary under an as
Sumed name
MANY strangers in town." re-
peated the hotel man, thoughtfully
nibbling a toothpick. Cant say as
there are-it's the end of the summer
season and all the boarders have gone.
L reckon you're an agent of some
Jack smiled evasively.
TIL bet there's one old party you
couldn't sell book to-not If you
was to take off 80 per cent of the
price, went on the man.
"Who is he
Names Robinson-taken the old
Hidden House-used to be Judge Hid
denis place. Celia Hidden married
Lawson Roberts, the politician; he's
in prison now for crooked dealing.
His wife died ten years ago and the
place belongs to the daughter. It's
never been rented until recently, when
Mrs Hester Bird rented it. No one
ever heard of her before; and now
her brother, old man Robinson, and
his daughter have arrived. And
pish as can be; as if Sandyways folks
weren't good enough for them. And
stingy-whewv'
"Wen, you're not very encourage
ing" responded Jack with a bored
air as he moved away. But when be
was out of sight his pace quickened.
The first urchin he met directed him
to Hidden House on the outskirts of
the village.
There's a miser lives there in
formed the boy, and an old witch
woman and a crazy girl. You better
look out!''
Good heavens!" muttered Jack, as
he went on his way. 1T certainly
takes the unsophisticated rustic to
make a lurid story out of a simple
happening! Here is Lawson Roberts
returning to his only refuge-the
home that his daughter inherited from
her grandfather, and no one has
recognized in Robinson the criminal
Roberts,
Hidden House was back 200 feet
from the highway, half concealed I'M
der an overgrowth of honeysuckle and
wistaria vines There was a sweep of
lawn dotted with fine old oaks and
chestnuts and towering locust trees
a century old, but the uncared-for
turf was a wilderness of weeds and
the trees were untrimmed. A high
hedge of arbor vitae surrounded the
place.
Jack tried the front gate, but the
iron portal was securely fastened. A
wide carriage entrance was similarly
barred against intrusion, and he
finally entered a narrow, grassy lane
that bordered one side of the grounds.
Here he found a small gate set in
the hedge that swung inward at his
touch.
He approached the side entrance to
the gloomy old house, passing a small,
rustic summerhouse smothered in
woodbine.
''Halt!" said a determined voice.
Jack halted to confront a wicked
looking shotgun 1eveled by a sweet
faced wideeyed girl boyishly attired
in a short khaki skirt and blouse, with
high-laced tan boots on her pretty
feet.
His hat came off and his look of
inquiry was mingled with sincere adj
miration.
Perhaps you didn't observe the No
Trespassing' signs" she remarked
coo11y.
IT didn't he honestly confessed.
''They are plainly TO be SEEN" she
said significantly. You can read
them you pass OUT
Thank you-but I want to see some
one"
who are you looking for?' she
asked sharply.
"Mr-Roberts," he hazarded.
Her face pale and desperate look
came into the sweet eyes that should
never have been troubled by sorrow
You mean Mr.. Robinson?" she
asked
II mean Lawson Roberts," he said,
feeling like a brute.
The gun dropped suddenly as if
her strength had failed her. you
know" she whispered.
Il guessed
You are a reporter"
Yes
II might have known it. You want
to interview him, 1 suppose? Show
the world what twenty years of prison
life can do to a man? He has paid |
the price of his sin-let him aIonei"
she cried passionately.
'.My-my paper he stammered, |
abashed with emotion.
Your paper," she mimicked. what |
is it to your paper what my father |
does now that justice has been salts |
fled? No one would listen to him |
when he protested his innocence in |
those old days. was only a child |
but remember the shadow that /
c1ouded our home. 1 suppose you will |
lose your position if you don't get a |
good story about my poor father!"