The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-05
The Euening Story
Her Strange Passenger.
(Bv Ola riSSa. Mackie

wheel of her own little runabout wait
ing for her father. Mr. Stone usually
came in on the $3.50, but this evening
he was not among the passengers hur-
rying into the waiting motors and be-
ing whirled away over the perfect
roads to comfortably homes and wait
ing dinners.
sDear-I must wait until the 1902
sighed Marjorie, as the train drew out
and the platform became quite de-
serted.
| The station master appeared around
the corner of the house, touched his
cap and then crossed the track to the
white cottage where he lived
| I'll be back before that 6:45 from
the east" he remarked
| Marjorie nodded. She was not in
terested in trains from the east
Birds sang in the trees-locustS
wheezed in the long grass-some-
where in the distance a train whistled
and the sound echoed among the hills.
The station agent came back ana
went to the telegraph instrument.
Again a train whistled and present
| " the air vibrated with sound as it
| Numbered into the station.
Immediately there was a chorus OF
shouts as a man jumped from the
train and ran across the platform.
"Stop him-stop him"
The fugitive darted around the
building, fairly hurled himself into the
crouched in the bottom
start off anywhere! I'll explain s
soon as we're on the way!" he begged.
For answer Marjorie pulled the
starting lever and the beautiful big
car glided away from the platform just
as the pursuers painted around the
building.
sHey, there! Have you seen a man
running this way?" called one, coun-
try constable with star on his coat
lapel.
Marjorie shook her head impatient
ly and increased the speed. In a mo-
ment the big machine purred swiftly
away from the depot and disappeared
around the bend of Bushy road.
station the man raised himself and
stepped over the seat to sit beside
Marjorie.
For the first time she took a good
look at him and noted that he was
young in spite of the gray hair that
edged his temples. He was Wen
dressed, but his clothing was covered
with dust.
He was young and he was far from
Unlocking. Marjorie admitted that,
with the worried look gone from his
face, he was decidedly handsome,
with tawny eyes and black hair
sprinkled with gray.
"Why did you save me?" he asked
It believe it was your gray hair"
confessed Marjorie, with a swift
glance in his direction. "I thought
you were old, and II do pity old
Il feel old enough today!" NUT
tered the man. He was looking down
at her clear-cut profile, at the red
curve of her lips, the sweep of her
and the thick fringe of dark lashes
that half hid her violet eyes. She
looked very young indeed. Suddenly
she turned her eyes on him.
you are in trouble?" she asked,
softly.
some trouble in Benton, the large town
beyond here. was there on business
for my firm when 1 received a tele-
gram saying that my father was dying
in Albany. I sprinted for the railroad
station in order to catch the express
The whole town was out CHASING a
bold thief who had been working in
daylight I crossed his trail and they
thought 1 was the man, and I couldn't
persuade them to the contrary. So
shook them off and started for the
station, missed the express and caught
local, and the whole crowd got on
the rear car and held em off with
my revolver until they reached here.
saw you lifting there and jumped in,
and you know the rest!
"And you want to go to Albany?
asked Marjorie without questioning
his statement.
He nodded gratefully.
I'VE are near the Central railway,
which will take you to Poughkeep- |
sie,'' she said. 1--WE can reach there
in time for the 7:3O-and I do hope |
you will reach there in time"
you are good" he said with deep |
feeling.
Once or twice he sighed sharply, |
and Marjorie, looking closely at him, |
believed that he was thinking of his |
dying father.
In a few minutes they drew up at |
the Central depot and she watched |
him board the train and answered I
the wave of his hand with a flutter- |
ing handkerchief until the rear car
in the woods.
Then she drove swiftly back to the
station to find that her father had
arrived and was waiting.
AS they drove home in the twilight
she told him the story of the fugitive
and how she had helped him to
escape.
Mr.. Stone laughed skeptically and
shook his head.
I'm afraid, my dear, that you've
helped a clever crook to make a GET
away" he commented.
I'm not going to believe that,
Daddy, unless you can prove it, she
said spiritedly.
"Oh, my romantic daughter" he
teased her.
Marjorie blushed divinely eff you
had seen his eyes, Daddy, you would
never have doubted him." she pro-
tested.
II hope you are right, daughter
he said, and for the time the subject
was dropped.
The next evening he showed her the
newspaper he had brought from