The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-23
The Euening Story
Cupid Goes Cunning.
(By Louise OliVer.O }

|
you doing?'
ooh, did I shoot your" came a
startled feminine voice through the
bushes. IT saw something move and
| thought you were a bunny or a part
ridge or something, and 1 fired. I
should have looked first
| It's generally DONE" remarked the
man dryly, rolling up his left sleeve to
| inspect the damage. Suddenly he
stopped. Most men did when they
first saw Sally.
She pulled aside the bushes and
came up close. It's your arm, isn't
| 2"
Yes. Above the wrist here"
'I'll tie it up. I've got two handker-
chiefs and you'd better give me yours,
| too"
Il think only a couple of the little
pills went in. Thank you, but really
| you don't need to bother about it at
ALL L can back to my tent nicely,
I'm sure, and I can fix it up there"
But she was paying no attention,
only tearing the handkerchiefs into
strips and binding them around the
wounded arm. He watched her, fas-
cinated, looking eagerly from her to
| upon the canvas. She saw the look
and turned.
II was just thinking" he explained,
that you would make a splendid
heroine III the DOCK L am lIIuSlTdllIS
L imagine that Andruth-
''Who?" startled.
'Andruth, the girl in the book 1
imagine that YOU
But Sally didn't hear what he
imagined, for she was thinking how
absurdly things sometimes come
about. Here was man illustrating
book she had written herself, and she
had shot him while recruiting her
forces in the woods. On second
thought, she knew who he was, her
publishers having told her the name
of the artist who was to do the work.
He was really too famous a man to be
shot promiscuously by novice in
cunning.
I'll help you carry your things to
your tent and call doctor on my tele-
phone. There is one in my bungalow
on the bluff
That's lucky, by George! The tele-
phone, 1 mean. I've been wondering
all morning how 1 could get in touch
with the author of this manuscript.
There is something 1 want to consult
her about. 1t will change the pictures
materially"
'I have the telephone, an automatic
gun and a watchdog. All three are at
your service"
THANK you. Why the garrison?"
I'm alone.
"Alone!'
Yes It's a whim of mine to run
away from civilization occasionally
and get acquainted with myself Do
you think you are ready to walk now?
It's foolish of you not to let me carry
more. I'm very strong. Here, Duke!'
The little procession moved slowly
tentward and all went well. doctor
from a nearby town speedily removed
the bits of lead, and by the next day
little remained of the accident but
bandage.
tim of the day before came up the hill.
II was just going to stop for you to
go fishing If you are able, she called.
forgiven me YETI"
''Twenty-four hours ago. And 1 shall
be delighted to accept your kind invi-
tation. May 1 use your telephone
first?'
Sally changed color. Should she
tell him who she was? She had come
to the woods for another reason be-
sides that of recuperating spent nerve
force. Back in the city tailors and
for her wedding. man had come
back out of the west, her girlhood
sweetheart, whom she had promised
years ago to marry. She had come
here to be alone, to think things out,
as she had habit of doing when
troubled.
She decided in the negative. 1t
would lessen the tension if she did not
tell who she was.
Use it by all means and welcome,
she said, smiling. And as he thanked
her and turned to enter the cottage
she added in a mischievous undertone,
For all the good it may do you-"
In a few minutes he returned frown- |
ing. ITS very strange! / got the house, |
but they say she is away and don't
seem to know just where. 1t is very
Unfortunate
Sally held up a canful of worms.
well, let's go fishing and forget our
troubles. I've got some of my own |
too. Come along, Duke"
Day followed day, never one that
these woodland friends did not see
each other. Naturally enough, they |
the book.
Its puzzling to me why so many |
women write books with wrong end |
ings,' he said one day.
DO they?'
yes. I'll let you read the manu-
script of this book, and you surely |
can't say it ends happily when the girl |
a man she doesn't love-"
NO. I wouldn't say that" soberly.
why can't they be natural and |
make them end right"
What do you mean by right ~
Like real life
wrong man. II have a very dear
friend who is going to do SO. very
soon.''
He looked his surprise.
1T isn't odd that she should tell
me- she added hastily. Il know her
very, very WE'LL
The man was silent. Finally he
spoke 1T isn't so odd, either. now
that you speak of it. I have a dear
friend, too. a man who recently con-
fided the same thing to me. It seems
you'll never know his name, so I
make no breach of confidence in tell
ing you just little. This man loved
girl very much at one time and they
became engaged. Then he went away,
and instead of staying six months he
stayed five years. While away he got
over his first love, but never told the