The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-16
EVENING STORY
A Triple Miracle.
(By Sarah Longley.)


the great domed half of the Browns
city house was being remodeled ac-
cording to plans drawn by Harrison,
the celebrated architect.
she unlocked it, cropping her way in
the dark among the heavy pieces of
shrouded furniture, and drew up WIN
dow shade to let in some sum-
Mercy, How close and stuffy and
dusty But / must call mother on the
hone and tell her got here safely IN
my new roadster and I'll start for
Glover Hill as soon as 1 have some
luncheon at the hotel
She threw up the windows and car
ried the phone over. "Fll be home in
time for dinner, mother. I'll ctart
back at 2. I haven't found your gray
velvet coat yet, but I'll get some of the
workmen to help me up the stairs.
What? Raining up there? Why, it's
lovely here. The suns out and the sky
is as blue as June! Oh, don't worry
about the car. I'm not afraid of a ut
tie wind: besides I've got to learn to
take all kinds of roads. Harrison?
No, 1 haven't seen him-just some
worknen Things are terribly messy.
Well, bye-bye. I'll be home by 6: Yes,
1 know you're having dinner. Don't
worry. Goodbye"
She hung up and looked out at the
sky. Just as she had said, the wealth
err was perfect. A thunder shower
sixty miles away didn't frighten her,
She looked fondly at her new road
car. a dark Brewster, green with ivory
wheels. Near it at the curb was a
ridiculous little Bridge so mud-caked
Betsy wondered that it could 60. he
peated layers of mud had dried ana
hardened on the wheels until there
was scarcely a semblance of spoke left,
and chains, about as much needeo on
that dry, smooth asphalt as an extra
tail on a dog, chung fool1shly TO tns
tires.
dienantIy. "how some people can treat
a car so. No matter what kind it is,
it's a car-same as a yellow pup IS
dog. If it's yours you've got to take
care of it."
stone balcony outside the window, but
a yellow pup wouldn't be happy If he
were clean He would only go out
and roll in the gutter again II MS
insides are well taken care OF he's
happy. and he'll go until ne crops.
Betsy looked at his overalls and
grimy hands and changed the subject.
81 have to get to the second floor and
the stairs are gone. What can 90!
you can go up Il ladder perhaps
But it's pretty high. Anything 1 can
do?"
st don't think so.''
I'm willing-and honest, I won't
touch anything!
"All ri bt," agreed Betsy, suddenly
trusting his brown eyes. Here's the
key to mothers room. Open the big
box at the foot of the bed and get
gray velvet coat. Then close up every
thing again, please.
"I'll do it," he declared and was
gone.
Betsy locked up the library and
went out to her car. After a short
delay, the man came out with the
wrap. I'm sorry to keep you wait
ing, but couldn't find it right away"
he explained. His eyes were not smil
ing now and his lips were set very
firm. She wondered at the change.
For an hour after she left the hotel
things went famously and the green
car flew over the white, hard road,
and even after turning off on to the
dirt road things were we'll enough, but
soon little puddles began to appear
that had not been there before and
the ground got softer and Betsy had
more manipulating of clutch and gears
than she cared about Then, round
ing a curve between a high wooded
bank and a ravine, she found herself
in mud quite a foot deep. She put
on more power and plowed thru, but
the wheels started to slip and, do
what she would, she continued to skid
terribly.
Suddenly she put on the brake and
the car stopped dead. What had hap
pened she couldn't tell, but the car
wouldn't move at all in any direction.
There she was alone in a mudhole
miles away from help and another
storm coming She looked at her dain-
+ ty high-heeled slippers and then at the
mud. She couldn't walk She would
wait for help. But she remembered
that the road was a shortcut between
two highways and little used. She
might have to wait for hours.
Then she heard a snappy little chug,
chug behind her. She turned and
I
she had made fun of, with her ac-
commodating workman turning the
wheel this way and that with one
hand.
MY. he must be an expert to
bounce thru this slough of despond
that wayi"
whats wrong?" he called
81 don't know. 1t won't move"
Let me try,''
So he crawled in, but failed to get
any response. you have done some
thing to the gears. There's no con-
use"
"Oh, dear, how can I get homer"
eff you'll ride in my little yellow
| dog, I'll be glad to take you"
Betsy looked at it with distaste and
| pictured herself riding into Clover
Hill. Thank you, no. 1 think I'll
But she stopped. There was nothing
for her to do. No way out, Then she
| had a plan. IF You would take me to
| Dexter, / can take the electric nearly
all the way. Would you mind?"
I'D be delighted to do anything you
say"
So she got in after he had spread
a paper over the dusty seat
Tell me, are you hurt?' she asked
suddenly.
Il strained my hand a little this
morning-that's alf-but 1 can man
age the steering"
| I'm so sorry" answered Betsy. She
wished the brown eyes would smile
4 again, but his face remained serious
| and set.
They reached Dexter and she board
| ed a car
Goodbye" she called to her bene-
factor, land thank you so much She