The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-30

maid saw her and asked permission
! to bring the cage into the yard. Mary
babe her come, and. without thinking
of the proximity of the man next door.
went below to try to help capture the
fugitive.
When the maid approached the lilac
bushes with the cage, the tiny bird
tucked its black-eyed head to one side,
eyed her saucily until she was almost
near enough to reach it, and, with
pert little chirps to emphasize each
move, he went from branch to branch
until it reached to top of the shrub
berry, from which he flew across the
fence to the lower branches of the big
tree next door, and mounted with
many a hop almost to the top of it.
The man next door put down his
| book and rose. He spoke to the maid
just as Mary was consoling the weep
ing child, who thought her pet had got
permanently beyond reach. When she
raised her head the man was whis-
Ting to the bird in notes wonderfully
like its own. The little yellow song
ster peeped down from its lofty perch,
and gave a timid response to the
mans call. Slowly, by almost dis
tracing methods of coming downward
a distance of six inches, and remount-
ing four or five, the bird was coaxed
to the lower branches of the tree. The
maid passed the cage to the man, but
the bird rediscovered the lilac bushes
and took refuge again in their
branches.
Without a word, the man handed
the cage to Mary, and their eyes met
in a smile of friendly conspiracy. The
man then crouched by the fence, and
as the bird again began restlessly to
measure. the distance back to the big
tree he rose with such a sudden
bound that it covered motionless for
an instant and he quickly closed his
large hands over it. With great ten
derness he held the quivering mite
until Mary got the cage near enough
for him to transfer the prisoner. The
next instant. the bird was sitting
trembling in a corner of its cage, and
a moment later was borne away by
the grateful maid and the now hiIari-
Gus child.
IF the little fellow knew that his
freedom would deprive him of his
life, he'd thank us for capturing him.
wouldn't he?" AS he spoke Mary
colored with surprised pleasure for
she recognized the voice of the man
with whom she held those daily tele-
phone conversations.
Eyes; he didn't have his freedom
long enough to learn how many 9TH
er things it deprived him Of The
mans surprise at this enigmatical
it not been eclipsed by his surprise
at recognizing the voice in which it
was spoken.
why surely I've learned to know
Miss Hanson's voice by telephone too
well not to recognize it at closer
range" he said, simply. Don't you
talk to Wells at the Macon Barnes
Printing company every day?''
Yes, and L recognized your voice,
too Mr.. Wells.''
IF you'll give me the pleasure of
knowing you as well as your voice,
Miss Hanson, I'll thank that little bird
for scheming so long to enjoy his
freedom"
Mary's answer was soft and brief,
but it led eventually to a willing sur
render of her so-called freedom in ex-
change for the protecting companion
ship of John Wells. Instead of
cage, he provided a charming bunga-
low, where cOntentment SO encircled
both of them that no craving for
fuller freedom ever came to either
copyright. 1916, by Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate1