The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-23
EVENING STORY
Canfield's Adventure.
(By Louise Oliver.)

nifying that he had been sprinting for
some distance.
Thank goodness" he wheezed. I'll
get the fisherman to help me hunt
But on the other side of the tent
he found, instead of an old salt, a
girl frying bacon in long-handled
skillet.
II beg your pardon gasped
Garfield. but did you see an elephant
go along this way?"
The girl turned and regarded him
curiously. 81 don't remember" she
answered Perhaps 1 did. l may
have but you see, SO many elephants
go by early in the morning that L
really don't notice them particularly.
Was your elephant any special kind
pink or striped or something ike
that?'
Garfield blushed. Really. I'm not
joking. I've lost an elephant, don
you know. A really truly one, trunk
tusks and all, same as any other ele-
plant except that-oh, yes, he may
have been carrying a bunch OF blue
balloons
The girl turned the bacon with
toasting fork before she answered
well, I'd certainly remember the blue
balloons No, 1 haven't seen your pet
basket? That's what I put Toto in
every night You can shut them up,
you know, and lock them if neces-
sary'
"Oh, 1 say, You're still kidding, and
l was never more serious in my me-
You see. Old Rusty can do lot OF
damage if he wants to. L hao MIN
chained to a big white oak tree
And he ran off with the tree as
well as the blue balloons!
Garfield laughed at last and the
girl. putting down her pan, laughed
too You actually have a sense OF
humor after ALI" she said. Really,
I've never heard of anything so funny.
How on earth did you happen to lose
an elephant? How, in the first place,
did you happen to have him at all?"
Just because I'm a silly ass. Van
Kleek and I were motoring thru
village near here and it happened to
be circus day. 1t seems business had
been bad and while we were having
lunch at the hotel we heard that the
Who'll outfit was being sold by the
sheriff. Van Kleek and 1 hurried
over and he dared me to buy the trick
elephant. I got him for s25. includ-
ing the canopy for Sambo to ride in
during the street parade as the great
Maharajah Of Bellhuggar. And then
some imp out of hades put another
notion into VANS head. I'll bet you
$4,000 said he, that you're not game
to ride the rest of the way on this
peanut-eating beast into the borough
of Manhattan and up Fifth avenue
to-" Garfield stopped in confu-
sion
ITO where" she demanded.
ITO a friend of mine" he finished
evasively.
We'll" she answered, eff $4,000
looks as big to you as it does to me,
1 don't blame. you L suppose YOU
won't get it now since your pet has
escaped"
Not unless I can find him.
.'It ought not to be hard What's
that up in the AIR out over the water ?"
She shaded her eyes from the sun, and
pointed to an object moving sea-
ward.
"If it was the Fourth of July I'd
say it might be an elephant, as it isn't
I'm afraid it-isn't.
She went into the tent and returned
with fieldglasses. 1T looks like
grapes" she ventured.
1.-The balloons. by Jove, That's part
of the bet gone 1 was to carry them
on my triumphant entry into the Me-
tropolis. Well, I must be going If 1
want to find his highness today
"May I help you hunt"
Nothing I'd like better" His face
lighted up instantly.
I'll take Toto. He's splendid for
tracking things
Fine! No reason in the world why
he shouldn't think an elephant an
overgrown field mouse.'
Here, Totoi Come, doggiei Why,
where is he? Toto, come here, sir"
But no doggie responded
What do you suppose Your nasty
old elephant has eaten him up-that's
what"
Garfield shifted uneasily. do you
really think an elephant could pass
here without you seeing him %
Before I was awake. Certainly"
HE wouldn't eat your dog. But he
could put him up in the cupola thing
and give him a ride" Suddenly he
Here are his tracks, about as big as
a washtub, Come on. Up this way.
Let's hurryi'
They followed the trail up the
beach. then across a grass. swamp to
grove of young saplings-
st believe 1 hear him. he whisper
ed There was crashing among the
trees followed by short, sharp bark
''Totoi" exclaimed the girl.
"Sh. He's right over there, How
do you catch elephants?''
81 don't know. Don't you 1asso
them ?'
Goodness no.
Couldn't We telephone the police"
YES. if we had a telephone. Great
guns, he's coming this way
Mercy, I'm getting terribly fright
ened. 1 wish I hadn't come"
He reached for her hand and held
on to it. Now listen. He won't hurt
US if we just keep still. He's used to
people. Picks 'em up and carries
them all around in the circus. If he
spies us let him alone and see what
he'll do
Sure enough the elephant came
their way. The girl gripped CanfieId's
hand hard, bat she didn't make a
sound The animal, seeing them, can
tered up and stopped. Then gently
he wrapped his trunk around Cam
fields companion, lifted her over his
head and set her carefully in the
gi1ded box on his back. Then Can
field. too. felt himself lifted off his
feet and the next instant he was be-
side the girl
! Toto, you darlingl" The little