The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-08
The Euening Story
The Trespasser.

gripped the steering wheel of her
roadster preparatory to turning
the corner catapulted a small boy who
shed apples as he ran, blouse, pockets
and arms full to overlooking.
And as he ran two things instantly
dawned upon Priscilla-first, that
someone else was likely at any minute
to appear in belligerent pursuit, and
also that the small boy was going to
be caught unless miracle happened,
for there was no hiding place available
near that well-groomed road with it's
perpendicular bank on one side and
a high picket fence on the other.
The look of terror in the fugitive'S
eyes went to Priscilla's heart. Invol-
UNFAIRLY her foot went to the brake
and her hand to the door. Hop I'M!
she cried, and Dickie needed no sec
ond invitation, but tumbled in, apples
and all, just as a man came around
the corner brandishing a hastily pro-
cured switch.
AS the little car whizzed past, he
caught a glimpse of his enemy riding
away to safety and peace beside the
pretty representative of family he
had no reason whatever to love.
Hi, there! You little devil!"
brandishing the stick.
my goodness" shivered Dickie.
"Ain't he mad thought It's a good
thing you came along.
what was ne dIleT you IOT
queried Priscilla little sternly, shut
ting off some gas. There was no long
er any need for such haste, as the
irate pursuer was far behind.
why" answered Dick, 81 was go
ing along the road and 1 got kinda
hungry and saw those trees In the
orchard all full of apples and a good
many on the ground, and 1 thought
I'd eat one. But there was so many
and 1 didn't know which one to take,
so 1 thought I'd take several. And
then Mr.. Criswell came along and
saw me- and while he was reachin' up
for a switch 1 cut an run and he
chased me. Then you came along.
Say, you're awfully nice to save me.
Don't you want an APPLE"
mo, thank you. But I'm going to
take them all. little boy. You see, you
didn't mean to steal, but you did, and
after 1 take you home I'm going to
take the apples back to Mr.. Criswell.
But if you are very hungry you may
take one and I'll pay him for it"
Once in town, they sought the street
upon which the culprit lived and Pris-
ella delivered him to his mother, and
then with her cargo of stolen fruit
she turned back to the farm.
"I rather WISH" she said thought
fully. that it were any one else but
that old Mr.. Criswell He is likely
to be yery unpleasant l wonder if
soft flush to her cheeks, but in the
depths of her blue eyes lay the shad-
ow of trouble. AS she turned the
wheel this way and that, keeping the
car to the center of the tOrtuous
white road, her thoughts went back to
the time when her fathers farm joined
the CriswelPs and when she and Bob
had gone to the district school to-
cether They had been companions
always, then sweethearts. But coal
had been found on strip OF land be-
tween the two farms, strip which
both families had claimed tc own for
years. The coal had made a bad sit
uation worse, and Bob and Priscilla
were forbidden to speak to one an
other.
I've brought back the apples the
little boy took said Priscilla to Mr.
answer to her knock. They are all
here except one and I'll pay you for
that" She piled the apples on a
chair and opened her purse.
You folks aren't always so partic-
uIar about giving people what is just
ly theirs remarked the old man
acidly.
Priscilla flushed painfully. but did
not reply.
Besides, you'd no business protect
ing a fugitive from justice today. That
kid needed a whalin' and by Jupiter
he'll get it yet if 1 catch him"
Priscilla laid a nickel on the chair
beside the apples and turned to go.
Her silence merely Infatuated the old
man. Il want to tell you,' bawled
he, that If you ever write another
letter to Bob, I'll burn it, so you
might as well save yourself the trou-
BILE No wonder you can sport aroun
in an automobile of your own, spend
ing money that justly belongs to other
people You come of a thieving lot,
you do and I'll-'
Father" A young man came
around the house in time to hear the
last words.
| The tears had started to Priscilla's
eyes, but her grief turned to radiance.
"Bob." she cried.
You git" yelled the old man.
Bob, you come here!"
But the young man helped the girl
into her car and closed the door be-
| fore returning.
Don't worry, DEAR" he whispered.
There is bound to be some way out.
Fathers furious about the coal or he
wouldn't say such things. 1 love you
and always will, no matter what
comes"
One day, week later, Priscilla in
her car was passing the Criswell farm
when she picked up a passenger, in
fact the same passenger who had been
fleeing from Mr.. CriswelPs wrath a
few days before. Going my way,
Dickie?'
"Yes'mi"
Then climb in. want to talk to
YOU
Mother licked me for stealin',"
sheepishly.
81 guess you needed it. Where
have you been today?"
"Catchin clubs down in Criswelfs
creek
1.-The old man will get after Won
again for trespassingi''
"Oh, I didn't get any,"
Dickie's method of moralizing was
beyond Priscilla. She changed the
subject. What have you got there?"
That, Oh, 1 guess it's coal. Say,
the funniest thing. I almost forgot
about it. While 1 was sittin' there on