The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-18
The Euening Story
To Long Bay.
CBy Louise Oliver.)

Long Bay"
Carolyn looked at her brother con-
Just because you hap
pen to be a football pet doesn't give
you any license to insult your sister.
Mother, mayn't 1 go? I'm not baby
and there is to be such splendid
time at the house party 1 can take
care of myself perfectly well, and you
know how safe I'll be after I'm there.
hate to be babied." Aflood of tears
emphasized this remark. and Mrs.
Beverly comforted her indignant
daughter by giving an instant and I'M
reasonable consent.
So Carolyn triumphantly prepared
for her journey, and upon the day set,
her brother resignedly carried her bag
to the station, bought her tickets and
put her on the train to Long Bay.
Something will happen to Sis be-
fore she's a day older or I'll miss my
guess" he grumbled Us he left the
train. Hello, Charlie. where are you
bound for?" he called to a man who
bumped into him in his hurry to catch
the moving car.
"Baxters- Bay" called Charlie
from the steps. and in reply he caught
something if "sister-same place
look after" and the train was beyond
hearing.
This is what actually happened
magazines and some unopened mail,
proceeded to make herself entirely
comfortable for the days journey. The
Pullman car had few occupants and
she spent several minutes in brief in
spection. There was a fat man who
wore a little black silk smoking cap,
a pretty, plump little woman with a
baby, a middle-aged lady who kept
smelling salts to her nose, two or three
nondescript travellers, and the man
across the aisle.
The man across the aisle was young,
good looking, and, to Carolyn's present
annoyance, evidently very much inter-
eSted in her. She could feel that he
was looking at her even when she had
the back of her head toward him and
was looking at the flying landscape.
She felt certain that he must know
how many chocolates she had eaten
and how many pages she had turned,
although she had scarcely dared to
lift her eyes in his direction.
The train flew on and she began to
tire of the trip. The candy had be-
come less palatable, the magazines
had palled and she had read all the
letters through twice. With nothing
to do, she began to resent in earnest
the half smiling glances of the man
across the aisle. She put on her
haughtiest, grownup air, pulled her
mouth into the severest line nature
entertainment-can books and a
handful OF letters-into her travelling
bag.
Then she reached for her hat and
coat. I'll go out and stand on the
platform for a change, or sit in the
drawing room if it's empty, or talk to
the anything to get away from
the silly smirk of that ninny over
there" she fumed. So, suiting the &C
ton to the word, she sailed, grandly,
down the aisle upon adventure bent.
She wound up in the drawing room.
Il wonder if that silly man is still
there" she unused, looking back
through her door. There she caught
his glance, still smiling, still friendly.
She Immediately Strengthened. 1.-The
ideal" she gasped Indignantly. 81
never heard of anything like it in my
life. I'm sure 1 don't know him-pos-
tive I dont-and yet he has that toll
ferant patronizing, don't-worry- little
grill ll-take-ca -of-you smile that
might ticket him as the Oldest friend
of the family
Tickets, please" said the conduc-
tor, sticking his head in the door.
They are easy-going about taking
tickets on through trains-no hurry.
no fuss, a sort of any-time-will-d do,
ow-you-have-'em air that is
very satisfying.
Carolyn had. in fact. forgotten
about hers. 1t was in her handbag
inside the big bag down the aisle. She
arose. It's back there, I'll get it,
she said She went back to her old
seat in the car opposite the man she
| deteSted. But there was no bag
there! She looked around. She was
in the right place she was sure-di-
rectly across from the man. Then
she spied a bag, her bag she was posi-
tive, half hidden under the mans seat
My ticket is in my bag and the
bags gone" she declared to the con-
ductor. never taking her eyes from
the bag across the aisle. Fl left II
here a few minutes ago.
TT can't have left the train. II
must be around somewhere" said the
conductor patiently. You look and
I'm sure you'll find it,
And impulsive Carolyn, for whom
aster, answered: Il have found it
| That's it right there, I am positive -
She nodded toward the hidden
bag across the aisle.
But this is my bag" said the man
81 know it is NINE" protested the
stranger, but-'with smile that
maddened Carolyn, "Ill pay the lady
fare" He drew from his pocket a roll
of bills
"No-he won't!' Carolyn assured
the conductor savagely That's my
| bag. 1 guess 1 know it. But 1 won't
argue with either of you, and if that
whistle means a stop I'll get off and
| telegraph back to the city for help
Besides I'll telegraph ahead for
with a meaning glance at the suspect
| ed thief
The train did slow down and stop
and before the men could prevent her
Carolyn was off the car and in the
midst of a dreary, bleak landscape
without a house in sight, and the train
| sliding down the track with never a
sign of a reason for having stopped
at all.
With tears of rage, and chagrin
Carolyn started to tramp down a lone
! ly road at random, and the snow-as
it always does in tragic moments
| began to fall. She could not tell
| whether she was going north, south
east or west, and finally after wander
ing hopelessly for half hour, she sat
down on a stone in despair.