The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-19
The Euening Story
The Pig in a Poke.
NV Eaith pnUOn \

Il wish father wouldn't send Tor
people to come when he's away" Betty
com planned. "And particularly when
1 want to go skating. The new heat
ing system is a nuisance anyway and
its horried to stay indoors on morn
ing like this. OF course, don't sup
pose I'll have to entertain the heater
man, but father asked me to keep him
here until he returns with the dele
gate. That's another bOre-this old
convention and preacher to feed and
look after for week"
How do you do she asked polite
~ of the young man who got up and
bowed as she came into the living
room. 81 know you came to see faith
er, but he's taken the car and gone
to hunt a delegates for the convention.
But if you like I'll show you over the
house and let you look at the what
you-may- call-it in the cellar-the fur
mace l suppose it is, but it's compll-
Gated enough for a disappearing gun.
II think, if you don't mind, III wait
until Mr. Bradshaw returns" He
smiled his amusement. Does he gen
orally go around hunting delegates as
he would a prize pig for Christmas
dinner?"
Betty laughed. mot exactly, al
though, after all, delegates are pigs in
pokes. You never can tell what you
are getting. But we happen to know
the name of the one we drew this
time, and as father had an errand in
Brownsville he thought he might as
well hunt him up and bring him
along"
Don't you like preachers?" asked
the man as Betty drew down the cor
nerS of her mouth.
Some of them, but we always draw
the undertaken kind-black coat, long
whiSkerS and all that. The last one
said such a long grace at each meal
that Bobby went to sleep one day,
and just to get even he put a garden
hose in the delegates bed, and the
way he yelled was awful. We all
Mother was so upset we had to send
for a doctor and Bobby got the whip
ping of his life
Nice lovely place for a delegate to
come" commented the heater man.
ND rather like to be one myself"
I SAY wish mother wasn't away.
She's in Florida. It's such a dandy
day and the ice on the lake is like
glass. Do you skate? 1 could keep
an eye on you as well outside as l
81 should say do. Love it! But
have no skates
.Oh, that's all right. Bobby has his
sled out this morning and his skates
are in the hall. They are adjustable,
you know"
That's fine. I'm glad you suggest
ed it. If you don't think Bobby will
care, I'll use his skates gladly. 1t
is too fine a day to waste on heat
ers. isn't it?''
TT depends" said Betty demurely.
whether the term is masculine or
neuter gender. To prove that it all
depends upon the meaning of the
word. I'm going to waste little more
time on you by winding up the vic
/ trola for you while ! get my things.
What record shall it be? Here's a
dreamy and smooth you forget you're
dancing and Just float: There, isn't
/ that pretty?'
/ Dandy It's a fine tune. But run
along now and get your coat"
/ I'D better not skate with you un-
4 putting her head through the door
/ Henderson, returned the man
! quickly. II get Hen usually"
( "All right, Mr.. Henderson Put
! on a new record if you like. III be
ready in a minute.
The day and the wind and the
splendid exercise brought the color
to Bettys cheeks. Little wisps of
hair escaped from under her Tam
/ O'Shsn;er cap, and when she laughed,
which was often. a dimple made it
self at home in her left cheek. The
/ furnace man beside her found it nee
! essary to look at her quite often.
4 After many turns around the lake,
Betty exclaimed: My but I'm hun
CRY. Let's stop long enough to go
over to Boyd's and have a hot choco-
/ late"
THE very thing" assented the
young man. So they had hot choco-
late and Betty was presented with a
box of candy.
Let's go home now and talk until
dad comes suggested Betty I'm
tired and, besides, 1 want to hear
about the football you used to play
and the golf you play now, and I
want to eat my candy. Really. Mr..
Henderson, you are a very interesting
man and I'm glad you came. I'm
sorry you don't dance, though. Its
so easy to turn back the RUGS
Perhaps your preacher has arrived
by this time" suggested the other.
.'You'n have to devote your time to
him now!"
"Never.' declared Betty. And then
a happy thought struck her. Cant
! YOU fix the heater in his room so it
won't work? Maybe if he's chilly he'll
not stay. Therei" as they turned a
corner and came in sight of the house.
/ Fathers homei That's the car at
the door, and I do wonder what our
delegates like"
Pm beginning to feel rather sorry
for the delegate" remarked the
young man.
Here's the heater man, father,
/ called Betty, Il kept him for you. 1
was afraid he'd be bored and leave
before you came home, so I amused
him by taking him skating
Il don't understand" puzzled daddy.
The man from Steel & Hardman's is
down stairs now. He says the gauges
need adjusting"
Then who" began Betty in
| Amusement
But the young man interrupted.
| 1.-THE comedy is ended" he said sol
EMMY. And as a fitting climax i