The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-10
The EUening Story
The Impossible Girl.
(By lola Forrester.)

(By lola Forrester.)
81 don't see how on earth you can
wedge another one in here. We're
packed like sardines, now"
Claire gave her skirts. a little shake
to fill in every last available inch of
space on the back seat of the coach.
"Oh, nonsense" laughed Lewis.
Here, Miss Richard, just swing up
beside me. There's room for you be-
tween Ben and me-
Old Ben made room for her gra-
ciously, and picked up his reins, whip
in one hand, waiting the starters sig
nal in front of the Mountain View
hotel. Gwen was to sit here, Lewis"
complained Claire anxiously. where
is Gwen?"
Gwen wants to ride inside" replied
Lewis quietly. Everybody ready :?
We're off,
The four horses took the mountain
road freshly. 1t was a keen spring
morning. The long ranges of distant
peaks were encircled in royal robes of
violet and rose, shot with gold as they
wound higher and higher into the sky
lands out of view.
do you know her-Miss Richard ?"
asked the girl next to Claire.
81 know she's perfectly impossible"
returned Claire, with the frankness of
sixteen. Lewis never stops for any
thing. She wanted to go at the very
last minute, and he took her. Wonder
what Gwen thinks? She's been drop
ping poor old Lewis over the edge of
emotional chasms for days, and it
serves her right. They're just as good
as engaged, and she's been absolutely
hypnotized by Wayne Ivesson. 1 don't
like him. Mother can't bear him
either. He's the kind of person you
know whether you trust or not inside
of two minutes after you first meet
him.
Inside the coach Gwen Arnold sat
with Ivesson. Somehow at the very
last minute, he had managed to swing
to the seat beside her, after standing
watching each person as they all took
their places on the coach. Most of
them he knew as acquaintances. For
five weeks he had been a guest at the
hotel, a slender, scholarly looking
youngster, who spent most of his time
reading on the broad verandas or
riding the mountain paths. He had
met Gwen out alone several times
after their first introduction. and had
joined her. Lewis had disliked him
from the first, but Gwen was in a re-
bound mood after a disagreement with
Lewis and rather approved of him.
ut is wonderful to have you all to
myself" he said as the coach swung
down into the first gully.
You call this alone?" laughed
Gwen, teasingly, wondering who the
girl was up on the box.
who is she?" asked Ivesson, al
most as if he had caught her thought.
She was not a guest at the hotel, and
Lewis knows her. Odd, isn't it?'
Lewis has lived up here for three
years." she answered, resenting the
tone. why shouldn't he know her?
When we're not here, he lives at his
ranch. you know"
And some day you will be here
too?" His eyes held so much unspok-
en- intent that Gwen glanced up at the
other inside passengers to avoid their
earnestness. After all, even if they
did quarrel, there was only Lewis of
course
Ever heard this trip was danger
ous?" piped up an ole gentleman in
the corner who had been summing
himself for days in the mountain air
and splendor. USED to be ten years
ago. Almost sure to find a bandit
somewhere along between the gulches
after you pass Twin peaks"
Really" Gwen leaned forward
eagerly. ct do hope not. Mothers up
on top with Claire and the other girls,
need it much more than they. She's
never a bit uneasy, you know, and if
anything should happen"
What could happen?" asked
Wayne. Your eyes are like the dark
brown of moths wings-do you know
it?"
II haven't carried a gun in years."
went on the old gentleman cheerfully,
but I've got one along today. That
boy on the box is carrying money over
to the Cuddyhoe outfit to pay off the
men their quarterly wages. Got it
from the express office. And it's some
risk to get it through, even today"
who has 1.-THE driver or-or Mr..
Stevens2" asked Gwen.
"Stevers. He's a friend of the super
intendent down here and the foreman
over there. Haven't got any valuables
along, have you?"
Wayne laughed and took out his
watch and purse.
Shall we take an inventory to help
along the highwayman when we meet
him?" he asked Let US give every
thing to Miss Crandall. and no one
would ever be brave enough to hold
her up"
Up on the box. Lewis and his two
companions watched the gulch as it
dipped and widened, narrowed up
again and plunged ahead, a cash in
the heart of the mountain. When the
coach swung down into the DEVILS
Kettle it seemed to rock alarmingly
and stopped with a jerk that sent the
horses almost on their launches.
Inside the coach, the people started