The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-29
The Euening Story
The Thirteenth Orange.

on her way home and bought a dozen
oranges 1t was raining and besides
two other packages she had an UNI
brella to manage against a strong
wind.
Gradually the bag softened with the
dampness and chung like plaster to
the round yellow spheres within.
tiny crack appeared, widened, length
ened, and the whole dozen oranges
catapulted into the street as though
shot out of a machine gun.
Mike Kugelik, carter for Sellem &
Hatch, was hauling a wagonload of
oranges from the Bay street market
to a West End branch. Crossing
South avenue, a rear wheel caught in
a car track and came off. And i'm
mediately there was an avalanche of
oranges in the all directions that the
delighted street gamins will remem-
Der all their lives.
Now when Lucia's bag broke, she,
too, was crossing South avenue, and,
moreover, it was at the same instant
that Mike lost a wheel So when she
felt the bag give and mtde a frantic
effort to save her breakfast fruit she
looked down to see, not a dozen, but
hundreds of dozens of oranges roll
about her feet. 1t was startling to say
the least, and she had a sudden mis-
giving as to her senses. But then the
wheel and the wagon and excited
Mike came into her vision and she
realized at once what had happened.
Already half a dozen urchins had
gathered around and were filling
jacket pockets as fast as they could.
Mike, with fist, whip and many ours
| ings, was doing the best he could to
defend his treasure, but it was futile.
| Lucia, seeing no chance of reviving
her bag into a sem blance of use, de-
cided to use her umbrella as a recep
| takle and closed it. Then she stopped
Sfa 1T ed fn q
dozen oranges into its black silk re-
cesses.
Hi there!" Mike came up belliger-
emily flourishing his weapon. You
putta dem down"
! Lucia understood his suspicious and
/ started to explain. These are mine.
1 lost some, too, just when you upset"
| But the other was too much ex-
cited to listen to reason.
You putta dem back"
I'll noti''
Mike reached for the umbrella just
as a man stepped between them and
| put out a restraining hand.
Let the lady alone" he said quietly.
At the tone of authority, Mike stepped
back without another word and his
whip fell.
go and attend to those boys and
+ I'll get policeman to help you" the
newcomer said, and to Lucia: Have
you got all your property? If SO I'll
| help you out of this"
Il think L have. 1t was hard count
ing with that man shaking his fist
under my nose" she laughed. 1.-The
oranges are all here in my umbrella 4"
But it's raining hard. You'll get
soaked"
I've no other place to put them"
whats the matter with these deep
pockets in my coat?''
But you mustn't go home with me.
I Hve-oh, ever so FART
so much the better There, and
| there, and there. and there! 1 guess
I've got them all" raising the UNI
brella.
Really, I feel guilty about taking
you so far out of your way. It's six
| blocks more and we can't take a car
II m glad you appreciate the awful
sacrifice I am making" he said sob
I'll keep quiet if you are going to
make fun OF me- Then suddenly:
But there's no use in our quarrel
ing, is there? Wasn't the whole thing
At the door the oranges had to be
transferred. Wont you come in ?"
asked Lucia. 'I'n get a dish for
them" So the man went in and they
emptied the fruit into a black and
white china bowl.
'Thirteen!" he exclaimed. by
Jove. we've cheated the dago."
Mercy" cried Lucia. IT didn't
mean to do that. We must take one
| back
Not if know it. Wen mail a nick
| Ell to Sellem & Hatch"
Then let's eat it, the extra orange
mean" suggested Lucia. I'VE used
| to eat philopenas when we didn't
| know what to do with things
So the man divided the odd orange
| carefully In two parts and gave her
half Then he thought of something.
In MOVIES he remarked, they
tear cards, or smash shells and each
takes piece. A sort if Kismet, YOU
know, for each of the two contracting
parties. Now why not an orange skin.
See!" fitting two pieces together.
You take one and I'll take the other.
70 keep as long as we live!" solemn
And when you need me, send,''
dramatically added Lucia.
And when you need me. send -
repeatedly the stranger
When her gallant defender had de-
parted, 1t suddenly occurred to Lucia
that she did not even know his name.
when you need me, sendi" repeated
Lucia, with a laugh
Now who on earth would 1 send
for? haven't an idea who he is or
where he came from She stood
looking at nothing, then reused her
self with an impatient shake. I'D
better get myself some tea instead of
incoming here about q. man I've never
seen before He may be married for
all know and have seven children
butt think not for he looked, So
what fine eyes he had"
A week passed. Busy days for
Lucia. as all days were, but not too
busy for many thoughts of her recent
acquaintance and his identity But
she was to have shook. One evening
she opened the paper and there on the
fl. st page was the picture of the mani
Below it she read, "One of the sus-
tORPfS arrested in eonnecfiou with the