The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-08

Trigg house next door. Just as Stan
ley's hand was on the switch by his
chiffonier a light flashed from John
Trigg's window directly opposite, and
Stanley saw Grace and her younger
brother laughing gleefully as she
donned the coat of his dress suit and
held up the trousers and found their
length just right for her tall figure.
Stanley's eyes were held by what he
saw and his hand remained stationary
without turning on the light. Grace
removed the coat. threw the whole
suit over her arm, and went laughing
from the room John Triggs hand
went to the switch and darkness fol-
lowed.
Grace was evidently borrowing
that it must be for some sort of
frolic. Then he remembered Ada
Green's chattering to him the day be-
fore about some affair a lot of girls
were planning, and he surmfsed that
Grace was preparing for that affair.
by George! I'll waylay her if I'm
arrested for it," said Stanley, and sud-
denly stopped short, struck with a
new idea.
Half an hour later Stanley crept
stealthi1y around the house from the
rear and took up his position where he
could watch the front door of the
Trigg house without being seen. In
the darkness his figure stood out as a
fairly good imitation of a policeman,
for he had on his portly fathers long
frock coat well padded with pillows
and had his hat crown pushed up and
helmet.
He waited more than an hour before
John Trigg and another tall person in
mans attire emerged from the Trigg
residence. That the other person was
Grace, Stanley did not doubt for a
A. I,
cred her dress suit did not disguise
her beyond his recognition. He listen
ed closely to what they were saying.
"I'll have to hurry, Sis said John.
TIN horribly late already for my en-
gagement.'
skip to keep pace with him. You
just leave me there at the -ntrance to
Walton Place and I shan't be a bit
afraid to go on to Ada's house. It's
third from the entrance, and I'll prob
ably have to wait ages outside the
window anyway before old Maggie
can smuegle me in without the girls
knowing it,
$50 that's the game. is 2" said
Stanley, as he half crawled along in
the shadow of the house. Once in the
back yard, tho, he went out of the
gate and up the alley in long, quick
strides that soon put him a block
than John and Grace were.
When he reached the entrance
Stanley hurried on to n thick clump
of shrubbery in the yard adjoining
Ada Green's. A few minutes later he
heard John call out $50 long and
almost Immediately saw Grace ap-
preaching with a swagger which she
meant to be a very bold one. When
she reached the shubbery Stanley
walked out with an easy swing, care
.s..Is.
served him for a policeman's club. In
the darkness and stiffness the appear
ance OF this figure startled Grace too
much for her to observe closely
enough to penetrate even that poor
disguise. She hesitated and thought
directly in front of her and gave a
sort of salute with his club.
Il reckon you don't know there's a
law forbidden women on the streets
in mems clothes" he said gruffly
Not a word came in reply, for
Ora ce's tongue was powerless behind
her tightly-pressed, indrawn lips.
'Oh, well. don't be scairt," he said
patroniZingly. I'll see you safe home
and We'll say no more about it" He
took hold of her arm Familiarity, but
the next instant felt a singing smack
IN his face from small, but heavily
gloved hand.
How dare your Her voice fairly
exploded in his ear
My word, Grace" said Stanley, in
his own voice. I'll have to hold your
hands if you use them like that, but
I'll tell you why 1 dared, dear Be-
cause | love you SO much that ]
couldn't wait another minute to ask
you to let bygones be gone and
And then the dim gas lamps in Wal
ton place silhouetted the strange pic
ture of slender young man weeping
on the shoulder of a fat policeman
who spoke very softly and patted the
yC ing mans shoulder lovingly
The Eext day Ada Green rallied
Grace about staying away from the
party.
Il really did intend to come" said
Grace. but changed my mind at the
eleventh hour "-(Copyright, 1915, by
the Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate