The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-14
EVENING STORY
According to Law.

oNeAA 0AAi- ACiC arc HtdlH 1Olh iiSAS
that won't put up with it. You can
romp over our place as much as you
please. You can climb trees, fall off
fences or chase the CHECKERS or pigs,
but, when you go out on the road. you
have simply got to behave yourself"
The above brief but vigorous lecture
was delivered to Miss Katherine Col
lier by her sister, who had a country
house and who had invited her down
from the city to pass the summer.
There was probably need of some such
talk, for, though Miss Katherine had
reached the age OF nineteen. she was
harum-scarum. On a previous visit
she had created considerable gossip
by driving around the country at a
furious pace, smiling and bowling to
the young farmers, and even attempt
ing to flirt with men old enough to
be her grandfather.
Yes, sister, dear, I have reformed
my ways and shall be very good this
year." was the reply made to the sis
ter
And, in half an hour. Mis- Katherine
was throwing stones at a passing dog,
clubs at the COWS and knocking down
green plums with long pole. For
two or three days she KEPT her career
in check. and then it broke out. The
sister had runabout, and Miss Kath-
crime could operate one. They had in
tended to go out together on this day,
but the, sister had a caller who kent
her at home. Miss Katherine, there
fore, went alone, but she had to make
about forty promises before she took
! the machine out.
There are farmers up the road who
| Just hate a machine as they do
poison" warned the sister. land if any
of their chickens or pigs are run over,
they rush right off and ge+ a warrant
and have lawsuit. There is JUS
! tice of the peace about three miles
away, and he dearly Low IS to impose
Dig 1lne on an autoist who gives him
an opportunity
on, you needn't he a bit afraid"
| laughed Miss Katherine. This is not
one or my wild days. shall not drive
| over i've miles an hour, as 1 want to
view the scenery. l will certainly give
the pigs and fowls plenty of time to
get out of my way"
The machine, of course, started out
at gait of fifteen miles hour, and
1t had not gone a mile before the
pace was increased to twenty. And
why not? 1t was a fine, cool morn
ing and the road was pretty clear of
travel. If you are going to jog along,
why not go on foot or hire an OK
| team? There was nothing very daring
! in Miss katherine's keeping the mid
die of the road and obliging the farm
er to drive his wagon into the road
side ditch. He could drive out again
as soon as she had passed. And his
horses looked as if they needed rest,
anyhow. She had to pass a wagon
load of hay, and she Rugged it SO close
! that the driver of the hay called out
in alarm. She overlook a tramp and
! the mudguard of the runabout gave
him a slight push and such a fright
| that he scrambled over the fence. But
those were simple incidents. Any
good-loeking girl who is out for ride
would be certain to meet with those
things.
But Katherine got to thinking of
something else beside her machine
and, when she approached one of the
| ugly farmers estates a black hog
emerged from the barnyard and laid
down in the middle of the road. He
wanted to feel the dust in his bristles,
and he didn't care cent what sort
of vehicles might come along. That
| hog was lying there, taking all the
comfort that hog can take in this
world, when there was an exclamation
of dismay uttered by a human voice,
and the next moment something hap
+ pened Miss Katherine's runabout ran
all over that hog, Every wheel SEEM
ed to catch him, and, when he tried
| to get up, he was knocked down again.
He squealed. He grunted. He made
as much fuss over it as tenderfoot
/ in the west when they have shot the
| heels of his shoes off.
The owner of the hog was drawing
water at the well at the first squeal.
He dropped the bucket aad fastened
down the road and ran out to the girl
and exclaimed:
SAY you! Do you know what
you've done?"
1T think I've run over one of your
hogs" was the reply. ut is funny
that you allow your livestock to run
in the highway"
than that IL you give me much impu-
| dence! You must have rul over that
| hog on purpose"
"well, the road was built for trav-
| ell. wasn't II ?"
BE careful miss. You have injur-
ed that hog for life. and he will be a
dead animal before shutdown Have
you any idea what that hog Is worth %
81 have not bought any pork late
| ly." was the saucy reply
well, there's judge up here who
| will tell you all about the pork mar
ket. am going to get right into that
machine with you and We'll go up and
| see him.
Miss Katherine rut on a defiant
air but she was partly cowed. She
made no objection. and they We're
! soon in the presence of the dreaded
justice. There was also a Young man
/ there who had come on business, and
! he had P lawyers look about him.
Sam, what's she been doing?" said
the Judge in a familiar way to the hog
| owner.
Ran her machine over rny best hog
and crippled him for life" was the
reply.
''That will mean fine OF $780," SOL
EMMY continued the judge. Young
| woman
Miss Katherine began 20 cry, and
the young man rose up and said to the
| old Dogberry.
Your honor. can you impose a fine
| without trial?"
Mr.. Graham, you are only a young
| lawyer, and you don't want to be
heard of too much and too often"
but / shall be heard of in this case.
1 do not know this young lady. but If
she will take me for her attorney.
shall appear for her. 1 will now talk
with her a bit, and be ready for our
| case"