The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-06
EVENING STORY
The Winning Side.
(By Louise Oliver.)

The Winning Side.
(By Louise Oliver.)
Tom got out of his car at the gate
and went up the gravel path to the
house. The great trees, arching over
head, formed a roof of bright yellow
green All around was spring, from
the white and pink orchard on the
hillside to the robins nest indiffer-
emily hidden under the caves of the
house.
Just as he stepped on the porch the
front door opened and a girl came
out Tom was very much surprised.
He had hardly expected this. She was
his next door neighbor in the city and
their relations may be guessed from
what followed. At first neither spoke.
Tom politely lifted his hat and the
girl raised her chin about two inches.
Then the silence became embarrass-
ing. Tom asked. as Mrs. Caruthers
at homer"
Eyes, she is" answered the girl
stiff1y.
do you think 1 could see HERO
You probably cou1d.'
q mean, may I see herr"
Il suppose you may. Will you come
in?"
"Oh I'll just wait out here, thank
you" he said, seating himself on a
cane rocking chair as the girl disap-
peared indoors
"Oh, Mrs. Caruthers, cried Edith,
rushing upstairs where an old lady
was quietly knitting by a front win
dow.
Yes, my dear! see we have COM
pany. I was just going down. Can't
you stay few minutes longer? It's
early and
NO, 1 can't stay, thank you, but I
| shouldn't if could. 1 know who that
| man is, Mrs. Caruthers, and want to
warn you against him. He's come to
get an option or something on your
land. l don't know what it is, of
course. but l feel sure he's up to
count on it he'll come out ahead and
! You wilflose. so if I were you I
wouldn't see him at all. I'll tell him
you are busy if you like
How do you happen to know so
much about. him, Edith"
| They live next door to us in town,
and dad had an awful time with them
about the line between the lots. Dad
| had to take it to court and the Will
| sons acted awfILly mean about it,
Just because they had had a new
| hedge put in and some shrubs they
| didn't want to move them, but there
were six inches of ground coming to
us, father said. But the Wilson's must
have done something. for the decision
was in their favor and dad won't let
| US speak to them now"
But why are you so hard on the
young man, dear? Perhaps, in fact
most likely, he had nothing to do
with it,
ut doesn't matter. don't ever in
tend to have anything to do with any
of them, if L can help it, and 1 really
| think you ought not to, either You'll
see. He'll sell you bogus stock or
something. But 1 think I'll slip over
home the back way now. Do you
care if p! go thru the orchard and get
some blossoms?"
| There! l must go down now and see
my visitor
Edith could not reach many bios
SONS from the ground, so, since the
| trunk of an apple tree was crooked
and bent, she crawled up into the
branches What heaven it was up
among the fragrant pink blossoms!
She spied an orioles nest hanging
like purse just above her head and
spent some time watching the father
ana mother birds dart in and out
with food for their babies.
Then suddenly she realized that
some one was below and, looking
down. she recognized that Wilson
man" He had a spade and a box
and was looking cautiously in every
direction-except up. He didn't
dream of her nearness, evidently.
/ I knew It'll" thought Edith, tri-
| umphantly. Il knew he wasn't here
for any good Now, what do you sup
pose II 1s-money or the flat silver +?
He'll come back some night and dig it
up. I'm sure he has taken some
thingr'
Tom began to dig-not very deep.
but little hole just big enough for
the box Then he covered it over
with dirt and departed
Edith waited until he had gone and
then, forgetting her blossoms, slipped
down the tree and dug up the loose
| eartn with her bare hands. The box
| of light pasteboard, came up easily,
its contents featherweight Now what
IN the world do you suppose? Bonds,
maybe--or perhaps paper money
I'll go right down and tell Mrs.
Caruthers," she declared There's
nothing to be gained by waiting. Dear
knoWs-maybe he's gone now No.
there's his car. Wen call kim in and
confront him with the evidence
But Tom was already in the house.
orchard, Mr. Wilson, said Edith ac-
cusingly, coming into the living room
with the box, land I thought I'd find
out what 1t was. You see, we all think
a lot of Mr.. and Mrs. Caruthers and
| I couldn't run the risk of their losing
anything" She handed the box to
Mrs. Caruthers
You open it, dear. I can't see very
WELL
DO you mind tiff I go out on
the porch?' asked Tom. 1T might be
| better for everybody"
NO. 1 think you'd better stay
here" said Edith firmly. taking off
the lid.
| Tom whistled and walked to a win
dow. Mrs. Caruthers went on quietly
knitting.
+. Edith picked up an enve1ope-the
4 " in he Il