The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-04
EVENING STORY
Over and Under the Wall.
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.

Copyright, 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
1t was the taIlest wall in the viii
1age. and it separated the gardens OF
Tom Blake's uncle and Celia Miller's
aunt. The wall had never seemed
suc.. q formidable thing until Celia's
Aun- Jane had forbidden Tom the
grounds, and then it was all the fault
of Tug, Toms bulldog. This is how
it happened:
Tom had known Celia very well in
the city, and when she left to live with
her aunt in the country VhIase ne
discovered life was dull without ner;
OF curse he- letters were bright and
cheerful, and after he showed what
good correspondent he was, they were
numeror s. 1t was a happy coincidence
that he discovered he had an uncis
living right next door to her aunt, and
the first vacation he had he came 10
spend with his uncle. :,
II he hal left Tug at home all
would hav, been well, but the old dog
needed an outing, and he brought MN
along. Celia was delighted with MS
visit, and her maiden aunt looked on
him with reserved favor for the flrst'
two days; but the crash came the
third day. T. was the first time rom
had taken Tug to visit Celia, and it
was lust his luck to have Aunt Jane
and her pet poodle F1ossie in the gar
den Tug spieo Flossie, and before
Tom could stop him poor F1ossie was
being rolled numerically about the
grass, while Aunt Jane screamed at
the top of her voice and Celia pound
ed al Tug with a rake-handle. II Tom
had known how things were going TO
turn out he would have known better
than to laugh, but his laughter ana
the frantic antics Of the women urged
could call him off Flossie was spin
pipo @ hout like rubber ball.
Get out of here with your vicious
dog and don't ever enter my garoen
again or speak to my niece, or Ii
have You arrested" Aunt Jane fairiy
soreeched at him, after Flossie had
been restored
Tom sobered at once and tried to
explain that the dogs had only been
indulginy in a very friendly dog game,
but without avail. Celia understood,
but her aunt was aroused beyond IN
Outstanding. Tom thought it best to
retreat, especially as Celia had burst
into tears.
At first he had thought Aunt Jane
would repent and allow him at least
to speak to her niece, but she didn't.
He had to console himself with a few
stolen moments of conversation over
the wall each day. Even that was
denied him at length, for Celia left the
ladder against the wall and Aunt Jane
found it, suspected the truth and
locked 1t up Then when Aunt Jane
found that they had been meeting in
the village Celia wasn't sent on any
more errands. Not to be daunted,
Tom set to work to make a rope lad
! der, but it was more difficult than he
had expected and it took him two or
three days to complete it. While he
was We rking, Celia found a way to
communicate with him. She stationed
herself in an upstairs window, over
| looking his uncle's garden and, aItho
~ aJf no n toll he doa
and dumb language. they originated
d series of signs by which they could
understand each other perfectly. If
signs have the same effect that words
are reputed to have, Aunt James ears
must have burned.
| The ladder was finally completed
and when Aunt Jane was taking her
afternoon nap, Celia stole to the gar
den. Tom had been waiting for her.
At the sound Of her voice, he climbed
up the ladder on his side of the fence.
perched on the wall, lowered the rope
for her to use and fastened it on the
enc. of lis ladder. Celia was a trifle
| doubtful of the strength of the rope
| byt he treasured her.
| There" she gasped as she reached
the top OF the wall and Tom assisted
her to sit beside him. 1 was afraid
would fall every step. What would
aunt say?"
Hang your aunt" Tom erumbled.
She's a mean old thing or she would
i mt treat you as she does~ One wonId
think you were a childt''
Old III Ao' 81
Now, don't defend her because she
is your aunt. Didn't you mean ali
those things you said about her-or
signed aboue her, should say"
| DID you understand those signs ?''
she laughed
Every one of them
sure?"
We'll, maybe 1 didn't, but 1 under
stood some signs that weren't about
your aunt. Did you understand any
oe mine?''
Yes, most of them. Some of the
things you said were too daring Tom
what would aunt say if she knew YOU
had been making love to me?"
Hang your aunt" he exclaimed
again.
Hang your dog, I say.'' she said
with a chuckle.
Wasn't that funny" Tom laughed
why, old Tug wouldn't have hurt
Floss:e for the world. He was only
playing, and if your aunt hadn't been
SO near they would have been great
friends"
why. they are now. Every time
Floss1e Is out without aunt she tries
to dig her way into your warden. Old
Tug must have made a HIT
Then SO did Flossie, for I've had
to box the old fellows ears half a
dozen times this week for digging
holes under the wall. If he had col
thru and hurt that poodle it would
have ended it for US for sure. YouI
aunt would probably have had me ar.
rested
There was a terrible shrek from the
front of Aunt James house, and if Ton
had not caught hold of Celia she
would have fallen from the wall.
"Old Tug at F1osss again!" Tor
gasped.
mo it's not; there is Tug digging q
hole under the wall."
IT'S something worse, then. Come
on" Tom vaulted from the top of the
wall, landed in Aunt James garler