The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-29
EVENING STORY
On Old Smokey.
BY SUSAN E. CLAGETT.
Copyright, 1918, by Mcclure Newspape,
Syndicate)

BY SUSAN E. CLAGETT.
Copyright 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate)
You are in earnest?' '
Deadliest earnest, Mac. In the
Carolina pines you will have more
than fighting chance. Here there
IS no chance. Six months would be
all that could promise you, and that
the quietest kind of a life. On Old
Smokey you would be close to nature.
That is what you need"
Charles McDermott glanced. about
his small apartment, then toward the
window, where his eye rested upon the
trees in the square.
Yours is the third opinion 1 have
had, Jack; l would not believe what
the others told me. 1t was too absurd.
what you say goes. I do not under
stand it at all. and if it weren't that
hate a gutter I would stay here 1
really have nothing to live for 1 lost
everything 1 possessed when McCune
failed"
"Everything?"
"Oh. there's enough to finance this
scheme of yours, if it is a close-to-
nature project"
The doctor looked up, his attention
caught by note in the voice. .I
thought Mary entered rather largely
into your plan of life?"
McDermott's face whitened Not
now" he answered steadily. where
II have a cabin high up on Old
Smoky. There is wood for the picking
up and a clearing about it large
enough for you to raise garden truck,
Heavens, man. Do you expect me
to dig?"
Dig and shoot and chop wood, as
soon as strength comes. A little of
some one thing each day. Haven't
forgotten how to shoot, have you?"
mi oh Ior a. ~
large enough"
Set up target as soon as You
get there. Your meat supply will de-
pend upon your own efforts, unless the
mou0tain people take a fancy to you.
Don't let the end of the week find you
here. 1 will make such ARRANGEMENTS
as are necessary, and / may drop in
upon you later for a couple of days
turkey shooting. And remember" he
said as he was about to leave the
room. that an axe, a spade and
gun VIII be essential to your comfort"
Two weeks later Charles sat in his
doorway Hstlessly surveying what he
called his stock in trade. An axe, a
rifle and garden tools lay in a row
in front of him, and he had but a faint
idea of the use of any. So far this
fact mad not bothered him, but this
day he felt a faint stirring in his
blood that suggested returning appe-
title, and the tang in the air meant
that wood must be stored If he was
to be comfortable. Nevertheless he
looked at his tools with growing dis
taste, and it was with. certain de-
gree of resentment that he caught
sight of two children watching him
with shy curiosity.
For a moment he g1ared at them
then smiled. They sided closer. and
the boy picked up the rifle from the
ground.
Say, Mister. my paw kin beat
everyone hyarerbouts shootin' turkeys
Kin you shoot this hyar gun? It's diff
mo; and I'm afraid I'm not smart
enough to learn y -
Tho boy looked at Aini in wende - .
Can't? Yore o1der'n me an Use
killed twelve. Sold 'em ALL
What are you going to do with the
money?" Charles asked idly
Dunno, 'cept men Mollie wants
crackers. Say, how many crackers'n
twelve turks buy?"
More than you can eat, 1 fancy"
Don't mean eatin' kind. 1 means
them things thot goes off an make a
noise like a lot of lii guns"
Fire-crackers p
The boy nodded. NAV saws she'll
see we git tn money, thot it's armed.
but paw he say it'll have to go to buy
vittles''
CLEAN of interest came into Nc
Dermott's eyes. which will win,
crackers or vittles?'
Reckin it'll be vittles." For a mo-
ment he looked downcast and the girl
edged nearer to him. Anyhow, men
Moliie nave to eat, an as we CANT eat
crackers reckin we kin git erlong
'thout EN-"
What did you want them for?"
Christmas. Most everybody hyar
on or Smokey has 'em Chrismus, 'cept
men Mollie."
July?"
The child looked puzzled, then
shook his head.
For some time Charles sat silent.
bordering plan that had suddenly
come to him. II wonder" he said at
last. 'if your father would let you
teach me how to shoot; and If MolIie
can tidy up the cabin once in a while
you might get the crackers after ALL"
The youngsters face frightened.
then became gloomy. Paw, he won't
low us nohow to have EN-
I'VE can try, and if you don't mind
1 will got with you now. / would like
a partridge for my supper"
Then / reckin I'd hes go alone If
yo're hungry Mollie'll take you to
see paw"
Fortunately for his plan. Charles
found Jeff Wade at home, and after
considerable dickering with the surly-
faced mountaineer. whom he instinc-
lively disliked at sight, he gained his
consent Young Jeff was to supply
him with meat for a stipulated sum:
Mrs. Wade would keep the cabin COM
Portable, and with lighter heart than
he had known since he had come to
Old Smokey he went back to the cab
in, and was extremely surprised by a
blazing fire and the smell of cooking.
Jeff had not only brought in birds,
but had them ready, smoking hot.
New blood did not make rapidly,
and McDermotts days of depression
overshadowed the moments when he
felt a tingling in his being that sug-
gested returning health. A little ex-
ercise tired him to exhaustion Then
he wondered why he tried to prolong
life that had nothing in it to live for.
This. taken with the soughing of the l
MI ha f,aI dra Of tho Life he