The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-05
least two inches long and as nat as a
butter-paddle

butter-paddle.
In spite of all this. Miss Druse declared
that Mr.. PreIlick. seeing her home from
church one evening, had suddenly thrown
MS arms around her and had, in spite Of
her struggles and screams. kissed her vio-
lently. Several persons, hearing Miss
Druse scream. had run to her assistance.
one of these was ready to swear he saw
Mr.. Prellick kiss Miss Druse; and Miss
Druse was now taking the matter into
court. claiming several thousand dollars
damages for the injury to her feelings.
AS she announced when interviewed: II
wouldn't sue the man II he wanted to
marry me. but to be kissed like that, all
at once and of a sudden. is what won't
stand from any man living! II he kisses.
se's got to pay!"
The newspaper seemed inclined, as Is
often the case when the parties to sucn
q quarrel are past the bloom OF youth, TO
make merry over Mr.. PreIlick and Miss
Druse and the whole affair. The article
was headed:
ANOTHER LOVE Bandit
Is Prellick Jack-the-Kisser? Miss Druse
Says He Is.
HE never done it." said Mr.. Bunker
positively as he finished reading the ar
ticle. III there's one man in New York
that amt q free-and-easy kisser. that
man Is Prellick: and If there's one worn-
an Prellick nor nobody else would want
to kiss, it is Miss Druse. I swan. I
would ruther kiss Mrs. WINNER than
Miss Druse. any day. and I'd just about
as likely think OF kissing Mrs. WINNER
as I would of kissing a wooden Indian
that has had its face frost-bitten- A
man that would be anxious to kiss
that he'd go around kissing Miss Druse
or Mrs. WINNER by force wouldn't be
no Love Bandit; he'd be q lunatic!"
Hardly had Mr.. Bunker muttered these
words before he leaped from his chair
Gas well as a plump. short man could
Ieap), and jumped for the door. From
the floor below. where Mrs. WINNER
and Mrs Bunker were discussing the
PrelIick-Druse affair. came a series Of
blood-curdling screams. in q duet, as II
some ambidextrous murderer were cut
ting the throat OF two women at once.
One of the screams Mr.. Bunker knew at
once as his dear wife's scream, for 1t
was a thin. heady and agonized scream;
the other was what may be best de-
scribed as q series of yips-although
there is no such woodland these Mr..
Bunker guessed rightly to DO coming
from Mrs. Winners mouth. As ex-
pressions of full-hearted fear. Mrs.
Winners yips left nothing to be desired
either In volume or quality.
Probably no woman In the world had
ever been able to put such agony and
fear into her yips and Mrs. WINNER put
into them. One cannot imagine a posi-
ton of danger into which a woman might
fall that would not be amply expressed
by the yips Mrs. WINNER was uttering
at that moment. but Mr.. Bunker-in
spite of the impression one might have
gained that both ladies were being muir
dered in cold blood-paused at the door.
turned and going to the far corner of
his room, picked up a broom He then
hurried rapidly he could to the
floor below and opened Mira. Winners
door.
Both ladies were standing on the bed.
AhSy WGic IloScIy CldSpcu la 0dCn OtQSI b
arms. screaming and yipping at the tops
Of their voices. Mr.. Bunker closed the
door and began Shaping at the floor with
tho brush-end Of the broom. Tho mouse
for 1t was a mouse that had started
the conamotion-darted here ana there in
fear but in utter safety, for in speed.
agility and generalship It was superior
to Mr.. Bunker in about tho ratio Of ten
to one: and 1t finally darted out OF sight.
leaving Mr.. Bunker painting and wfping
his forehead. In the excitement OF the
chase he had lost both Of his carpet
slippers. and he now retrieved them and
slipped his feet into them. He then
assisted Grandma and Mrs. WINNER to
climb down from the bed. The moment
Grandma's feet touched the floor. she
swallowed large breath OF air and said:
"Jabez, I don't believe a word on It,
and neither does Mis- Wimn1er!'
'Hey?" inquired Mr.. Bunker.
About Mr.. Prellick." said Mrs. Bunk
er. I'VE don't believe q mortal word on
it,
well. It don't seem mite like him."
said Mr.. Bunker.
'And II lB not. S2l0 NIB. w WINNER.
He is a nice, church-going gentleman If
ever there was one. and as for Miss
Druse, I had my doubts of her from the
first minute I set eyes on her.
you and her and Ma was mighty
friendly" said Mr.. Bunker teasingly.
And the friendlier I got, the moro
had my doubts" said Mrs WINNER.
with a woman's (and often, a man's)
privilege OF seeing things IN a different
light after the event 1.-THE way she set
her cap for that poor mani I could tell
him few things!'
IT reckon you could agreed Mr. Bunk
err well, Ma II you've settled every
thing and scared all the mice to death
yellin' bloody murder at 'em. maybe
you're ready to come back upstairs
Mrs. Bunker gathered up her knitting.