The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-25

she returned tired ana cold again.
Shagbark was not in the houseboat.
but Orlando and Black Pete were wait
ing on the fore-deck. They had come
back for their ANAL belongings. Alice
let them IN and hurried through the
boat to the small kitchen, where she
busted herself building a IRE
"Good-by, Miss Allie" said Orlando.
putting his head into the kitchen.
'Good-by, Orlando Good-by, Pete. |
You'll be back in the spring, I have nc |
doubt Dad can't get along without
you"
We got to have fve dollars a week
now. If we come" chuckled Black Pete |
and the two strikers departed.
TN too tired to tell you what ] |
found out today. Dad" Alice pleaded
when her father returned And I'm
going uptown to get Q pair OF shoes. ]
sold some InfallibisI just have to
| havA shoes, Dad"
AN right Allie said her father.
Orlando and Black Pete were here
| and got their things" she said.
"An right They'll be back soon. II
| reckon" he chuclkled.
The girl went out ShAgbafk ate the
supper she had left on the stove. lie
seated himself and read the local eve
ming paper. Then he took or his shoes
and threw himself on the caved-in
sofa Suddenly he sat up and listened.
All was quiet He looked at the win
dows to see that no prying eye could
see inside. He locked the door. Then.
to give himself tho treat Of countine
once more the bundles Of bAnk-notes
! that represented his savings. he knelt
on the floor and ran his hand into the
inwards Of the sofa where the largest
tuft Of curled hair protruded from the
springs. He drew out his hand. re-
manned motionless . moment and then
began probing the interior Of the sofa
madly. He turned the decrepit AFFAIR
bottom-side up and searched It inch
BY inch It was q bootle.s search His
wealth, eleven Thousand dollars In cur
rsncy. eagerly boarded, was gone! He
had ben robbed!
ehagbark, his laziness ned. was dig
gtng In the entrafls Of the sofa when
Alice returned. He unlocked the door,
and she stopped on the Threshold. for
the floor was covered with the remains
Of the old sofa
What is it7 What has happened,
DadT' she asked.
NY cash! My money!" he doomed.
Tn robbed. Allie It's all sone. the
whole eleven thousand"
/ She entered the cabin, removing her
hat ~ she came.
well. it's nothing to ny up in the
air about You're all stirred up" she
said It's nothing to be stirred ZIP
about You can get to the bottom Of
one mystery as well as to the bottom
Of another. I reckon. There haven,
been 30 many people in the boat, have
there? You'll find who did It. easy
enough"
But IT'S my money. dod-whix it,
Shagbark exclaimed. II got q right &c
be stirred up Eleven thousand of my
money! It was that dod -whillixed
'Iando and Pete! bet" .,
Dad" said Allie, ana hesftated
~wenr" - -
I've got to tell you something, and
might as well speak right out !
made up my mind to tell you. a. soor
as came in, and I'd better do It. Dad
I'm going to be married"
ShAgbArk let fall the wad Of curiet
open nouthed.
Married. Allie, Married? You mar.
ried?" he faltered.
"Yes-to Jimmy. to Jimmy WISDOM
she said defantly. "Oh, know it,
sudden-like. but 1 don't care! q He's
my man. Dad: I knew it the first min
ute I saw him. up there in the Scot
House doorway. I was so sorry fol
him Dad. And. Dad. he likes me. HI
liked me the minute he saw me. we'rs
going away. We're going to be mar.
ried and go West-out to Oregon Of
somewhere. This Amt no life for q girl
this fAker life. Tits making nt
mean and ornery. Dad. So he wen
with me to buy my shoes tonight. 4nt
we fixed It all up"
But, Alliei" he cried, you amt 60
ing to quit mo? You amt going to qui
me to marry thief7"
He amt thief. Dad. Nobody tool
! his dads five thousand. It's rfeh
. where his dad left it. It's under tn,
. floor, only it's beyond the reach Of q
: mans arm-it must have got pushed
!, away under when his dad was hunting
for it. IL is in the same sock it wa.
A always in. Jimmy's not a thief. Jim
my is I'm going to marry Jimmy
VI ShAsbark wiped his brow with tn,
] back Of his dusty hand.
d You aint going to marry nobody
: he shouted in a sudden rage. You gil
e into your room and git to bed! Marry
e You marry! Git to bed"
I'll II hoped you'd be nice about It
= Dad" Alice said. Tn sorry you Amt
= going to be. I'm going to marry Jim.
e my. I've got to. now. I've told him
| would"
i shasbark pointed his finger at her
n but he could not speak, for anger. He
shook the finger at her. Alice KEEP
Il her eyes on her father and moved to
] the door. As she opened it. he leapet
k | for her, but she slipped outside and
/, slammed the door; and before he
e reached IL, she had jumped to the
. | ground and was running toward the
,. lights Of Front street. He shouted ii
her and then went inside and CLOSED
o / the door again.
Ell His rage vanished instantly.
: 1.-THE Wildcat" he chuckled. Z beer
e afraid Of IL. been loolIin' for IT,"
k But Shagbark remembered his Ios
e money. He set the sofa on its fee'
n and seated himself on 1t. lighted hii
d pipe and tried te think Black PETE