The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-08
EVENING STORY
The Case of Bert Carter, Stacker
BY BARBARA KERR.

The Case of Bert Carter, Stacker
BY BARBARA KERR.
$50 you're after our wild man from
Rorneo are you? Well, here ne
comes. Hill Kid, get a move on you'
here's a friend of yours from Hays
Kansas"
humored sarcasm in the boss tone.
He had staggered a bit; how did he
know what sort of fellows ran the
Mine Prop camp on the Narrow
Gauge? He had got off at Mineral
Hot Springs and came overland with
guide and two donkeys-maype
twas three.
Bert. uuickening his pace, came FOR
ward frankly and held out his hand.
From Hays, did you say, Jim! wen,
I'm sure glad to see some one from
Hays. How's everybody? what oio
you say your name is
sheriff Beardsley," grinning rather
sheepishly into the boys honest blue
eyes. I'm up here after Stacker.
know anything about hia?"
Search mel" replied Bert Innocent
ly, at which the men laughed.
Beardsley explained to Bert, who
made no comment except that they'd
props; the trip would interfere.
But his camp comrades were out
spoken in their disgust: why, any
one can see with half an eye that the
kids not more than 90" declared the
Boss, who was too fond of Bert to
take it calmly. ITS simply cooked
up mess by some of those foreign
ers: they're combing the country for
men to make up their quota"
The sheriff found himself noddins
then hastily: well, I was sent up
here to get him. boys; so III have 10
take him along"
After two years in the mountains.
with only a day off occasionally at
Salida, or Moffet, for supplies, Bert
was interested in everything except
| his forthcoming trial.
"Of course, if it's up to me, I'll go.
I've had some experience; killed more
snakes than any other man In camp.
If I'm busy and one gets away. I just
take a walk till find one in his place.
Why? Because they frighten women"
The sheriff, On arriving at Hays.
recommended bail for Bert till trial
day; in the meantime he loitered about
| the village. His father and mother
had gone to South America a year ago
on business; he had not been to Hays
for five years, as he went from school
| to the mountains for his health. You'd
agree that he found it; six feet in his
stockings: bronzed as an Indian, with
an innocent, direct gaze that was bit
disconcerting till you knew him. So
when the board called Case of Bert
| Carter. Stacker" he arose to his feet.
| marched up front and looked them
| squarely in the eyes.
| The three men looked at him with
honest admiration, but Mary Marvin,
the secretary, wanted Bert to feel that
she disanproved of him. She was the
| prettiest girl in the village, the stanch-
| est patriot, and always ready to pun
| ish -slackers that came her way.
i l.
tude. At first he was mildly curious
| as to what ~peeved the pretty lady, but
the more he looked at her the sting of
it got under his skin. He wanted to
! ask her outright what was wrong with
| him.
He told the roard that he believed
he would be FL the third of June,
| l91S. but in the absence of family rec
ords, would swear to nothing. He was
| interested to know on what they based
their accusation that he was a Stacker.
| To the board this seemed fair
enough, but the way he said Stacker
| made Mary want to jump to her feet
and scream: "Just as you might saw
| bread-aad-sugar. motheri"
Since the board had brought him to
| Hays at behest of gossips, they must
bring in his accusers.
Mrs. I'd Livingood swore that he
| was the same age as her Rachae ell;
Rachael was % last June. Rail be
Obliged to her mother" snickered
| some one; 23 was getting on toward
old-maidhood, here.
Mrs. Ben Hopper swore that he was
the same age as Tommy-2I in Nav
She knew for the boys had many a
time celebrated their birthdays by
| swimming in Big creek Bert smiled
then chuckled behind his hand-boys
birthdays were like Easter, movable
/ Ieasts, when swimming was the cele-
bration.
Things were hopelessly tangled
birthdays of towns contemporary chill
dren were told, as was time of estab
ushlng line fences. buying of live
| STOCK, tearing down of old Iandma rls
but no corrobora,ing testimony.
| Mary was in white heat How
can ne sit there like a lump on a loe
ana the whole town wrangling about
his age ?'she whispered.
Inc board was crazy with the fulfil.
lIy OF 1t, when the old editor of the
rree fress walked in with a newspa
per ME and asked to be sworn; open.
ing it, he read: Born, yesterday t.
John and Mary Carter, a fine bow
congratulations, John" To the board
Inc date is June 4, 1897; the DO,
VIII De Il June 3. 1913" Without
comment, he walked out.
without further ado the board ad.
| .ASu' Soiisrdtu ated Bert and CLOSED
the incident, but the secretary's argr,
eyes held Bert. Without apparent yo
ltion ne walked up to her and asked
II she wished to speak to him.
| les, do! exclaimed Mary, We
hemently. How could you sit Their,
thet way? Why didn't you get I'D anf
say you'd go. anyway
why, Miss Marvin, I thought ,
trlal was a trial. It would be oueer
Tor a man to say: oh, stop it, II
CONFESS I'm guilty just to stop tn,
fuss, wouldn't it?'
We'll, yes" Mary admitted. ..bu
you needn't let it come to that Wh,
DO you suppose the Lord gave Won a
tnat strength if not to defend ,o,,,