The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-04
EVENING STORY
When Father Decides.
BY r. RAY BAKER.

and tugged at the flyWheelt out theTe
was not even a buzz to reward her ef-
forts.
She looked down the river, vexed
and despairing. The boat was float
ing at a fair rate of speed, and unless
she could get it moving in the other
direction before long she would huve
little prospect of arriving at the Rest
While cottage before dark.
Already 1t was dusk. but she man
aged to make out something coming
upstream. Soon she heard the creak-
ing of oarlocks and presently shad-
owy shape doomed into view. 1t was
a rowmRn with a man bending vigor-
ously at the oars.
lone of the inhabitants" Anne de-
cided, bat there was. little disdain in
her voice. Meeting one OF them in the
village, she would not have favored
him with passing notice. but now any
kind of man would be welcome. She
hailed the stranger.
stop a minute, will you. please ?"
He rested with his oars partly out
of the water.
did you call me?" he shouted. az
ter brief hesitation.
Yes. 1 can't get this old engine
started. I wish you would help"
With some skill but much more diff
ficulty he managed to get the rowboat
alongside the motor craft. They were
II
line-propelled vehicle was far from
being pretentious. 1t was. in truth,
simply a rowboat in which a one
cylinder engine had been installed, anG
it was rented along with the cottage
that the Culbertsons, with whom Anne
was staying at the resort, had leased
for the Season.
Anne had insisted on coming after
some provisions that were needed at
the cottage, and she had started out
early in the afternoon for Alanson.
feeling not a little conceited over being
the pilot and sole crew of the miser-
able little craft. The Culbertsons had
expressed misgivings over the venture,
but Anne generally had her own way.
and was possessed of a reputation for
being a self-reliant sort of girl, so she
was allowed to make the trip alone.
Everything went smoothly until she
had covered about half Of the ten-mile
journeyAo on the way back, when the
engine went dead without warning.
Not another boat of any description
was in sight, for 1t was at that time
of day when most folks are partaking
Of their evening meal. She must have
drifted two miles when the rowboat
came into sight.
Anne breathed a sigh of relief when
the newcomer grasped the Gunwhale
of the motorboat and peered over at
her. He had brought a lantern, and
by its light she could see that he
was a rather good-looking young man
of perhaps twenty-six. He had
green shirt and blue overalls. and on
his head was a wide-brimmed straw
hat.
She caught a glimpse OF a tin can
and a fishpole in the bottom of the
boat. and in order to be congenial she
inquired whether he had had any luck.
Imagine Anne Davis discussing the
subject of angling with a country rus
tic! Imagine Anne Davis, the breaker
Of mems hearts back in the big city
talking Familiarity with a denizen of
this country town.
Fair, fair" he replied. and his
voice seemed to be singularly musical
for an uncultured person. Il got
half a dozen-or seven, 1 forget just
which it is. Hold the boats together.
and don't move, will you, while 1
crawl over and see IL can start your
engine"
She did as instructed, hoping he
understood the business of getting
from one boat to another. He caused
considerable rocking, but nothing Sc
rious happened, and presently he was
tinkering at the engine. while she held
tenaciousiy to the gunwales OF the
two boats where they met.
Got it," he grunted after a few
minutes investigation, which was ham
pered somewhat by the dullness of
the glow from the smoky lantern.
Loose battery connection. that's ALL"
She heard an energetic buzz from the
engine.
wait a minute; better tie up" he
reminded himself aloud. and left the
motor to attach the painter of his boat
to the gasoline craft. Returning to the
motor, he gave the wheel a spin and
the boat started down stream with
chug-chug that, under ordinary cir
cumstances, was far from musical,
but it sounded almost like chimes to
Anne in this particular instance,
Turn II around" she called. I'm
going up the river. 1t got turned the
other way while we were floating and
was trying to start the engine"
He soon had the boat breasting the
current, and again she sighed with re-
lief.
"Guess I better take you home" he
suggested. Its pretty dark now, and,
besides, you look tired, and besides-I
need the ride myself"
Naturally she assented. After he
had proved so useful she could not
very well dismiss him and send him
back to laboring with the oars again
On the way she got to musing and
decided It would be a great lark to
carry on a little filtration with her
new acquaintance.
She started by introducing herself,
and in return he told her that his
name was Harry Saunders. She in
yited hirl 20 spend the night at the
Culbertson cottage. and after some
slight hesitation he accepted.
So II came about that the breaker
Of mems hearts in the big city set out
to break one in the country. But she
got fooled. Before the evening was
thru Anne Davis had fallen in love
for the first time in her life.
stuff ard nonsense!" roared Uriah
Davis. do you mean to tell me you
have picked out a farmer for q hus-
band? tell you you're insane. You're
stark, raving mad. Look at your OPP
portunities here in Detroit"
IT'S no disgrace to live in a small
town." Anne told him. The summer
season was over and she was home
after three weeks love affair that
started out frivolously and developed
into very serious case