The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-19


hopeless in its squalid ugliness that 1t
made me smile at the thought that
Sloan told me that I was going up into
Already for a week. 1 stepped up to
the door of the house and knocked on
the faded and greasy frame. I stood
there for several moments before a slat-
ternly woman appeared, with a baby
held over her hip.
Are you Mrs. Gottlob?" asked, with
as sunny a smile as could manage.
Yes, maam," she acknowledged as
she begin to jiggle the infant on her
hip. I had taken the trouble. of course,
to find out every name l could along
e my line OF advance.
Il was told that you might possibly
have some old walnut for sale"
blithely explained. I'm looking for old
furniture Of forest-grown black walnut.
And I'm prepared to pay you quite
handsomely for any old pieces you might
care to sell"
was. in reality, looking for some
thing much more important than old
walnut. ] was looking for the trail Of
one pider Beeston. the gem-thief. who'd
stolen some seventy thousand dollars
worth Of jewelry from a private car on
tho New York Central at Ithaca. spider
had turned up at Hamilton. where he
purchased a four-year- Sheldon
car. explaining that he was an GILMAN
Interested In the Western Ontario fields,
Spider and his chr had been traced as
far westward as the city Of St Thomas.
but somewhere between that city and
the Detroit River tho trail had van
ished
Anf that was why was prospecting
20 carefully along the Talbot Road for
specimens OF antique furniture in which
was in no way interested and for
which ! had no possible use.
So I explained stiu further to the
slattcrnly woman in the doorway that I
didn't care how old the pieces might
be. II was a chance, I pointed out, Of
making good money for something that
vas NJ no further service to her.
"What'd you give for a highboy?"
she demanded.
Il couldn't tell until looked it over"
I explained. rs I pushed my way in
through the door. For the basic motive
Of that antiquarian ruse Of mine was
10 bring me into off handed and un-
guarded conversation with the different
householdcrs on the dusty highway
alo0~ which Spider Beeston had pre-
sun bly, preceded me.
"U1cro IS tho highboy?" I asked. with
foy "a politeness.
"Trv down L the granary," explained
tho thin-lpped woman.
"T could go there and look at it," I
ha'- inquired and half suggested.
Veg. ma'am." said Mrs. Gottlob, as
she resumed her j!ggling of the crying
infant.
was glad to get out into the open
air again. I made out a number Of
dclapidated wooden buildings clustered
about a straw stack and approached
them abstractedly. still oppressed by the
air Of hopeless squalor into which had
wandered
Then 1 stopped short. For from the
building before which stood I could
distinctly hear the sound Of sobs.
stepped to the weather stained door
which was partly open, and peered in
side. There, on pill OF grain beside an
oranEe-red fanning-mil crouched a
girl of about twelve or thirteen. Her
matted hair, bleached almost straw-col-
ored by the sun, hung over her face.
But what glued me to the spot was
the discovery that the child's clothins
had been torn apart at the back. from
the neck down. This left exposed the
white skin Of the bony young shoulders
and the slender torso, almost as low as
the waist line. Across this white skin
I could plainly see n row Of welts. I
knew at a moment what 1t meant. The
child had been beaten. cruelty, atroci-
ously beaten.
Little girl" I sad, as L stepped de-
terminedly into that granary.
She looked up at me with dun and
swollen eyes. Her face. could see. was
a likable one. But the body shook with
convulsive sobs and the disheveled head
sank between the bare and bony knees
knelt down beside her.
I pleaded. trying to control myself as ]
studied that cut and weltered back al
closer range. I pinned the torn waist
gently back over the bare shoulders and
slipped a hand under the averted chin
and lifted up the tear-stained face that
seemed bowed with all the tragedy OF
all the ages.
The child still sobbed as wiped her
eyes.
Now tell me all about it." crooned
as pushed back the matted hair.
He licked mel" she finally and
tragically whispered. Uncle Eph licked
me-"
"why?~
She didn't answer my question.
How old are your" asked
Fourteen" was the answer from tho
patheticaiiy stunted little body.
Wen, your Uncle Eph will never
beSt you again." declared. What,
your manner"
"s'renny." and it took some question.
ing to establish the fact that the nam,
was really Serena-Serena Gottlob.
Now listen. Serena" I went on. -
think I'm going to be here several day,
and all that time I want you to re
member that I'm your friend and thai
I'm trying to help you. What are yot
going to do now"
i've got to go back to the brush and
milk the cows she explained in hei
nat and listless voice.
And then? Tell me everything
you do"
Il put the milk through the sepu
ratr. an set out the cream cans f'r tn,
collector. Then I scald the sepurati
an tins and carry the strainin's to tn,
pigs. an wash up the supper things. an
lay the FIRE f'r the mornin'."
We'll. Serena, while you're getting