Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-04
Penny of Top Hill Trail : =

glad to try to reform a young, good.
looking girl like me. am good look
ing, honest, if was slickcd up lit
tle."
He looked away, an angry frown or
his lean, strong face. She gazed al
him curiously for a moment and ther
laid n slim, brown hand on his arm.
"Listen here, Kurt" she said. "Yot
were right in what you thought abou
me never having had n fair show
Everything, every one, including my.
self, seems to have been against me.
was born with taking ways
couldn't seem to live them down. Lately
things have been going wrong awful,
fast. I've been sick, and no one actct
as if were human up to a short time
ago. l didn't know that was why you
took me from BGndcr's Jail. Honest
I'm not so bad as / talk"
He looked at her skeptically. Her
eyes, now turned from him, were soft,
feminine and without guilt. He
wouldn't let himself be hoodwinked.
"No; there's no excuse for you," he
ueNIhltu tuIpHullCully. LOU are euu -
Gated. You could have earned an honest
living. You didn't have to steal"
NO." she said slowly and thought
fully. II didn't have to-"
Then why do you? Bender told me
you had lifelong record of pilfering."
Lifelong. Kind Kurt, 1 am
young-only twenty"
lie said you'd been given a chance
over and over again, but that you were
hopeless. think you are"
II think so. too" she acknowledged =,
with little giggle that brought back
his scowI. you've got a white ele.
phant on your hands, Kurt. What are
you going to do with me?"
There's only one thing 7 can do,
now," he said glumly. Garry out
bad bargain. I'll see it through"
"Oh, Mr.. Britling!' she murmured
soto voce.
What did you say?'
Nothing. Travelling libraries evil
IDENTIFY don't hit this trail. What is it
the trail to, anyway? Your house?"
ITO Top Hill Tavern"
Gee! That sounds good. A tavern
l hope it's tiptop as well as tophill.
How did you come to build hotel way
off here? Summer boarders? Will
there be dances?"
Top Hill Tavern" he said coldly,
lis the name of a ranch-not mine.
The owners live there"
And does she, the best woman in
the world live there?"
I'VE must start now," he said, rising
abruptly and leading the way to the car.
Il should think remarked the girl
casually after his fourth Intellectual
effort to start the engine, that if she
owns a ranch, she might buy a better
buzz wagon than this"
He made no reply, but renewed his
futile attempts at starting, muttering
words softly the while.
Don't be sore, Kurt. | cant help
it because your old ark won't bulge.
| didn't steal anything off it. Wouldn t
it be fierce if you were marooned on
tie trail with a thief who has a life
long record -
lie came around the car and stood
beside her. His face was flushed. His
eyes. of the deep set somber kind that
grow larger and come to the surface
only when strongly moved, burned with
the light of anger.
did any one ever try whipping you,
| w0nder?'
Sure" she said cheerfully. II was
brought up on whippings by a-step
mother. But do you feel that way to-
ward me? You look like a man who
might strike a woman under certain
rrovocation, perhaps; but not like one
who would hit little girl like me. If
you won't look so cross, I'll tell you
why your mobile won't move"
Hc made no reply, but turned to the
| brake.
"Say, 'bo," she continued tanta-
lizingly. "whie you are a lookin,' just
cast your lamps into the gasoline tank.
That man who filled it didn't put a
Widows mite in"
Unbelievingly he followed this lead.
mot a drop, damn it''
THE last straw with you, isn't it.?
IN not to blame, though. If you
think | stole your gasoline. just search
me. sHow far are we from your tip
top tavern:'
Twenty miles. I suppose you
couldn't walk it," he said doubtfully.
"Me? In these?" she exclaimed
thrusting forth a foot lily and most
iuadequately shod. but you can
walk on
NO." he refused "You don't put
one over on me in that way"
You know ! couldn't walk back to
town"
Some one might come along in a
car"
Wouldn't you trust me il gave
you my word to wait for you?"
The word Of
"A thief" she finished. "All right
I'm in no hurry. What are you going
to do?'
"We1l wait here until some one
comes along"
Then let's go back to the trees
while we wait" she proposed. climbing
out of the car and taking a small box
from the. seat.
Didn't Bender have one tiny good
word for me? " she asked as they sat
down in the welcome shade.
''IIe said stealing was the only of
fense you'd been up for, and he
guessed you couldn't help it. What was
your little game in making him think