Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-06
Penny of Top Hill Trail

I SIHd1 VI.
cepvriOht. 1919. oy The ReiHg & Lee 60.
THIS STARTS THE STORY
10 Gary. young ranchman, en-
ployed at the Ton Hill ranch of
Mr.. Kingdom in western state,
takes a business trip to Chicago,
There he meets at dance young
girl who calls herself Marta They
fall in love with each other, but
Marta refuses to marry him. she
confesses herself to be thief and
suddenly disappears after leaving
note for him that she is going to try
10 make good" 10 returns to the
ranch where he is met by another
employe named Kurt Walters to
whom he confidcs his experiences
while away. Kurt advises him
AGAINST any further thought of the
girl. but 10 is confident she Will
again come to him, Kurt, who IS
scting sheriff of the county. learns
from Bender. the jailer. that young
woman from Chicago has been ar
rested for stealing and is in the jail.
Her name is Marta Sills. Kurt oo-
tains Martas release from Bender
and. starts TO take her in an automo-
bile up the trail to the hingdou
ranch. lie tells her he is taking her
To the best woman in the world.
where she may learn to be honest:
The gasoline gives out and they hnd
themselves twenty miles from the
ranch with night coming on. Marta
tells Kurt that her real name Is
Penelope and that she is called Penn.
for short. She admits knowing OF
To Gary. They spend the night on
. the trail road until the morning Wnen
Kurt obtains gasoline from passing
motorist and they continue Oh '"'i'
way.
AND HERE IT CONTINUES
TIE SLACKENED the pace ana
IL looked at her closely. The sweater
and the sunshine had brought rant
tin,e Of wild rose color to the trans
narencv of her skin. The fiippancy and
badness so prominent in her eyes the
dav before had disappeared. She looked
more as she had when she was asleep IN
the moonlight. A wave of kindness ana
brotherliness swept over him.
.I am going to tell her, he sad
gently. that you are poor Il't'e gin
who needs friend. -
',Is that all you will tell her;
..You may tell her as much or as
little of your story as you think you
should
..You arc good man. but. she
added thoughtfully, 1.-THE best OF men
don't understand women's ways toward
each other. If l tell her my sordid
little story. she may not want TO help
me-at least. not want to keep me up
here in her home. I've not found won :
en- very helpful
"She will help you and keep you be-
eause-'' he hesitated. and then con :
tinucd earnestly, before she was mar
ried. she was a settlement worker IN
q large city and she understood such
Gas t. she finished. Il know the
settlement workers. They write yot
up-or down-in sort OF Rogue Rec
srd. and you are classified, inde1ed
Z flied and treated by system.
"She isn't that kind he pro
tested Indignantly. ''She does her worl
by her heart, not by system. Hav
you ever really tried to REFORM
''Yes,'' she exclaimed eagerly. g
left Chicago for that purpose. couldn'
find work. was cold and hungry
pawned everything they would take an
got shabby like this" looking dow
disdainfully at herself. "but / didn'
steal, not even food. would hav
starved first. Then / was arrested u
here for stealing. | wasn't guilty
Bender had no case. really: but h
wouldn't give me n square deal or lis
ten to anything in my favor, becaus
my record was against me. You can
Hive down a record. There is no US
trying"
"Yes, there is" he declared EN-
phatically. Il have always thought
thief incurable. but I believe she coul
perform the miracle"
''How old is she:" demanded Pc
suddenly.
II don't know" he answere
vaguely. as if her age had never oc
CURED to him before. 'She has bee
married ten years.
"Oh Did she marry the right man?
"She certainly did. Kingdom is
prince"
ANY children"
Three; two little fellows as fine q
are made. and a girl.
81 adore children
II am glad 10 hear you say tha
Every good woman loves children"
''And you really think there's ii
makings of o good woman in me?"
''Yes; I think so." he answert
earnestly, ''and if there's but a spar
of goodness in you, she will find
and fan it to a glow"
She made wry little grimace whic
fortunately, he die not see.
This goodness is nauseating me
she thought. 81 shall beat it ba
about toRorrow.
'.Look!" !" he cried. as the road ma
q sharp curve. "'There it is :"
"You can lift your eyes to the hill
What a love of a place-way up on til
toes. I'll be the little fish out of wat
up there"
Top Hill Tavern was on smi
plateau at the summit of one of I
hills. The ranch house, long. low a.
fanciful in design, connected by n 60