The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-09
EVENING STORY
A Desperate Play.
BY S. B. PEACH.


night.
"What a crazy way to be married."
she exclaimed to herself. L nope
there is some one here to meet me-"
Save for the old statiop agent, who
was busy with his own cares, no one
was about; so she sat down in the
smoky waiting room and thought over
the situation.
Mr.. Curtis did not want the mar
rage to take place; neither did Ryder
Sa bin: so she had been forced to take
the lonely ride to the northern lake
cottage where the marriage was TO
take place-a secret affair.
| The door opened and a mans face
appeared. He looked at her, then
smiled.
I'VE are waiting for you, miss" he
said.
of a friendly face, she hurried out.
Her bag was taken, and in a moment
she was in a machine, headed away
| into the darkness.
There was no one in the car save
herself and the driver, and she set
tied back with a sigh of pleasure. the
road was a rough one, but the driver
was skillful, and they went along
swiftly thru the woody-smelling dark
ness Suddenly they swung down
grade and before her was the long,
| level brightness of the northern lake.
A voice caIleQ from the SnOIe.
The machine turned and stopped.
"Here we are, miss" the driver
said.
A swift suspicion raced thru her
mind. But am going to the Welch
cottage and L understood we went d.
rectly there by car" she said won
deringly.
I'VE can make it quicker by motor
boat. miss" was the answer.
Her suspicion allayed, she went to
the shore and found motorboat
waiting, and in it another man. Her
fear returned, but a friendly greeting
disarmed her.
She was carefully handed to a seat
and the boat started off with motor
| humming softly.
AS they glided along the dark shores
sliding by in even lines, she heard the
faint, far sound of an automobile.
'I supposed this was an almost de-
serted country" she said to the man
across from her, but that sounds like
a car"
He started and listened, and at the
same time, so it seemed to her, the
boat went ahead at a faster pace.
well, there are a few cars around
here-not many, tho" the man an
swered. I'VE use more boats than cars
| in this country. 1 can't imagine who
! that is.''
Before them lay the silvery expanse
| of the lake; on the right the dark
masses of the woodland. Something
made her shiver-she did not know
what, but decided bravely that it
must be the dampness rising from the
cold lake.
The moon rose over the hills; its
| light brought clearly into view the
men who were her companions, and
| she saw, for the first time, who were
| her companions. Both were dressed
| in the rough garb of the northern
woodsman or guide. She began to
be puzzled and worried;
asked
The man opposite her stirred: Don't
| be worried, miss. We will take care
of you," he said quietly.
She thought she read a hidden
meaning in his voice, even tho he
seemed to try to conceal it.
| VERY we'll" she answered quickly;
but I want to know just where we
are going. Are you headed for the
| Welch cottage ?"
Pretty near there" he answered.
But
Il want to go there-not pretty
near there!" she said sharply, rising.
| He caught her arm with firm
hand and drew her back.
You keep quiet. 1 promise you no
harm will come to you," he said
| bluntly.
She sank back. her heart beginning
to pound. Something was wrong, be-
| yond a question.
She saw the boat change it's direc-
ton, starting across the lake, in en-
tirely the wrong direction if her judg-
ment was right. Not knowing what to
do. she sat quiet, growing colder each
moment with something that was not
| the GOODNESS of the mist about her.
| She did not know how mony half
| hours passed before she saw the glea m
1 nf H0hf Swiftly the boat drew in
shore.
Here we are, miss" her guardian
said.
Swiftly and trembling she rose.
| Aided by the men she mounted the
dock, and stared about her. The whole
surroundings were strange to her
even the lights cleaning from hunt
| ing cabin back in the woods did not
seem friendly.
! She turned sharply. II demand to
be taken back! L do not know this
place! The WEIGH cottage, so I was
told. is near the lake
The guide caught her in strong
grasp. Young lady, you come with
mel" His gentleness was gone.
At first she thought of struggling:
! then she went obediently up the path.
One of them opened the door and
| pushed her in. She found herself in
living room, decorated with heads
of captured game. A woman was
J pussy dl d ldDlS-
well we landed heri" her guar
| dian said, smiling. II guess that we'd
ding will not be pulled OFF,
! Jean turned. "Oh, 1 see-I am not
at the WEIGH cottage" she cried.
| The man smiled. mot a bit You
might as well know how we worked
/ it Mr.. Sabin learned of the marriage
at the WEIGH cottage, and we just
| stepped in. Your father is on the
way to get you. and you and your
sweetheart will have to pick another
| date"
She looked at him. so Mr.. Sabin
| does not want me to marry unless I
| marry him, and father is coming to
make me marry some one else. Is
| that it,"
/ You beti"
| She laughed. Probably Mr., Sabin
owns this cottage or hired it. Is he
her@2"
He will be-guess he's coming
/