The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-03
Eoening Story
The North Point Law.
BY ARCHEY CAMERON NEW.


shifted inquisitively at the air. when
broad smile of contentment beamed
on his wide, happy face and his keen
gray eyes twinkled-
Gosh, but this weathers fine" he
exclaimed to himself, and then his
glance strayed down the road toward
the town store and a large group of
men standing in front of it. "Plannin'
some parade, reckon And then he
sauntered forth toward the store, but
not on police business. In fact, Sam
Matthews seldom went anywhere on
police business-because that business
was exceedingly dull at North Point.
'H'lo, Sam" greeted some of the
men in front of the store, as the Of
ficer hove into view. Gonna pinch
some snuff"
The joke was the oldest in North
Point, but Sam hesitated at the store
steps and grinned amiabiy.
mo, just pluggin' along" he coun-
| tered, humorously, as he pointed to
an empty jaw, usually filled with a
quid.
And then, as he turned his back on
| the crowd of men, and was about to
enter the store, a name came to his
| ears that brought him up short.
| "Classon!" Always a name to be
reckoned with, unused Sam, as he
peered across the bridge toward
| Parksboro.~ A name either feared.
hated or loved, according to circuni-
stances To be feared or hated, when
the owner of the big mills at Parks
boro was mentioned Nearly 80 Pc
/ cent of the men at North Point drew
| Classon Wooden mills pay ENVELOPES
and nearly 80 per cent of'thenn hated
| the owner cordially. For he wac Il
hard taskmaster and thoroly selfish
Sam gazed sympathetically toward his
/ group of fellow-townsmen as he
| thought of Classon's latest offense
against his Workers. refusal to in
IL, ar-fa
| they might get their lunches at cost.
And thinking of lunches, Sam smiled
and reminiscently sighed as he
thought of the bright, captivating and
ministering little angel-who also bore
1.-The name of Classon.
How many of those men, unused
Sam tenderly, took slices of chicken.
bits of luscious fruit and the like in
their lunch boxeS-borne to their Wo-
men folks by Dorothy Classon. Dor
! othy was so unlike her father~in every
way as to make North Pointers forget
| she was a Classon-generous to her
lfinger-tips, lovab1e to her slipper-tips,
and democratic to a fault.
/ Sam listened to the wrangling for
few minutes listlessly-for it was all
/ too well known to him-and was
about to enter the store when a dom
inant voice in the group arrested his
attention, and he crouched in the
dark of the porch to listen unseen:
/ What he heard chilled every fiber of
his body
They couldn't do this thing. he
gasped, as he crouched lower, listening
| intently And use him, Sam Mat
| thews, as tool for their purposes
| impossible. 1t was all very well to
hate Classon, to denounce him, revile
| him, il they would-but this thing
barr, he shuddered. End then he
/ right-they could use him-he was
| their constable, sworn to uphold the
| law. lr
/ without entering the store, he wait
! ed until the crowd dispersed toward
! their homes, in whispering groups,
| before he dragged his listless steps up
the road toward his home. The moon
| had risen and threw its silyery ray
against the silver of his notified,
| downcast head. as he stood at his front
gate, wrapped in unhappy reflection.
| And then, after a few minutes. he
| heard footsteps at his back, crunching
on the gravel path. They were COM
ing after him-after their constable
to make him do his duty. He hung
his head and slightly turned his face
/ toward the house. Then he breathed
/ easier. for the footsteps again receded
up the street and he looked up, then
was startled.
! He recognized the couple. It was
Dorothy, and he noted regretfully her
I happy profile as she leaned on her
escorts arm and smiled into his face.
|
! pie, and his warm old heart had re-
! joiced as, for months past, he had
seen the girl stray past his home on
| the arm of George Fulton, the young
assistant superintendent of the mills;
| A fine match, he agreed. Fulton had
fought his way thru the mills to the
position he now held-perhaps the
| only one besides Dorothy who COM
/ manded a civil word from the elder
Classon. Before this night he had
gazed fondiy at the picture of Fulton's
dark, handsome head against the
golden head of Dorothy as they
strolled thru North Point.
Sam shuddered now. and then he
gazed apprehensively toward the store.
No one was in sight. Perhaps it
wasn't too late-yet. He might avert
| trouble after all. And 40 complaint
had yet been made to him as an Of
ficer.
He followed the pair stealthily, and
| then, as Dorothy entered the gate of
| Mrs. Waters, the widow of an old mill
employe, Sam noted that Fulton wait
| ed for her. He Quickened his step
and, passing Fulton with barely nod,
hurried up the walk and rang the bell.
| ed evenin,. Mrs. Waters" he
greeted the widow briefly as she adj
nitted him. And then. noting Doro-
| thy. he spoke quickly. please. Miss
Dorothy, the missus wants to see you
right away. Will you come now"
why, sure" Dorothy agreed. lay
| ing a package of tea on the table be-
fore Mrs. Waters's grateful eyes. And
then bidding the widow a CHEEKY good
night she followed Sam outside.
IF you don't mind" he suggested, |
| in a whisper 1--WE can get thru the
hedge. It's quicker"
But Geor-Mr. Fulton, what about
| him ~
III tend to him." answered Sam
Observation-Disclosures
Taffhewj Adams 9