The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-19
E,,ening Story
A Blunder Repaired.
BY ARNOLD PRESCOTT.


In some instructive way Alice Cove
soon felt as if she had known him for
long time; and she was rather glad
that the erratic train service kept him
and her waiting together. She had
seated herself in the great city station
to wait for the train that would carry
her to her northern home; and he had
seated himself beside her. Soon they
had entered into conversations; his
keen brown eyes had looked pleasant
ly into her gray ones; and she had
been content to wait.
Suddenly, he had started and said
! to her quickly. "Will you look after
this case of mine until l return; l will
not be gone long ?'s I
She had readily agreed without
| thinking much about his request She
saw his tall form disappear thru the
great door. He was walking rapidly.
| She looked at the case. 1t was large
and heavy; she did not wonder that
he had left it with her If he were
merely going to find out about some
train or ask some question. at the in
| formation window.
| But he did not return, and the fact
worried her for in a short time her
own train would be pulling in. She
! almost forgot her quick interest in
him; it hardly seemed just an unself
ish act for him to leave her without
|
| her train.
She watched the door with growing
| concern, but thru it came no tall fig
ure and pleasant smiling face. The
! big hand of the station clock crept
| to the hour. She made up her mind
| there was nothing to do but to take
the case and go with it. He might
catch her on her way and-the
thought made her heart jump-think
she was running away with it. But
she could wait no longer.
She caught up the case. and found
1t very heavy, but she started hur-
riedly for the door with it,
| Sharply, as she passed thru. an arm
caught hers, and voice with a note
of triumph in it greeted her pene-
tratingly:
Just a moment, young lady. where
are you going with that case?'
/ She looked up with establishment
and fear. dimly wondering if some
friend of his had seen her or the
brown-eyed owner had returned. In
stead, she found herself looking into
the cold eyes of a middle-aged man.
She explained rapidly, but her
breathlessness and anxiety were sus-
picious. She saw the gate swinging.
please, 1 must get my train!"
NO" the cool Voice said, mot yet.
think you can put that off. Sup
| pose you come with me, make no
fuss, and we will tell you where to go!''
She looked around with wild eyes
and wildly beating heart. A curious
crowd had collected and was rapidly
growing larger The hand on her arm
out, there was nothing else to do;
and she yielded.
From somewhere another man
seemed to come who placed himself
on her left and they led her thru cor
ridors into an office, where a uni
formed man arose.
=
rather, her" her first captor said.
walking right off with the plumber"
Thru the chaos in her mind, she
heard the word dimly, and out of the
chaos began to creep slow meaning
that left her white and trembling.
| The grip had contained stolen
goods; these men were detectives and
they had been watching for someone
| with just such a case; and they had
found her - and he with the kind
brown eyes whose friendly glance had
won her heart with Just one look
he had seen them, and not daring to
take the grip had hurried out, leav-
ing 1t with her.
i They had opened the case on the
desk, and the uniformed mans eyes
were cold as he turned to her.
Caught with the real stuff Well,
guess we need worry no longer. She
doesn't look the part does she?
More like some rosy-cheeked country
girl"
, 81 am not a thief" she cried. des-
perately, trembling. She told as best
she could the story: and she saw in
each face the cold unbelief. She sank
into a chair with a moan, covering her
eyes as she wept.
A cool but kindlier voice said, Buck
up and come with u.s.
They went into the corridor as-%
down into the station. Thru tear-fill-
ed ewes she glanced in the direction
where she had sat those happy half
hours with her brown-eyed friend She
saw tall figure standing there, There
was no doubt!
She caught the detectives arm, and
incoherently whispered and talked to
him. He suddenly seemed to grow
tense. Here. Space, keep this girl
while I nab him.
She stood in the grasp of the Off