The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-15
E0ening Story
With the Help of His Friends.
BY H. LOUIS RAYBOLD.

Z
Court?" he asked.
Chasing skirt" Toms voice held
utter disguest TITS the limit Here
we fellows come up here on a camping
trip and the-first thing Court does is
to faI for a pretty face staying over
at the hotel. It's playing the deuce
with our plans"
"Righto," returned Jack, -chucking a
pine cone into the lake. Per schedule,
we should now be catching black bass
on Lost Loon Pond
The funny part of it Isl" unused
Tom t'the- lady in question turns an
iceberg shoulder on Court. Happened
over on the steamer dock and. take it
Jack sat up quickly. ''All the more
reason that We should nip it in the
bud before he's smitten beyond hope.
Listen here, boy. What's the first
thing a man objects to in a pretty
woman %
Her belonging to somebody else!"
replied Tom promptly
"Prezackly, old top. Same with a
woman She wants to think she's the
first and only. Now bark to my little
scheme. You put Court wise-don't
tell him how you got the information,
that isn't necessary-to the fact that
the beautiful girl is engaged. Get it !?
Engaged. Only it would spoil her good
times up here if the man got wise.
For my end of 1t, I'll hint to Miss Will
lis that Court is not what he seems,
that he has never got over a youthful
love affair. Still loves the fair hand
that gave him the mitten. Get me?"
Il get you" said Tom, but why do
you draw the pleasant end of it? And
how" he continued suspiciously, do
you know her name and how can YOU
-
We'll" said Jack, slightly ,embar-
raised, Il happen to have met the girl
she's staying with, Sally Dalton. Our
canoes bumped and-oh, I'll manage
all right. Only, for the love of Pete,
let's be speedy about it or we'll be
too late with our assistanceI"
Few schemers find their opportuni-
ties lying so neatly in wait as did Tom
and Jack when they padded over to
the hotel that evening, apparently
lured by the seductive strains of the
three-piece orchestra playing for, the
weekly hop. First they spied Court
leaning against veranda pillar, gaz-
ing morosely at a thin young moon.
Then on the law they described
Miriam Willis in the midst of a little
group of men
Beat it, Tom" cried Jack. over to
Court, and, so long as you're in it at
all, go in strong I'll wait my chance
with Miss Willis"
Twenty minutes later. Tom had sue
ceeded in reaching the point he de-
shes some lookerr' he was saying
automatically. Then he set off his
bomb. Her fiance is a lucky mani"
Even in the darkness Tom could feel
Courts piercing glance. Miss Willis
engaged?"
Tom threw it off casually. Then,
goaded by Courts silence, he elabor-
ated. shes keeping it dark up here
for various reasons-but she's really
absolutely infatuated with him.
LOOK here, old chap" Courts voice
sounded strangely broken. Did she
she didn't get you to tell me all
"No-oh. no" Tom retreated in
alarm. "onlyM-it seemed as if you
Tom fslt Courts hand gripping his
shoulder, Thanks, Tom he said.
''Hou've been genuine friend" Then
Tom found himself alone
Tom gazed after him doubtfully. In
terfering with loves young dream-by
George, he didn't know about it. Then
his spirits rose. Tomorrow at this
ftime their tents would be pitched on
Lost Loon Pond.
Meanwhile Jack, after a series of
successful maneuvers which after
wards he recalled with pride, succeed
/ ed in rounding up Sally Dalton, nav
ing a dance with her, getting an IN
PRODUCTION to Miriam Willis, suggest
ling to the latter they sit out dance
I on the yeranda.
Then, after a few remarks on the
beauty of the night and the numerous
ness of the stars, Jack adroitly intro
duced the subject of Court Popr
Court" he said. che tries so hard to
4enioy himself. That affair a few years
ago He's never got over 1t"
Indeed! How interesting! ana
Miriam's cool voice was more than iii,
Well it-er-seems the girl Tilted
/ him. But he never stopped loving her.
I SAYS he never will. Unusual, isn't it 2
| ''Very!" returns Miriam dryly as
| one who wishes to imply that her lex-
perience with men has been far other
| me this?''
| ooh, no." and Jacks voice was
| shocked Hes very sensitive about.it
never has mentioned her name. He
simply goes to pieces whenever he
/ speaks of it,
Miss willis seemed to have lost
| interest and was drawing her scarf
| about her shoulders These August
nights" she murmured, ARE so chilly.
believe I will go in.'i
| Some time later Jack and Tom met
/ in high feather. The. orchestra was
thru with "Good-night. Ladies'" and
1.-THE veranda and walks were slowly
/ emptying.
+ ''AiI over, boy chuckled Tom.
Sand no. more skirts in oursl Heigho,
a start at dawn for Lost Loon Pond.
Can't you feel that three-pounder on
your-Hist.s Jack, what's that?'
/ What was it indeed? Silhouetted
| against the whiteness of the boathouse
by the landing stood a familiar figure
and IN his arms girl
/ Tom short In tn cir
tracks and before they recovered from
their astonishment snatches of CONVEX
sation not intended for any ones over
! hearing came 10 their ears.
My darling girl, to think we let a
| silly quarrel spoil our happinessl And
you have considered yourself engaged
to me just the same ever sinceI"
But how did you know, Court ,"
tom told me. Very decent of him
7 never let on that I chose this lake