Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-10-08
TIE WOODEN MAN
By cLARlssA mAckIE.

sNtS biHtS WAS On TIE cage OF
the town-a large mansion on The
crest of sloping lawns and SURROUNDED
by noble trees. Harley oakeS lived
there alone, now that all of his people
had gone on before, and he was often
very lonely Perhaps il was his rather
awkward gait and his stern, taciturn
ways that gained for him the nick
name of the Wooden Man..
The town iokers grinned when they
explained 10 strangers that The wood
en- Nan" was in the lumber business
ana that his name was Cakes Ne
breath Of this gossip ever reached
Harley. ~ he went soberly about his
business and spending long. dull eve.
nings in the great house.
Down in the office OF his big lumber
mills be was veEy popular with all
of his employees, even the new
slenographer, a shy little mouse of
girl. thought he was a wonderful
man.
The old mans a queer old bird"
said smart young bookkeeper one
day as he lighted a cigarette in the
Office.
Marion Clews looked distressed.
'PleeSe don't smoke in here, My. Elm
ney." she pleaded "You know it Is
against the rule Mr.. oakes-"
Finney laughed. What has the
Wooden Man preached about nowg' he
scof'ed.
No fights about the place-no smok-
ing" said the girl soberly And J
don't like to hear you speak Of Mr.
Cakes In that manner when-you have
been here longer"
"Hear-he heart" he laughed hippant-
ly. The mouse defends the lion!
There, III be good. Miss Clews--see,
I've thrown my cigarette awayr
He tossed II from the window and
turned 10 her.
How about the movies tonight?
There's good show at the Star
NO, thank you've promised To
work tonight-3Ir Dreams is getting
pit his balance and shall stay"
Foolish child--well, so long-don't
work yourself to DEATH"
He wandered tut of the office, paus-
ing in the yard TO light another Of
his endless cigarettes. The door OF
Mr.. Cakes private Office opened aud
he emerged. tall, graveIy pleasant
You a.e late tonight, Miss CIews,"
he said
Il have brought some supper with
me-Mr. Dreams asked me to help in
the balance"
Don't stop too late he advised.
Harley Cakes returned to his lonely
house and his solitary meal After
ward he read the evening paper and
wrote some personal letters. At
half past eight he finished and went
into the garden for 4 last smoke be-
fore going to bed
The wind was blowing from the
south, and With It came an acrid smell
of smoke-his eyes hardened and he
raped out his pipe against the sun
dial. He looked keenly in the direc-
tion of his lumber mill. near the we
ter, and though he could see no sign of
smoke. there suddenly burst upon the
evening cain the wild clamor of the
fire bell and the fire whistle attached
TO his own mills.
The mills were on fire.
He dashed down the avenue bare
hsaded and flew down the village
street like man pursued. Forgotten
muscles came into play and he felt a
thrill of youth as the blood coursed
more rapidly in his veins.
81 have been petrifying." he thought
as he ran. Il don't wonder the boys
laugh at me-"
Now the Office building was sending
up spirals of smoke while the fire en-
CINE was extlnguishing the flames on
a pile of lumber near by. Hastily
formed bucket brigades were saving
the other building yet untouched by
the conflagratlon.
The Office building was small
structure and-his thoughts oyerle2ped
his feet--the bookkeeper there and lit
tie Miss Clews--he thought OF her soft
eyes. her sweet smile, and his heart
contracted.
He thought Of Finney and his end
less cigarettes, and then forgot every
thing else save the human lives in
the building as he plunged into the
burning structure.
Dreams = he called.
"Here, Sir" said the bookkeeper.
staggered out with his arms full Of
The books he had been working on.
Miss Clews-where is shes" gasped
Cakes, for tie smoke was choking
him.
"She went upstairs to get the plans
Of the new MILL told her not to 10
- thought she had come down
don't go, Mr.. Cakes, you haven't
ehance-he's gonel7
Dreams staggered out Into the yard
while crowd gazed at the upper win
i0ws where John Cakes stood holding
the limp body Of Marion Clews
A ladder was placed against the