The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-24
Evening Story
Hidden Away.
BY WARD EGERToN.

pant an elderly man who had evident
ly walked with prosperity all his life.
This must be the place" he decid-
ed, as his glance fell upon a tidy,
comfortable looking farmhouse under
| the trees.
Alighting at the gate he made his
way to the front porch where sat an
old man in his shirtsleeves.
I'm a new York lumber dealer. I
came up to look over some wood-lots
| in the neighborhood," he explained.
Expect to be here two or three days.
I was told back yonder that maybe
you would take care of me now that
| the only hotel in the place is closed
for repairs"
Farmer Grimes got to his feet with
many rheumatic grunts.
Guess we can put you up for that
long" he replied. TN see what Betty
says"
| He disappeared for a moment with
| in the house, then called out from the
door way, You jest drive your car
| round to the barn"
| Colonel Burton obeyed with a feel
| ing Of extreme satisfaction. There
was a sweet, wholesome atmosphere
about the place that made IT far pref
| cradle to any country hotel he had
ever known.
When he entered the house, Betty,
a pretty. slender girl in blue Bingham.
| met him with a shy and charming
smile. She had eyes bluer than her
pretty gown-the trustful look Of one
| unacquainted with guile. The city
man thought he had never seen girl
| so innocent and sweet.
| Presently. as firm step crossed the
| kitchen floor, she turned quickly. her
whole face transformed by the express
sion that went over it. Interested and
curious. Colonel Burton glanced thru
the half-open door. barely sitting an
| exclamation as he did SO. 1t was no
stranger upon whom his startled gaze
rested-this broad-shouldered young
man approaching with a confident
| tread.
| How strangely things come about!
So this was where Tom Dudley had
| been hiding for a year and a half. The
| coloners brow darkened and his hands
clinched. All these months he had
hoped for meeting like this.
| The fellows status in the household
was easily guessed. The hired man.
But of course these good people had
no suspicion that they were harbor-
ing a thief! ''Of all houses in this
village, it is curious that 1 should
have been directed to this one the
Meanwhile Tom Dudley had come
| to a sudden halt just across the
threshold. His face went paper
white under it's tan, and he reached
out both hands gropingly as If seek
| ing some support.
| Toni Tom. what is it?" cried
Betty in alarm. You are III"
Her very tone was a caress. 1t told
| Colonel Burton that she had given the
priceless treasure of her love to the
gruceless young scamp. There was
| something in her expression, as she
sprang forward. that went to the
worldly mans heart. For moment
he hesitated; then he did most sur
prising thing. Instead of denouncinS
the rascal, he pushed forward a chair
r,lT1
you get over it,
Pouring a glass of water he held it
to Toms lips. wondering at himself as
he did so. The latter drank gulplnS-
ly. looked up wildly and beseechingly
into the stern face bending over him.
ut was hot in the field" he mu--
tered after moment. Guess ID OCT
ter go and lie down"
yes, do" said Betty. giving him
| her strong young shoulder to lean
upon.
! The colonePs brows knitted as he
attitude of the two bridged a gulf OF
forty years. His hard face softened a
little-~as he met the imploring look
with which the young man disap-
peared.
IT am getting chicken-hearted." he
mind to speak before that girl. There
something beautiful in such trusting
love. The old man will have to hear
the tale"
/ Aloud he said.
THAT young fellow was taken very
suddenly i'll"
at never happened afore," returned
1 the unsuspecting farmer Tom is
strong as an OK. Does the work o
two men about the place"
4 "You seem fond of him"
/ 81 couldn't git along without Tom
y. f1aN q p
you see, an since the war good helr
can't be had for love or money. But
Tom looks arter everythlng-keeps
the place tidy and shipshape. He can
Guido me when it comes to raisin
crops. for all he's a new hand at sich
work"
"Hrmph." said Colonel Burton. And
then. after moment. he asked
How was it when he first came to
you? Did he have plenty Of money!
'rwell : er = hardly" answered
Farmer Grimes Guess ned mao
was strapped. But what's o that?
| wanted help. an he wanted a stiddy
Job. We both got whata We were
arter."
"There's buying and selling IN run
ming a farm. Who looks after that
handles the cash?''
why, Tom. of course. When II
comes to business, never seen his beat.
He's real savin', too. We're gittin'
along swimmin1y. Put somethin' by
every month. He's as interested as
be in gittin' the mortgage paid off,
The colonel swung about and
ifrowningly walked the room for sew
leral minutes He was debating a
Question with himself. "Pll wait until
morning" he decided finally. There
was no reason why he should spare
Tom. but he could not bear the
thought of hurting poor, trusting
Betty. No matter what came of de-
lay he would do nothing hasty or ILL.,
advised.
Supper over, he strolled to the barn.
What he had counted upon happened
Tom followed him out. The latter
began abruptly.
"Of course you'll have me arrested,
sir?''
Yes, unless you show a clean pair
of heels between now and morning,
= T.. ali