The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-23
Evenings Story
The Undaunted Twins.
BY CORONA REMINGTON.


and. straining every muscle, tried her
best to reach lit. but she missed the
mark fully six inches.
Help! Help" she screamed again
as she stamped her loot and attempted
once more to span the distance.
On the verge of Mysteries, half
laughing and half weeping, she strug-
gled and twisted and turned and pivot
ed endlessly.
IF L ever get my hands on you!"
she threatened, clenching her fists and
shaking them in midair; but her
words brought forth only echoes from
the big, silent house.
The girl listened to the sounds out
side-a machine went gliding past,
then a street car and a truck but, of
course, they could not hear her. At
last a car pulled up at the curbing
and stopped. Constance shut her eyes
tight and put all her force in her next
scream. Wit h electric rapidity
humping footsteps rushed on the
porch and a heavy bulk threw itself
against the door. 1t was locked and
refused to yield Fearing her rescuer
might escape, Constance repeated her
applications with renewed yigor. ms
a frenzy her deliverer hurled a flower
pot thru one of the big plate glass
windows and followed on it's heels. A
second later he stood petrified before
her.
1OMs Sn6
For the love of Mike!" calculated
the young nan, his face relaxing. 1T
| thought you were bound, gagged and
strangled with three daggers stuck
thru you
ST didn't yell like it, did II"
Fact. but who ever played such a
trick on your" asked Tom, beginning
to laugh.
IF you laugh I'll kill you when I
get loose" threatened the girl.
But how did it i1appen?" he in
quired again.
II washed my hair this morning
and braided it up to dry and those
twin cousins of mine caught me and
tied my plat to the chandelier for
joke. Then they bolted and 1 have
been screaming ever since. but there
was no one to hear me as Aunt F1os-
sy's uptown. You'd think Ralph and
Jack were grammar school kids in
stead OF college men,
Hurry up and unite me. then tell
me what you're doing here
II insist on telling you first" he
answered, land I've got you where
want you now. came here to ask
you for the fortieth time to marry me.
| You know you're going to do it in the
end, so why keep me dangling any
longer? I'll unite you when you've
said yes then we'll cook up some
scheme to avenge ourselves on the
! twins"
Tom sat down and examined a book.
| Say when you're ready and don't
forget were going to get back at the
twins"
Constance's deep blue eyes grew al
most black with anger.
| '1 just hate youi" she .Stormed.
| Tom went over to her and took her
hands which she pettishly tried to
wrench away.
| Constance" he said, suddenly
| Eynr ~ in
the eye and say that-you know you
can't"
In reply she wept out her tears on
his shoulder.
"I guess Wen have to be engaged
now" she said a few minutes later,
her plat still suspended from the
chandelier, because 1 always said I'd
never let anybody but my fiance
k-kiss me-"
Tom promptly did it again. then I'M
tied he~ braid.
I'll do what I can to help you get
back at the twins this time. but I'll
always love them declared Tom.
'What'll we do to snare them?" in
| quired the girl.
He thought a few seconds.
THAT smashed window looks spec
tacular," he commented. Shall we
try to frighten them a whole lot or
| just a little?''
"Oh, lots and lots" was the eager
| reply.
note something like this:
ri have reskewed yor cusin and
have her in safe keaping. You can
have her back for $1,000 cash which
put in lilly bed in her mothers yard
at eleven tomorrow mite. If you don't
do better wen do worse. The Black
Hand"
Great" exclaimed the girl, her
eyes dancing. wen turn the tables
on them this time. Now I'll run up
stairs and get ready. Be back in "a
jiffy.
A few minutes later Constance came
down dressed for the street, her
cheeks pink with excitement.
This is positively .thrilling" she
declared as they got into the car to-
gether.
II never was SO happy in my life"
said Tom. "but guess wen cure the
twins this time he smiled.
81 hope it scares them into spasms,"
replied Constance fervently. 81 pulled
so hard when tried to get loose from
the chandelier that my scalp's still
tingling"
The big touring car ate up the
white road in front of it with remark
able speed, and they reached their
destination long before sunset. AS
Mrs. Maynert handed Tom a tele-
gram.
4 at arrived just before you did" she
explained. "See, they addressed it
care of me; so it must be some one
who knew you were going to be here
ripping open the envelope. he
read:
Dear Black Hand = Congratu1a-
I.tions, old mani We were standing
upstairs in the hall when you did it
You're a real cave man, all right; but
Observation-Disclosures