The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-03
please, Miss Dorothy

briefly. please, Miss Dorothy
without question, Dorothy follow
ed the old constable into his sitting
room. Mrs. Matthews rose and well
coined her impulsiyely. Sam left the
room hurriedly.
''Why, Miss Dorothy" exclaimed
Mrs. Matthews, happily, this is in
deed a surprised"
"Assurprise!" echoed Dorothy, non
plussed. why, didn't you send for
me? Mr.. Matthews said--'
She stopped abruptly as she heard
angry voices on the porch. M
Ye'd better git out-and git Quick!"
she heard Sans shrilI voice, and then
Fulton's deeper rumble came to her
ears.
I'll do no such thing" snapped
Fulton. Miss Classon is with me, and
I'm going to see her home oh,
Dor" Dorothy heard him start to
call her name and then followed a
short scuffle,- followed by a dull thud.
Dorothy screamed and then the door
opened and the old constable stagger-
ed in bearing Fuiton's limp form in his
arms, and dropping him on the sofa
Mr.. Matthews what have you
done?" cried the girl, as she leaned
over Fulton's head, and then, as she
drew her fingers away wet she stared,
mortified at Sam, who answered her
stare cooliy. How dare you? You've
killed him. You brute, you fiend--''
Like a young liopess she sprang at
Sam, who withdrew a pace and held
out his arm restrainingly
Hes not dead" he replied, cool1y,
and then he turned to his wife with
an air of command: "Get some warm
water. ma. and battle his head He'll
come to in a minute. Pll be back
soon"
Mrs. Matthews stared at her hus-
band questioningly, and then know
ingly. as from long association with
a man whose world wisdom had long
since gained her complete confidence,
turned a ministering hand toward the
young man. Dorothy bent over him,
calling TO him to come back to life,
revealing in her mental stress an un-
derstanding long since OWNED by the
older woman. and then, just as Full
tons eyelidS quivered and he struggled
to his feet. the door flew open and
Sam reappeared, followed by a clergy
man. His temperance acted as a
red flag to Dorothy, but he waved her
aside as he went toward the table
and took up a ieather-bound volume
mot so quick. Miss Dorothy" he
droned. whimsically., "And be a little
more respectful lords tn law an TIL
clergy"
:. Law" she flared, scathingly. as
with a. club when he"
God moves in mysterious ways. his
wonders to perform" replied the con-
stable: and then he turned to the
clergyman, "Ain't T right. parson p
And then, to cut off another outburst
from Dorothy. he opened the book in
his hand. Hold on, Miss Dorothy.
and let me explain. To begin with,
your daddy is a mean old cuss. and the
boys all hate i'm. They've tried every
way they know to get simple justice
out of him, but he's just plain onery,
L reckon"
But what"
"Jest a minute. He told one of the
boys that it didn't matter t him a
durn bit If their wimmen folks did
have to work their arms off An that |
he didn't keer a fiddler's cuss II tn !
wimmen folks were ashamed o. their /
shabby clothes-nubbody but q dern !
fool keered what folks said about 'em. !
says he. So th'.boys wanted { teach |
him a lesson. They's an old law down |
here in this town what makes it a
crime fer a young couple { be to- |
gether on tn streets after dark. Nub- |
cause I reckon tn Jail wouldn't h
been large enough fer 'em If they did. !
TIL boys kinda thought yer daddy'd be |
kinda changed Il bit if<they showed
him what disgrace'd mean t him. and
bein's they've noticed you an young |
gether-they aimed { have me pinch |
y fer violatfn' tn old North Point |
law" I
but it's ridiculous!v Dorothy I
started to protest, vehement1y.
Granted. But that amt sayin' re |
none, mr. me either. 1 knowed they'd /
ketch ye on tn way back to- town, 80 /
I had to- keep y from goin' back. An |
from violatfn' tn law, too. TIL young |
Teller kinda made it hard fer me, bJt
I've kept y from bein' pinchfd." Safn /
stopped, peered wistfully from the |
CIR! to the young man, and then 1
tuI ned his eyes to the book again. !
9TH, law also sez," he continued, !
glancing at the pair thru half-closed |
lids that q constable kin issue mar !
riase licenses alter dark and they amt !
nothfn' { keep a married folk from |
trampin' all over North Point to-
gether. Now. tn parsons a kinda
curious feller,y an when I met him