The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-22
THE NEW
GENERATION
By JANE PHELPS
By JANE PHELPS
JOAN RECEIVES A TERRIBLE
FRIGHT.
CHAPTER loo.

CHAPTER 100.
Wen Craig Forester hung up the
receiver after Margaret had told him
she couldn't go with him because of
Joan and Malcolm, he turned away, a
deep frown on his clever face.
''Drat that girIl'' he exclaimed with
more force than eloquence. She and
her gang are always getting the best
of me-" Then he laughed a bit at his
own Vehenpence, as he added, but she
CANT frighten me away. Margaret's
worth waiting for, and L snail wait.
Something may happen. 1 only wish
Joan>would fall in love with Ted Wal
tiers, or some one"
He had but echoed a wfsh that lay
Nnspoken upon Margaret's lips, the
more insistently because of an Incl
dent that had happened a few days
Before.
Joan had suddenly thought she
would like to see her mother, also she
had thought a walk might help her
to gather her thoughts that had been
straying all the day. Try as she would
she had been unable to fix them upon
the article she was writing and that
she had promised to deliver at a GER
tain time.
Because it was late when she started,
about half past 8, and Margaret'e
home some distance, it was nearly an
hour later when she turned into the
park. She had walked slowly, her
thoughts wandering.
VAS she walked along with the stray
Cling crowd, she seemed for the first
time to sense something of the loneli-
ness of life-as it never before had
occurIe ed to her. She felt a certain
stirring in her breast, a longing for
the spice of romance.
In front of her walked a boy and
girl, no older than she, and yet she
I,aN.
arm in his, his head bent to her, that
they were lovers.
She had not intended to go thru
the park, but she followed the lovers.
They soon found a bench and Joan
went on alone At first she didn't feel
the difference, then the feeling OF
loneliness crept over her again. 1t was
very dark and silent in some places
she passed, she never had been timid,
but there had been good deal of
lawIessness of late, and she fastened
her steps. Suddenly she was aware of
footsteps behind her. When last She
had looked there had been no one on
the walk, but she had just passed a
wooded spot-whoeVer it was might
nearly at the Eighth avenue entrance
and hurried a bit faster breathing
quickly.
His steps grew nearer, and she had
all she could do to repress the instinct
to run, to scream. Suddenly he spoke
to her. She was frightened anew, and
became terrified when he clutched her
sleeve.
''Ain't it late for. you to be out in
the park alone, miss? Amt you got
any sweetheart" he asked with
leer. Just then they passed a street
light, dim, yet showing his features.
A typical tough, but Joan saw at
glance he was neither ragged nor
dirty-he was no beggar, no one who
needed help in city full of needy
He was asking her If she didn't
want company, if he couldn't see her
home.
'It amt safe for a pretty girl like
you to be in the park so late-alone,"
he said coming closer to her side, but
first looking keenly about.
Hes looking for a policeman"
turned to her with even more of a
swagger, she knew he had seen no
one.
"IIl take you home. honey. Where
do you live?" he tucked his big hand
under her elbow.
For the first time in her sheltered
life the careless, self-sufficient Joan
Hayden was so frightened she could
not speak. She glanced back as she
tried to jerk away from him. Not a
soul in sight! Why had she done this
foolish thing? No conventional girl
would have put herself in such a po-
sition. Gathering all her strength
she said:
you let go of my arm or I shall
call a policeman
mo you won't. my pretty, not
loren once. for I'll stop you"
Just then she heard footsteps COM
ing toward them. Evidently her COM
panion was too busily engaged with
himself, and trying to keep her in fear
Of him to notice. Just as they turned
around curve in the path. Joan
called OUT; The tough gave one look
at the man approaching, then with a
curse such as Joan never had heard,
he disappeared in the shrubbery.
what is it-why, Joan!"
'Mr. Forester! Thank Godr' and
as she chung to him HISTORICALLY, the
self-sufficient Joan told her story.
Craig wantedato so back and find the
man, but she begged him to take her
to her mother. She felt like "A little
child afraid of the dark, and satisfied
only when holding her mothers hand.
THE gods are sometimes kind"
Forester said to himself. ''If it had
to happen, I am glad was her res
cuer." he smiled at his thoughts.
Tomorrow Pray, supper and
dance.)