The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-10
EOeniig Story
Catching a Whale.

of her son, Roy, aged IL II therefore
a steady prey to the most painful en-
barrassment when dressed to please
his mother. They had different ideas
as was manifest by his answer:
Make it camfire. if you're bound and
determined to put something. It's
sorter clean, like paragoric,> smells
baby all over
I'm treating you to my best-Es-
sence of White Rose" his mother in
terrupted. BE sure you shake out
your hand'chif before you pass the
Allen pew. Stuck up as they are, they
never smell of nothing at all. Spose
they think it'd beNa waste-here with
nobody but country folks to notice.
want 'ern learnt good, country folks
are jest as good and up-and-coming as
town ones, even eff we don't have all
the money they squeeze out OF us.
Jaw ma-save that sort o dope for
the club you Wimmen-fol have
started Roy flung back, edging to-
ward the door. If he thought to go
scentIess he was cbeckmated-hls
mother set her back against the door,
holding him prisoner while she de-
luged his head and his kerchief with
her rose essence; then with a flnal
yank to his jacket and a twist to ms
tie showed him thru the door. with the
parting admonition: BE sure to re
member the text, so you can tell me
and what old Nine. Allen had on
A catapult could scarcely have
landed Roy quicker than his own legs
did, at his steady haven, the Bagby
remote, thanks to clustering shrub
berry, untrimmed for years, and c
rampant hedge of arbor-vitae, with
sagging green gate that Roy utterly
disdained. Instead he shot himself
thru a break, invisible from the road
Bagby upon the piazza, with dogs and
his Sunday paper littering space about
him, chuckled at sight of the boy. but
welcomed him hushedly, asking very
low: Says she waiting for you
outsider
swelIed jaw" Roy answered unduti-
fully. "And that amt all the luck
neither. Jimmy Higgs has done prom
Used to swap clothes, go to church for
me, tell me the text N everything
SOS can go long with you on this
You'll find out time enough,
sonny" said the major PLENTY time
"a Gods plenty. Now let me see!
Love feast now-9 o'clock; that'l1 hold
the church folk a full hour or better.
Singing, preaching. sacrament and SO
of doing in that much tine-if only
you know how to get it out"
yes, SIR" said Roy, not quite cas-
lily. The major was his oracle, guide,
philosopher and friend. Suppose
Jimmy Higgs went back on himself,
he, Roy, would be crushed to the dust.
He must not fail the major in this
mysterious emergency-yet going
home 1Rnfortified with service facts
was dreadful to contemplate. Fancy
his relief when the straggly division
hedge of cedars was violently stirred
- IIipycrS IN If like a
cannon ball, but painting as he stood
upright: Roy: Hurry! mustn't
be-late. New scholars is worth a
dime a head today. I got to be rolled
up a new scholar, or know the reason
why
Action answered his appeal. But
tons, buckles, the cherished knot of a
rare blue tie, all fell before fingers
that dared not shake.
The exchange quickly made, Jimmy
darted toward. the gate; but Roy
yanked him back with a stern:
1T other way, or I'll skin you" and
was duly obeyed. Then grinning over
an outfit much patched tho clean. he
looked inquiry at the major, who said
systematically as he rose: "Remem-
ber-we're going fishing-got hooks
and lines and poles all right. But
we'll have to dig up the bait to catch
our whale
TN game said loyal Roy, but
with a delighted SILVER.
- Speedwell, a mile from town. was
worse overgrown than even the Bagby
place. 1t was no trouble to ambush
the flivver in a thicket midway be-
tween gate and mansion. The road
was grass grown, yet showed faint
wheel marks. Major Bagby smiled to
see them. Not two days old" he
said, then handing Roy a fair sized
covered basket: N''Take this to the
side door-when it opens if you see a
girl say: The eggs, madam-and
I'll come back for my change after a
Bit You're apt to see her-the pious
elders will be away at church. If
they shouldn't be. ask if Mr.. Dennis is
awake yet and will he pay the five
! dollars you must have to leave the
parcel for him. That'H get the door
shut in your face-so you can come
| back here on the dead run
Il amt truly to go back" from
Roy.
'No-the change will come to US
we must be ready to take care of it, y
the major retorted- Now on your
way-and the Lord have mercy on
those bare feet of yours
Just twenty minutes later Roy safe
returned, started to see a tall, stopped
Figure in wild weeds, almost run
ming toward them Close up the weeds
| showed as a disguise for roses, dimples
and silk-clad ankles. Nobody spoke
OAlS lAidJO1 D 1lHSST was On Ills ilp. DuL
INSIDE another twenty minutes he let
out a triumphant whoop: THE state
line! Safe over it. Now Mr.. Guar
dian-Devil Inchpin, do your worst"
A shaking white hand fell upon his
lshoulder-he turned to beam on its
owner with, Don't cry, honey girl!
/ You're safe-and going to be safer."
Il can't believe it. 1t is too good
to be true, the girl cried, her voice
breaking. Il had lost hope, faith,
everything. inSthis awful month that I
knew myself a prisoner, hopeless
thought forgotten. You made no
sign"
Had to wait till you were twenty
| one-lucky knew the date" the
major interrupted. Until you were it
wasn't safe to NEEDLE with you
hardly even to think of you. Kidnap-
ling is. Vol know. q nretfX serious Of