The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-26
Eoening Story
In the Cyclone Cellar.
BY FRANK H. WILLIAMS.


permanent; perhaps it was simply be-
cause She was born that way. AT any
rate she was nightly tempestuous
when any of her deeper emotions
were involved. And when her father,
stern, morose Henry Simpson, ac-
cused her sweetheart of being re-
sponsible for the loss of the Simpsons
slowly accumulated liberty bonds
she flared up at once.
''Of course Jim Brown didn't take
them," she stormed. You ought to
know him better than that, fathert"
Jim knew kept them in my desk
and that the desk was unlocked" said
he do when 1 say something to him
about them being gone-he disap-
pearsl That proves he took themi''
Betty wrung her hands disconso-
lately.
''He didn't take theml" she cried.
ST just know he didn't"
She looked around the modestly
furnished little living room desper-
ately: If only she had some one to
help her! If only her mother hadn't
died-she would have understood
Betty looked at the foolish grin on
the face of her seniIe old grandfather
and then at the happy smile on the
face of her baby sister. And she
sighed deeply. Life was going hard
with her. If only she could make her
father desist from his expressed pur-
pose.
please don't file an affidavit
against him! Please don't, father!"
she cried. 1T just know Jim didn't
take them. I just know everything
will come out all right
'I've alreadyfiled the affidavit"
answered her father shortly 81 can't
afford to lose all that money. I can't
help it if Jim has been your beau"
He turned away heavily. Tears
started to Betty's eyes as she looked
after him. Her father was stern and
hard. Much sorrow and bitter life
had made him cruel There was no
moving him when he had set his mind
on anything. What could she do?
That night Betty wrote an i'm
FASHIONED letter to Jfm--to an address
he had given her before leaving-urg-
ing him to come back and prove his
innocence. And in the letter, too, she
urged him to tell her why he had left,
for quite suddenly after her father
had partially accused Jim of the
theft. he had left the countryside
without letting any one, save Betty,
had not even told Betty why he was
going.
1t was about a week later that the
cyclone visited the spot where Betty
lived.
Cyclone weather" had been worry
before the unmistakable signs of ap
preaching trouble sent the Simpson
family scurrying into the cyclone cell
lar near the home. Even as Betty
helped her grandfather down the
stairs into the cellar, which had been
distance from the house, the menac-
ing spiral of the cyclone was visible
down the valley.
Betty's father had entered the eel
lar first, and as Betty pulled the
storm door flat and locked it she saw
that her father had lighted a lantern
and was looking quickly and some
what, fearfully around the cellar.
What was wrong?
BettySleaped down the remaining
steps of the ladder into the cellar.
whats the matter?" she cried to
her father, who was holding the Ian
tern high above his head.
Once more stern Henry Simpson
looked around the small room before
replying. Then he gazed fearfully
into Bettys eyes.
where's the baby?" cried Henry
Simpson.
Panic clutched at Bettys heart at
this question. She gazed around the
room with wild eyes. The baby was
nowhere in sight.
''I put the baby down here p half
hour ago. She must have climbed
out!"
Frantically Betty rushed to the side
of the room and leaped upon a box
which brought her eyes in line with
little portfolio, partially raised above
the level of the earth, in which heavy
glass formed a lookout. She looked
out fearfully.
There, half way between the cellar
and the house, was the baby, dancing
up and down in the gusts of wind
which heralded the near approach of
20
theirs old overaiis, which had been
blown from the house, were partially
twined about the baby. And only an
appallingly short distance away-com-
pared with the speed at which 1t was
coming-was the cyclone.
Betty jumped from the box and ran
toward the ladder. crying swiftly to
her father as she ran:
1.-The babys out there! I'll go get
her!"
Just as Betty reached the foot of the
ladder a surprising thing happened.
der seemed to stir Then Betty saw
that some painted burlap sacking.
which in the dim light had seemed to
be earth, was moving. Behind this
curtain a new excavation had been
made. And from this excavation
stepped1Jim Brown!
You stay herei" cried Jim, push
ing Betty back. TIL get the baby!"
Jim climbed the ladders few steps
hastily. As he unlocked the storm
door and pushed it open a fierce gust
of wind swooped and howled its way
into the room. Then Jim leaped out,
dropping the door into place again.
Betty rushed to the lookout. She
saw Jim run, stopping. to the baby.
She saw him grab up the baby, over
alls and all, and rush back toward the
cellar. And she saw trees falling in
the path of the advancing cyclone
Would Jim be able to make it?
Betty left the lookout and rushed
back to the ladder. Her father was
there before her. The door opened.
Jim thrust the baby down. Betty
caught her little sister with q thank
full heart. And then, 20 her vast as
constituent, she heard her father
speak
Don't come down here, you thief!"
cried stern old Henry Simpson. you
amt fit to associate with decent
folksr
Raftu her father trying N ya.,SI,