The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-21
Eoening Story
The Flute of Abb Yussufa.
BY KATE EDMONDS.

Turned you down, did she?"
chuckled Uncle Oliver. as he faced
Derry Lander's crestfallen counte-H
nance. You're no match for the girls.
Dorry. my lad!"
She's not only one girl. Mr.. Wylie,
Marion is dozen girls"
zone girl with the essence of a
dozen. Ell ?" went on Marion's adoring
liked YOU a little bit, my boy" He
put his hand on Dorry's big shoulder.
The young fellow turned a dark.
tense face. and humorous gray eyes
toward the older man. but there was a
tinge of bitterness in his voice. I'm
afraid it's a little bit-a very little bit.
SIR"
"Pshaw, Derry. when I was young
chap like you. we knew how to make
the girls like us. whether they would
or no." blurted Mr.. Wylie. impatiently.
Dorry smiled. you. you never
married one, siri"
True, my boy-but. she didn't like
me even little bit. You Marion"
he paused and rumpled his thick gray
hair. Come into the study, want to
show you something" and Derry fol-
lowed Marion's uncle into a small
book-line1 room with the walls above
the bookcases hung closely with rare
engravings and hunting trophies from
all over the globe, for Mr.. Oliver had
been a great traveller, and. even now
threatened another expedition into
| southern Asia.
He crossed to the fireplace and took
a long narrow box of hammered brass
from the mantlepiece. I'm going to
give you love philter." he announced.
Derry Lander stared and then his
deep hearty laugh echoed thru the
| house. Overhead, in her own room,
Marion Wylie heard it and smiled,
| while faint color stained her soft
cheeks. She blew kiss down thru
/ the floor to Uncle divers study.
| Dear old Dorry," she thought. How
patient he is-Uncle divers so fond
of him. and SO are mother and dad
and am I-only-oh. dear-well.
must go down"
| She could not guess the strange
things her uncle was saying to Dorry
Landers.
| you can laugh, young man. but
| this love philter is not exactly that-it
has a wooing charm that wins the
hardest heart" He opened the box
/ and pulled out an ebony flute inlaid
with mother of pearl and filagree
| silver. TT is a love charm"
| "a charm?" repeated Derry Pc
litely.
| Yes. 1t is the flute of old Ab-Yus.
sufa, now a venerable sheik, and
patriarch of his tribe in the Arabian
desert. He told me wonderful storie:
of it's power to win the love of 9
maiden-just play it before her
that's what he said-and believe, Dor
~. he must have been a handsome
rascal in his youth. took the flute
I thought I might use it some day
but deuce take it all. the only girl
had fancied married while I was OF
that trip and so the flute has neve
been used. I have kept it as a curl
osity.'
! Derry took the case and thanke,
the donor. "I feel like a fool, Mr.
Wylie. I never played a flute"
$50 much the better. just blow /
gently in her ear, or under her win
dow, or-somewhere-aw from tn
house by all means" he added EN-
phatically.
"Oh. I'll try the rose garden b.
moonlight tonight" muttered Dorry
Hooking very red. He hid the flute il
his coat pocket for he heard Marion
light step on the stairs. Tell her
will come over tonight-but don
tell her about the flute" he whispered
and slipping over the windowsill h
disappeared among the trees that le
to the side street.
1t was not until after IN oc1oc
that he re-entered the Wylie ground
and made his way to the lovely ros
garden which was overlooked by tn
| south SlQ0 OIL the OtQ HOuSt. 1ndIlOh
window was on that side and a fair
light shone there behind rosy curtain!
ST wonder if she looked for me to
night" he thought as he took out tn
flute and replaced the box in hi
! pocket. Never in his life had h
played any musical instrument, an
it was with some trepidation that h
put the flute to his lips, and foilowin
Mr.. Wylie's directions he blew soft
upon it.
, The result was so wonderful that h