The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-26
EOening Story
A Modern Cave Man.
BY LILLIAN HALL CROWLEY

BY LILLIAN HALL CROWLEY.
David Henderson, sitting in Sc
cluded spot of the veranda in the
depths of despair, was startled out of
his unhappy line of thought when he
heard his name mentioned. He got
up, thinking the speaker was looking
for him Then the words arrested
him for a moment. He was behind
some potted plants and egress was not
easily gained. He did not intend to
listen, but could not help hearing the
following in a girls indignant voice.
Lois Mardis is just too unkind for
anything-the way she treats David.
I hate to see her SO indifferent toward
him when he Is so thoughtful and un-
selfish
That's Just the trouble" replied an
other girl. 81 know Lois pretty well,
and think she really loves David, but
it's too uninteresting to have some one
so perfect all the time. He ought to
employ cave man tactics. l think she'd
like it!''
DO you really" The voices
trailed off in the distance.
David went back to his seat. so
that's it." he thought. Just being
considerate of a woman, anticipating
her every wish and waiting on her
devetedly is not enough. Cave man.
indeed"
He sat there a long time, and he
wasn't looking at the moon, either. He
was thinking harder than he had ever
thought before in his whole life.
After while he arose and, with a
grim smile on his usually placid face,
he Joined the other young people who
were celebrating Lois's birthday.
He was the first to leave. Lois
looked her surprise, for he usually lin
gered until he was the last one to go
u r. h. IL ed Iur,
ton.
Many, many times he had asked
her to marry him, but she had never
given him the decisive word--still, she
had not refused him. She kept him
dangling. He had tried harder and
harder to please her, and had made
no headway.
The remarks tonight were a revela-
ton. He hadn't realized it before, but
he was getting tired of dangling. He
would either give Lois up or he would
make her come to decision.
He didn't want to give her up!
Those girls were right. He ought to
get Lois with "cave-man tactics
he certainly hadn't succeeded the 9TH
err way. He would bide his time, and
if she preferred being knocked on the
head with club and then dragged by
the hair to his den-he'd do it.
He wanted her in any way he could
get her, and he would be obliging
enough to get her in the way she
wished to be won.
So, one bright. sunshiny day, about
noon, when it seemed that every one
was out of doors, Lois and he were
crossing some street car tracks on the
busiest intersection of the city. Lois
was tripping along on dainty, high
heeled, black satin pumps, when she
stopped suddenly with a cry of dis
may. One heel of her shoe had
scr1@k to- y - L
dislodge 1t she had Withdrawn her
foot, and she stood with the stoe4S<
inged foot held lightly from the dutsy
pavement.
ooh, why did I wear white stock
ings?" she greaned to herself. She
felt so conspicuous.
David turned to the rescue Cars
were coming from each direction. and
changing down upon them. Pedes-
TRANS had stopped in amused interest,
looking at the embarrasse girl in the
white stockings and the one black
shoe.
Lois looked to David confident that
he could rescue the shoe. He did. But
Just before the cars reached them and
as Lois put out her whitehead foot
for its black cover he put the shoe
behind him.
You don't get it until you promise
to marry mel" He waved the shoe
aloft.
Lois turned red with shame that
she should be made such a spectacle
for the passersby. Then, white with
anger. she demanded her shoe.
People were laughing outright
Several ehauffeurs had stopped their
motors. The street ears were coming
nearer and nearer as David raised the
shoe high over his head. The wretehed
girl was tottering on one foot like a
lame duck. There was no sign of re-
lenting on the young mans face.
IT WON'T" she answered
you will or I'll go home with the