The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-01
EDening Story
A Tale of a Dog.
BY MARTHA NC. WILLIAMS.
'Wisht I had a dollar" from Arno

/ from Bert plaintive1y.
"Wisht 1 had a dolIar-and a little
| fyce dawg too" from Jack greedily.
Wont nobody never git none of
en- Amos, the pessimist, pro-
nounced.
why you reckon not?" Bert de-
manded.
IT know-cause we-alI and we-alFs
had to walk twict to throw a shad-
der" cried Jack the greedy.
| suppose your wishes came true
what would you do about it?' a voice
from above their heads. inquired.
! Scared into uprightness. the boys
looked about them-they had been
| lying face down. in the Merton old
| field, after gorging themselves with
| blackberrieS and wild pluns. On be-
yond were gnarled old apple trees.
| netted, half-dead lower branches.
| Starveling fruit dotted and blotched
the round heads-the turf circles be-
meath them greener and more alive
| than the main earth surface. told that
now for generation cattle running
| out had lain there thru midday chew
ing the cud, and bedded there at
night. When the apples hit" that is
to say over-burdened the living
branches. orchardless folk came and
made them into cider. A big trough
dug from the trunk of a poplar lay up
spring, with a rude Slated press. a
pen of blocks, and a lever, piled he'll
ter SHELTER beside it.
Apparently the question had been
shot from this trees depths.
Apprehensively the boys sided to-
ward it, each keeping himself narrow
that is to say, shoulder Tapped on
the shoulder in front, and Tapped in
turn by that in the rear. Thus they
made blotchy line-so blotchy it
raised a laugh from whoever was in
the tree. Followed the cry: so you
mistake! I'm all alive-and bigger, I
do believe, than all three of you put
together"
With that dropped into sight a
plumpish girl in knickers. norfolk
jacket and stout walking shoes. A
flat, square case was slung across her
breast. She carried long, light pole
with a flimsy wisp at the end at
hunted so hard I slept the minute
got fixed right up there" she said,
nodding toward the apple tree. And
don't know just where I am. now
I'm awake. Tell me, please-is this
Postum Paradise?"
Nom, nom! Hits t'urrer way!
Over ter yam side, a far piece!" three
voices shrilled in varying chorus.
Then I must be somewhere else,
but where?" she asked with a whimsi-
cal smile. ALSO lost. Find me and
take me home-then we'll see about
the wishes"
Where is home?" Bert demanded.
Tree Top-the Penningtons live
there. I came day before yesterday"
she answered.
"Wisht 1 knowed what you been
a-huntin-and what with" Amos
ventured.
The girl laughed softly. touched her
case and said: ''Daren't show you
E1rax xE-A
are butterflies and waspS and things
and they were caught this way" shak-
ing out the net upon the end of the
pole and with it imprisoning vagrant
grasshopper. The trio fell upon it,
Whoop1ng triumph, almost breaking
the net and MASKING flat its latest cap
tive. Before the boys could untangle
themselves they were snatched sud-,
denly upright while a man asked an
grily; What are you ragamuffins
doing?" Then, in a different key:
Say. Ellen, have they been bothering
your
Motley left that for you" Ellen
said ungratefully, making a feint of
catching Jack in the recovered net
Run away, spoilsport," she continued.
i never have luck while you stay.
butterflies must feel how you hate
them-and keep out of sight"
I'm bound to hate rivals am
ashamed Of" the newcomer, Clifford
remington. said scowling. In spite
OF the scowl he was singularly hand
some, black-browed,. oIive-skinned
with red showing in cheek and lin
and fine night-black hair. Lean. al,
most lathy too-no wonder Ellen Mar.
TIN appealed to him, aside from her
pot or money His pursuit of her, OBJ
Ject matrimony, had lasted two full
years without ever winning a positive
yes or no.
Il felt sure you were lost. Now
that I've found you. 1 mean to take
you home" he said masterfulIv.
But you won't" Ellen retorted.
MY guides here found me first. And
i 1ney are engaged to take me-by the
III save them the trouble, but not
let them lose the profit" clifford an
Swered' thrusting his hand in his
ElIen's eyes stayed him. "Under-
Word-always," she said. Now, off
with you, while the offing is good"
Cross-examination of the guides
dIter ne had swung away proved easy
ana fruitful. Amos's dollar was trans
lated into circus, coming next week.
wanted little dog playmate to
cuddle down outside the blankets and
sleep with his head on the pillow
something not to be thought of with
the groWn-up dogs Of groWn-up people.
Jack said glibly: "Dawg and dollar ?
Why IL want 'en1-jest cause I do"
But gentle inquisition brought out
that cash would realize his dream of
red fire and Roman candles for the
Fourth, but over the dog he got red,
twisting upon his bare feet until Amos
said gigglihg. Il know-that's ter
give Miss Loreeny, our teacher-she
says she's so awful lonesome up in her
bunterlo, now her mans done gone"
Fine. Can we get one right away?"
Ellen asked. The guides nodded like
Mandarin chorus. Ole Man Swack,
1t appeared, had a litter of cookers,
fine fat, curly fellows, just weaned.
No-he didn't live so fur outen the
way-no morn er mile-but he was
tight as the bark to a tree. Three
dollars-think OF. it!-for a pup you
could nigh put in yer pocket. Yet, he
never give Anne a cent of the money
for all her trouble feeding and brush
ing and keeping the kennels clean.