The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-12
Eucning Story
A Forgotten Engagement.
BY r. RAY BAKER.

window, a book dangling from
limpid hand, and with wistfuI eyes
watched the stars struggle forth into
the gathering night, her father. Ben
CrandalI, rocked by the stove and read
of Black Jim Simpsons lawless depre-
dations.
No sound disturbed the dusk except
the piping of a treetoad and the
creaking of Mr.. Crandalrs chair
Marjorie had sat by that window
much of late, in pensive mood, with
her mind far away, at race tracks
where demons in motor cars annihi-
lated time and sometimes tossed a
human life aside.
Her father always occupied the
ereaky chair by the stove, at this time
Of day. The stove was dead, because
summer was here and almost ready to
depart, but it was his custom to hud
die near it, forever reading paper.
THAT rascal Black Jim is at it
again." Mr.. Crandal1 observed aloud.
And he's not so far away. He seems
to be edging toward Happy Valley and
I'm feeling a little bit scared altho.
of course. there would be nothing here
to interest him.
Marjorie scarcely heard him. Her
thoughts were of her racing demon,
Harry Trenton, and she had a vague
hope that he might keep the big en-
gagement, very vague, indeed; for
Harry was now famous and would not
of year ago.
The big engagement was made early
in September a year ago, while Mar
jorie and Harry sat in Belle Isle park,
in Detroit, having motored thither in
his rattle-trap, made over auto of vet
eran service which had been pur-
chased for less than a song and given
a racing appearance by means of some
clever body work. At that time Harry
was mechanic in a Detroit automo-
bile factory, but the racing fever had
gripped him and he was resolved to
make a name for himself on the
speedways.
On the September day Harry had
proposed marriage. Marjorie loved
him and she was exceedingly romantic,
but there was practical side to her
nature and this asserted itself. Harry
was not in the proper financial cir
cumstances to care for a wife. so she
advised that they wait a year before
becoming engaged.
IAN right" Harry sighed. MAKE
it a year-a year from today. On that
date I'll call on you for my answer"
This appealed to Marjorie's ro-
mantle propenSitieS.
Exactly a year from today" she
said. But" she added, as an after
thought, perhaps We shall be far
apart by that time"
1T makes no difference" he as
sured her. mo matter where you are,
will keep that engagement. And in
the meantime, we'll never refer to it
again. Neither OF US is to be remind
ed, for if we continue to care Wen re-
member. One year from today, if we
are both living, I shall call on you for
my answer"
Within. "a month Marjorie moved
away. Her fathers health suddenly
had failed and his physician advised
outdoor life. They went to North
Dali nt0 I
his savings in small farm.
Marjorie and Harry correspondent,
hut as time went on and he began
forging ahead in the business of mo-
tor racing, the letters became more
and more irregular
The date of the big engagement
was now only two days away, but
Marjorie entertained little hope as she
sat by the window and pondered.
Fame had taken Harry from her, she
was afraid, for it had been more than
month since last she heard from
him.
How dead everything was in the
valley Happy Valley! How she
loathed it! No, she did not quite feel
that way, because it had restored her
fathers health. But. Marjorie's ro-
manticism did not thrill to lonesome
places. Crowds of people, glittefing
electric lights, appealed to her. She
was unhappy in Happy Valley, es-
pecially as the day of the big engage
nent drew near; for it meant disap-
pointment. she was almost sure
The night before that day dawned
Marjorie was alone. Her father had
found it necessary to go to Bismarck
on business, and he would be gone
several days.
Watch out for Black JIM" he ad-
monished as he hoped into his fliv-
yer, in which he would drive thirty
miles to a railway station. "I hate to
leave you alone like this, but the bust
ness can't wait and somebody must
stay to look after the stock. I guess
Black Jim is after bigger game than
TINS little piece of land, anyhow. And
don't fall into the well-and take
care of your cold. Your voice sounds
like an auctioneer's after a week of
hard work. I'd never recognize it as
yours if I didn't know"
The well was a hole in the ground
where Mr.. Crandall was drilling for
new water supply. Water had not yet
been reached, but indications were
that it was near.
Marjorie promised to heed her
fathers warnings and he drove away.
Until late in the night Marjorie sat up
and tried to read. then finally went
sobbing to bed, reconciled to >disap-
pointment on the morrow.
In the morning she arose early, and
her first action was to gaze down the
road in both directions. No cloud
of dust rewarded her wistfu1 watching
no indication of the approach of a
racing car.
She sighed and went toward the
barn, but had not reached her destina-
ton when she stopped. startled. A
riderless horse stood by the hole in
the ground Jet black horse.
Marjorie hurried to the well, and as
she neared it she heard faint, hoarse
cries. She stood close to the edge, but
was careful to stand back out of sight
of anybody that might be in the
depths. She was not anxious to be
the target for a revolver.
'HeIp!" cried the voice, more rasp-
ing than her own. Get me out!"
Marjorie patted the horse, and a
terrifying idea flashed into her mind.
ITS Black Jimi' she trembled. 'I's
his horse and he was preparing to rob
the farm. Evidently he dismounted
right into the well in the dark. Let
him ont guess not Here's where