The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-01
Euening Story
The Key to Happiness.
BY MARTHA McC. WILLIAMS.

| Fate ordained for them a proper
meeting place-the exact center Of
the big road. She walked it with
bert head. eyes intent on the ground.
Thus she might have collided with
him had he not said pleasantly. draw
ing slightly aside, You have lost
something. May I help you find it?''
/, If only you will" she cried. TITS
the. smokehouse key. and all things
edible were dumped inside in the
hurry this morning. And now there's
no getting at them--with q half
starved family just an hour away.
Ravenous almost-to eat me
| If they find nothing else"
THAT mustn't happen-better COM
mandeer food" he laughed. Tell me
where you lost the key-and IL you
| are quite sure you, did lose it?"
I'm sure of nothing earthly since
| this moving began" she flungsback at
him, hurrying on. II suppose you
are our part landlord. George Ora
ham, Esq. You've possibly heard of
me-Lettice Hale-usually I stand for
Lucky fanily,"\ Graham COM
! mented. But about the key
Its either here in this road, or at
the bottom of the well. or inside the
molkehouse-there's spring lock.
! just put on. Serves US right for med
81 was wondering little how you
| had managed to lose the key I re-
membered. 1t weighed nearly
pound" said Graham
ITS adorable, but unhandy. I'm
going to trade you out of it before we
go back" Lettuce said: Were daffy
over antiques-all of us. Be warned
in time. Nail down tight every old
hinge or latch, or doorknob you own.
We're reasonably honest. but play
safety first
Right now that medns food and
still moro food, if you are trust
worthy Graham said judicially. I'D
offer to break in for you. only I know
or an earthquake would affect it.
Suppose instead(of searching further
! in this blazing sunshine, you go to my
| house, it Is just beyond the turn there.
your family arrives give me the pleas
ure of feeding it the best a lone
bachelor cam"
"My preserver!" Lettice calculated,
pretending to gasp: Then with
with With thanks. Mr.. Graham. If You are
sure your partner in the crime of
bachelorhood will not be too angry"
| Hmm! What do you know Of
him?" Graham asked.
only what Phoebe-Ann does. I
can't believe she forgot anything"
Lettuce answered with dancing eyes.
She gave me Monday grudgingly.
helping clean, what time she could
| spare from speech. Never tell me
again men can't be heroes to their
valets-a laundress is even harder to
live up to-"
What did you learn specifically7"
| Graham demanded.
THAT Mr.. Joe Bullit's thousand viz
| tues were linked with a single crime
the heinous one of hating women
all except the narrator" was the de-
mure reply.
Joe will revel in that" Graham
commented, laughing. Did you by
any. chance hear the root of his mi
soginy?"
| "Heredity-and improved by cult
| walton, was the thesis" Lettice re-
turned. Graham looked relieved. He
had not thought Joe could be silly
but tattle flies like thistledown-also
like thistledown, filament of it
would spring up in her mind a hardy
/ perennial. They had reached the
house-Lettice darted to the phone,
called a number almost as she sat
down-a minute later~was telling her
plight clearly-and in another minute
| sighed relief, saying over her Shout
der: Pray that the locksHith keeps
faith-says hen be here in the shake
| not to rescue the perishing."
There was no answer--Graham had
vanished. She caught voices outside
to rearward-in two minutes he was
back, smiling down at her to say;
I'VE are going to--the house over
Lettuce stepped in front of him,
spread her skirt, stamped her foot,
and said ''Shoo! Shoo-o! energeti-
cally waving him back, but he only
for her, however, upon the lowest
step. AS she Joined him she began to
run, saying breathlessly: "Babs lis
blowing arrival-Pd know our horn
among anon "a, a million million; I must be there
A family of degree clambered down
from the big touring car-Madame
Hale, a huddle of grandchildren of
assorted sizes, and their nurse, the
pattern of family retainer. Babs in
khaki, at the wheel. called plaintive-
ly; Shelter and food. Lead US to
them"
This way" Graham answered,
shaking hands right and left In a
wink he had marshaled the Haies
cempactly-with Lettuce shepherding
behind it was no trick to have them
seated at luncheon five minutes later.
all talking at once, exclaiming joy
ousiy over the wonderful hill coun-
try. Formal presentations were I'M
thought of-how was he to know that
Babs, who was only less adorable than
Lettice, was officially Miss Barbara
Sellers, his housemate's some time
: fiancee?
: Joe Bullitt stopped dead at sight OF
the feeding family, rubbed his eyes,
!, muttered: Am seeing things?" then
tried to slip away. In vain-he was
! captured ingloriously. dragged back,
, and made to understand that Old
George expected every man to do his
duty. Worse still, room was made for
him at Bafbara's elbow, but Lettice
opposite helped out in her role OF
connie relief. Their cress-fire of jests
made Graham fairly murderous, but
he was saved from breaking out by
madame's artless eatechism, which
: ranged from the water and milk sup
, ply to town politics, the minister's age,
and Judge Hamb1in's pedigree.
What with talk and eating, the lin
gering locksmith finally surprised
. them. ~ said: a dead lambs tall 81
| .-....e.a a.i-.-.lR ...s..-1-. y. 7 a44i...