The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-29
Eoening Story
Leander's Courtship.

Leander Hutchins ratified up the viii
lage street in his noisy little car, scat
tering a. flock of chickens in the mid
die of the road. narrowly missing a
collision with a load Of hay, and
finally coming to a standstill before
the snug white cottage OF Capt. Dan
Bruce. Even now. when it had rested
from its perilous trip, the automobile
was loath to be silent. Tt snored
Historically. so that it aroused the ire
OF Capt. Dan, who trotted swiftly
around the shell-bordered path to the
front gate.
What you bringing that giggiing
old craft around here for, Leander?"
he complained. II was feeding my
hens and they's all scudded off, and
it'll take a lot more OF bait to catch
EN- again"
Leander grinned. showing his
strong, white teeth. He was young
and brown and lean and lazy. and
was poor. He had acquired the old
car thru a series of accidents Tin all
OF which the car had figured) and his
casual acquaintance with a junk deal
er. Now the car was the official bus
that ran to the railroad station, and
Leander had the contract to carry the
mail And, in an almost imperceptible
degree, Leander was improving. He
was saving money and thinking of
getting married.
He corfided this last determination
to Capt. Dan this mild winter after
noon.
Married ?" the captain lifted his
head quickly ard regarded Leander
from his keen, frosty blue eyes that,
seemed the color of the blue seas he
had sailed, laced with white foam. His
color was fresh and rudy, and his
lean cheeks were clean shaven, with
g. strong line of jaw and a good,
hum orous mouth. Married - he re-
peated again. Picked out any one
as yet, Leander?"
Perhaps" said Leander, cautious
~. You can laugh, Dan-maybe
you're thinking of getting married
yourself? ?"
"Dassen't change my luck" NUT
tered the bachelor captain. his Blue
eyes fixed on the distant horizon
You said you wanted my help, What
can / dor
Tell her-I-welI., I haven't got
You have the gift of speechmaking,
and never courted n girl in my life
He hung his head sheepishly.
The captain glared at him. what
scairt of wimmen?" he demanded.
You keep out of it, Leander.',
IT wish I could" sighed Leander
but, honest, Dan. ought to get mar
ried. And besides it might be well for
the business Next year I could buy
a real motor bus. and that means sue
What does she say about ito" The
QlSIdVOr,
cold-blooded financial attitude did not
appeal to a man who had remained
single for the love of one woman.
II haven't said anything to her
not a word. But she's been in the bus
sometime , and she's a pleasant little
body. If you could put it to her-then
I could do the rest
FOOL sneered the captain angriIy.
''I'l see. her. What feather headed
girl do you want me to ask %
She's no featherhead, Dan She's
sensible. I'm talking about Lucy
Wayne. Will you do it. or won't you2"
He climbed into the little car. Then
climbed out again and cranked it;
climbed in again and lighted a pipe,
and all this while Capt. Dan had not
answered. He had stood there lean
ing on the gate, his lips clamped grim
ly about the stem of his pipe, his blue
eyes far away and unseeing.
What say?" Leander was impa-
tient.
I'll do it, Leander,'' promised the
captain, his gaze Pickering back to
again. She shall have a chance"
That's what 1 thought" murmured
Leander, smugly. ITS a box of cigars
for you, Dan, afterwards" he prom
ised over his shoulder.
Excuse mel" calculated the cap
tain as the car ratified away. Many
minutes he stood there, his thoughts
busy with his past in which Lucy
W ayne nad q part, ana even now with
their gardens adjoining they did little
more, than pass the time of day when
they met.
A voice suddenly cut the silence OIL
the afternoon.
why don't you come and give me |
I1eander Hutchins'S message ?" asked |
the low, please ut tones of Lucy. who I
was leaning over the snow-ous tea 4
hedge between. their yards. She was
fair and fresh looking, with big brown /
eyes that were inclined to be mis- |
chievous, and sweet little face that !
refused to grow old as the years fled |
over her bonny brown head. Il want |
to hear what he had to say"
The captain came to the hedge.