The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-27
Euening Story
The Lack.
By MARTHA Mcc. WILLIAM

IL DY nook OF CIOOh OF OQo CAdASC-
But If you do not know-well, there
is quite another story. as Squire Jim
Lewis, poor gentleman, was to prove.
He did not lack either possession or
| occupatfon. Contrariwise, he suffered
/ an embarrassment of -riches-a big
| farm full-stoclxed with the best It
everything that walked. wallcwed'
flew and ate, fine suoslant4@-I 40 49,
/ cram-full OF plenishings as fine,
| good name, money in bank and eX-
pectations. There did seem nothing
! left a reasonable man to sigh for.
Yet-there was. Just what he did
/ not know, acutely as he was conscious
of a duly aching void. Aunt Keziah,
\ who kept house for him. said shrewdly
she didn't know what Jimmy needed
wust-to get a wife or religion Re-
| ligion would be safest-you. could al
| ways backslide if the collar CALLED
J and there you were Divorces cost
/ money-besides, folks remembered
/ them so long. Worst risk, tho, was
of things not going that tar. . pUae
! Jimmy tied up with a woman who
| tried to make him eat by the books
| cold bread and health-truck for
| breakfast-and no pie whatever, no
IT called Jimmy even grouched
him, this puzzle with no answer. The
answer was not woman-that was
the surest thing he knew. Notwith-
standing he was no woman-hater'
J rather one who cherished a vast,
vague respect for the whole sex-so
vast and vague it chilled warmer feel
fngs.
Athwart this bewilderment flashed.
rainbow wise. a human rainbow, by
name Lyle Grayson. Not in any safe
conventional way, either, but by the
conjunction of deep mud, stalled car
and a perfectly beautiful young man
50 beautifully spotless he seemed out
OF place, packing glass shade for
protection. Titularly he was driving,
but the girl beside him had evidently
been doing the real work. Her nose
was smudged, one bare wrist deeply
scratched, her eyes pools of alteration
mixed with concern. She hailed
Squire Jim alertly at sight, asking help
in the first words. Need of it was too
here and make this car go thru your
red mud" she all but demanded. Its
its new to US; were strangers you
know.
somehow bold enough to answer The
girl smiled deliciousiy. saying with
frank pleasure: Not yet but soon
provided you get US out"
mented, dismounting at the edge of
the puddle. If You had drove
sprang thru the middle you might
a-made it safe-it's deepest and stick
lest by that far bank"
Never mind about that-the thing
is to get thru it-somehow," the g4rl
said, impatiently. I'VE are quite help
less. Arthur-my fiance-never tried
to elope nor run a car until this morn
ing"
He ought to be game for wadin' in
red mud Squire Jim commented Il
won't let him." Lyle said sweetly. He
hasn't any other clothes along-you
don't think he wants to be married |
looking like a hodcarrier?"
wouldn't care how I look edit |
got my GIRL Squire Jim countered, |
thereby amazing himself Somehow
this girl had melted things inside-he |
no longer sapless but teening with /
high adventure. He was in mud half |
thigh deep, in spite of wearing his |
second best suit. But that didn't mat |
further that bewitching voice. 1t said: |
"Oh, thank you SO much! as ne
stopped to test the full depth and |
stiffness of the mud. Tightening |
ing up, Hand out your traps-Ill |
take 'em to dry land-then come back |
for YOU"
"Oh, we can never get out of the |
car" Lyle exclaimed in dismay. 'At |
least I can't-have to drive, you know,
But If you think you can manage with /
Arthur-not let him fall" there she
stopped perforce--the squire had some |
how yanked her from her seat, and
was carrying her over to firm roadside.
As he sat her down he said MASTER
fully over his shoulder: Arthur, be
ready-long time I reckon since you
out bIusshing the reddest rose, made
as tho to plunge in the mud, but
stopped short at his sweetheart's cry:
IF you do that all is off between us"
he took, wishing the while. he might
strangle his steed- But as his feet
touched earth a new terror beset him
over the hedge, hair flying, hat
her eyes stormy. but her cheeks stain
ed with tears. She had seen the trans
fer of Arthur. Instantly she clutched
him, crying loudly: Il am in time,
thank God. I turned back, finding
you had not reached the minister.
Heaven guided me across fields to find
and save him"
Here, 1 want the straight of this!'
Squire Jim demanded. Holding Arthur
tight, the newcomer answered: The
straight is-merely that I am saving
my son from an adventures. She ran
off with him in her car this morning.
By help Of providence haye foile61
not ruin his life. I had rather see
see him dead than her husband. You
are, I suppose, her tool"
Not so you'd notice it," was the
retort. Never saw either of the two
till half an hour back But if Tina
Judge of small matters, She" noddins
at Lyle, lis the lucky one. Can't
think how she ever took shine TO
Arthur-unless she's so young she still
bankers after toys" Arthur tried to
spring at the squire's throat-maj estic
mamma restrained him, saying: I'VE
will not stay here to handy words with
a ruffian. Come, my som left the
car a little way back on the main
road. I do hope you left nothing of
value in that car" glancing scorn-
fully at the stalled rooster. We Will
not, however, stop TO investigate
even tho you should have lost your
purse"
Il have the Iicense-if that's what
you're so concerned about" Lyle cried, ]
springing to her feet. She had
-. ~, -n..-a.-ir.r- tha !