The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-06
EUening Story
A Flapper There Was
81 BESSIE DOUGLAS.

Is JESSIE DOOG14AS-
"Oh, flappers, they. bore me to
death!"-Dick Haldane said with dis
gust, ''alI of 'em alike. Bobbed hair,
bare knees, earrings and powder.
Faugh!"
The last was an exclamation that
was supposed to show scorn, but his
compaion only laughed.
You'll get over it, Dicki" he
laughed, everybody else's falling for
them, it'll be your turn next"
Dick iHaldane swung his pack to
his shoulders and set off down the
road, turning to halloo a last farewell
at the bend of the road to the man
that was leaning against the cabin
rail.
1t was warm with the sun on his
back, but Dick drew in great breaths
of the whey air of the mountains
and strobe out to the trail, where ball
sans cut out his view of the climb
ahead. He was humming to himself,
rejoicing in his freedom from the
grind of the office and the multitude
nous voices of the city.
He topped hill and stopped to
rest for a moment on a slate ledge
How lit happened, he was never sure.
But he felt himself shoot forward with
a sickening lurch and then he crum-
pied over with his left foot under
him. He tried to rise and then he
realized that his foot was wrenched
He could scarcely move.
by George" he cried out, "and
Jim's gone for the day down to Glow
ersville! How m T.
He looked up to see that some one
was staring down at him with inter-
est Dick flushed. The person star
ing at him was no other than an
abhorred flappef. Her pert head was
tilted on one side and her short curl
ing hair stood out like an aureole.
She wore Knockers. If there was one
thing Dick despised on a. woman it
was knickerbockers. The powder was
not apparent nor were the earrings.
but Dick knew h-r breed and pre-
pared to spar with her.
Hurt ~ she asked calmly.
He vouchsafed her a nod.
Perhaps she said airily. II could
lug you along to that cabin
I'm not asking the impossible"
Dick said rudely.
She paid no apparent attention to
his last remark. But going over TO
the side Of the trail she. picked up a
mountain stock and handed it to him
Lean on that, grandpa, she SAID
graveiy, "and I'll support you on the
left wing
Dick rose. He decided he would
show her He leaned on her shoulder
none too lightly, but after the first few
steps he forgot that he was showing
her, but he knew that he was going to
get to the cabin somehow. The girl
at his side was just support like the
SUCK III Ills OlAicE ia lAOs
Twenty minutes later they reached
the cabin and Dick, sinking to the
couch. saw her face white and spent
with hard bitten lips.
"You poor little kid. you're all tired
Quit" he exclaimed.
slTire4 nothing!" she gasped and
manage to smile. "a mere STEP she
ended f1ippantly.
Dick grunted something. There she
stood, a fapper to the top of her
-
thumbs clinging to the lining of her
pockets.
: Thanks" he managed. All right
now YOU"
But. she paid no attention to him,
turning once to command. Don't
novel, as she saw him reaching for
his pipe on the table.
! Dick lay back and closed his eyes.
Next he knew she was bending over
him. sit up and put your foot in
this" He dipped his foot in the
steaming tub of water, wondering
mistily how she had done it SO quick
". He felt her fingers cool and agile
binding his ankle tightly with some
hing she drew from her tiny KNAPP
sack, and then he dozed pleasantly
away.
1t was a delicious odor that awak-
ened him, the rich smelTNNof boiling
coffee, and as he sat UP and shifted
he air he saw her come into the room
alElIy, carrying d tray DdldnCSu On Ofio
hand while she poised a coffee pot in
he other.
Think you can take a. little nour
shment 2" she asked with a CLEAN in
1er brown eyes.
Dick opened his eyes, toasted bread
ind bacon, coffee and scrambled |
Eggs! He wondered if he were seeing
Kings. In, the most matter-of-fact
way his companion spread a place for
him on the table and dragged it over
H. L.
lering eyes. What was this remark |
bile child a cook or witch?
He fell to without a word, and not |
Until the last broiled bacon sandwich |
vas consumed did he lean back with /
sigh of content.
rive eaten meals he began CRATE |
ulIy, but I/never-'
Then he saw the glcam in her |