The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-27
Euening Story
The Kidnaped Peasant Girl.
BY R. RAY BAKER,

/ The Kidnapped Peasant Girl.
. BY r. RAY BAKER.
It was all very well, this being kid
! Mapped, until the masked man at the
wheel of the auto tried to kiss her.
Then the girl let out a scream that
the valley walls hurled back and forth
thru the pine woods.
The kidnaper had drawn UP beside
the road, and without a word had
placed his arm around the girl, i'm
planting a smacking kiss full on her
red lips Until now it had seemed like
a grand lark. but after that-Well,
! she really was frightened now.
The man was in garments evidently
| intended to proclaim him as knight,
| but it was rather inconsistent attire.
He wore army 1eggins over blue
trousers, and a striped blouse OF red
and yellow. A sword with denied
sea bbard hung from his waist, and a
pink domino covered his eyes and
forehead, with a red hood surmount-
and the part that showed was not at
all repulsive.
The girl appeared to be a peasant
/ of central Europe. Her face-wesl.
the red lips and dimples were all that
could be seen, because she was
When the girl screamed the man
released her and appeared taken
aback.
''Why. what's the matter?" he
asked. establishment in the voice,
which decidedly was not gruff.
Natter" she exclaimed indig-
nantly. Don't you think you are
carrying this escapade a little too
| far?''
TOO far?' he echoed. You don't
mean to say that a man hasn't the
right TO kiss the girl he is clipping
with, lido you?'
She laughed scornfully.
"Eloping Seems you're taking a
/ lot for granted. Perhaps you're insane.
Yes, I think that's it. No man in his
right mind would talk and act like
you"
Garvin Haskell really was puzzled
by the girls behavior. What was the
matter with Maxine? Hadn't she
agreed to elope from the costume ball
with him Had she changed her mind
after all the carefully arranged plans?
Well, he knew she was tickle, but it
did not seem reasonable that she
would back out now.
There was no good reason for an
elopement, anyhow. Maxine's parents
were dead, and Garyin's folks never
had displayed an inclination to NEEDLE
in his affairs of the heart. He had
enough money in his own right to care
for wife, and in fact his father ana
, mother were rather anxious for him
to settle down.
But Maxine had inisted on eIop-
ing, in order to have a taste of fo-
aunt, with whom she was staying
while visiting in Sarendac, for one
thing, and she wanted some excite
ment when she took the marriage
vows.
Garvin had been trying ever since
he became acquainted with her two
months ago to induce her to have
him. She had put him off, laughing,
until the time came for the masked
ball.
Yes, I'll marry you, Carve" she
SAID but it's got to be an elopement.
You dress as a knight and I'll be a
peasant girl. After the fifth dance
I'll meet you under the big oak tree
on the lawn and wen elope. The
angements for a minister, of course,
are up to you"
land I'll call when?'' inquired the
elated Garvin.
you won't call at ALL" she said.
'Pn go TO the dance with some of
the girls and you go alone. Thatll
make it more romantic"
Garvin made the necessary arrange
ments which included marriage by a
minister in the neighboring town of
Charlotte. He dressed as a knight to
AAAC DSSL VI MS 1Dlllly anu went 10
the dance alone. And there was his
beloved, dressed in the peasant cos
tune, exactly fitting the description
Maxine had given him. Yes, she had
met him under the oak at the ap-
pointed time, and he had carried her
off in the auto And when he pulled
up beside the road to claim a kiss
as his just due she screamed.
They sat in silence for a few mo-
ments after the conversation that fol-
lowed the scream, and it began to
dawn on Garvin that there must be a
mistake somewhere.
would you mind removing your
mask?" he asked the girl.
mot if you will do the same" she
For reply he removed the domino
and at once the girl lifted the cambria.
Yes. it was Maxine. In the pale moon
light her countepance showed up as
lovely as ever, except that it seemed
trifle older, but, no doubt, that was
dueP to the shock OF being almost
kissed. That was not quite consistent
either, for Garvin never had supposed
Maxine to be that unsophisticated. He
ScrutInlzed her closely, and she re-
turned the stare. Yes, it was Max
ines eyes, and the nose and hair were
hers; But why the change in her at
Maxine he began, clearing his
"Maxine" she exclaimed. ePm not
Maxine. What made you think 1
was?"
The moons rays became brighter
now, due to the shifting of some
clouds. and the girls face showed
palmer. Yes. there was a difference.
She was older that was certain, altho
not much older.
We'll, how-what-" he STAN
mered.
That's what I say" she exclaimed.
"How-what-''
It's got me beat" he declared.
DO You happen to know Maxine
Brooks?'
IT certainly do. She's my younger
sister. But she left town yesterday
shortly after I arrived to visit Aunt
Sarah"
Garvin's heart sank. So this was
the outcome Of the carefully laid
elope-le.t plans. He stepped on the
starter and turned the car out in the
road, heading it for Sarendac. For