The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-28
RIVALRY OF BROCK AND HleBy.


to try it. But he didn't He had grim,
sly sort of hurnor and a capacity for
affection peculiar TO men of his type, but
he seemed to ignore women, and during
his first term at Bush Medical Col
Iege he was never even suspected OF an
affair"
Then he didn't drink red liquor Ken
tuckian who doesn't drink and has no
eye for women is supposed TO be an
anomaly. The contemporaries of Brock
regarded him as freak" even while
they respected and loved him
Brock was so poor at the end OF ms
first term that ne had gotten down TO
aeIhIloid collars and a dark-colored
stock. He used TO make his notes on
pale yellow paper that looked suspiciously
ike the kind bundle-wrappers use, and
his one suit of clothes was getting past
the stage IN which brushing and press
ing fools people. If Brock had chum,
Highly was the man A rlcn, reckless
trifer was Highly, full of ebullient spirits
and bent on proving that life was
farce, the medical profession joke, and
woman toy. How on earth Highly ever
got on the right side Of Brock no
body knew. but he did, and, what was
stranger yet, Brock seemed to like him.
Money? Not at all. Brock would have
starved before he would borrow money
from any man, and even in the days OF
their closest intimacy the Kentuckian
never was known to accept even the hos
pitality of a meal from his wealthy
friend.
When Brock came back for his second
year he had a new suit that must have
cost at least ten dollars. He had risen
again TO linen collars, neckties, and
shirts, and all knew then that he had
put in" his vacation at work. There
We're a few blisters on his big hands, and
the tan on his skin was the red scorching
of DAYS in the wheat field rather than
the sallow of a season by the seashore-
Highly came back, too. He was wilder
than ever, and he hadn't attended three
lectures before he began TO talk about
the new fairy"
It seems that during the summer
new laundry had opened just round the
corner, and behind the counter was sta
toned a young woman who, according to
HieDy. for looks and style, had the
flag beat a block" Brock was present
the first time Highly mentioned his dis
covery," and even the enthusiastic scape-
grace noticed the sneer on the Kentuck-
fans face as the slangy description of
the girls charms was spoken OF course,
every one of hundred students who
had heard Of Higby's Laundry Queen
went past the place on the way home TO
get a glimpse of the beauty. Sure
enough, there she was, SURPRISING even
Higby's blatant praise; a queenly girl OF
Is. great slumbrous eyes, hair like spun
bronze, tie poise Of an aristocrat IN the
gown Of a lady's maid
Within ten days every student, and to
be perfectly just, some of the professors
of Bush College were sending their linen
10 the new laundry. Rather they were
bringing it there and calling for it in per
son. If the trade of the place had been
all with medical students there would
-, Il war
Every man jack of them not only in
sisted on carrying home his own wash
ing" but made a practice of calling for
it at least twice before the time set for
its readiness.
At least half OF these customers were
desperately in love with the new di-
vinity within a fortnight. They made the
most extraordinary efforts to win a
glance. if not a smile; they sat UP nights
contriving schemes to learn her name, to
awaken her interest, to start converse
ton with her The janitor began TO find
q lot of weird poetry in the waste baS-
kets. the Stevens began to dress up, and
the dudes became almost glorihed IN
their sartorial homage to the girl at the
laundry She yielded not an iota OF rec
ignition 10 any of them. She was Sc
renely gracious to all until the business
in hand was transacted, and then she re-
coded into a hard but beautiful shell
of stately reticence that simply madden
ed her admirers.
Highly. of course, was the most ardent
Of pursuers. He swore that she was the
most beautiful woman in Chicago, ana
his hearers were inclined to agree. One
evening he was standing on the steps
of the college descanting upon her charms
to a crowd of sympathetic fellow stu
such shape! Such a"
cut that out, Highly, bawled voice
from the door behind him. Everybody
turned TO see Brock coming out. His
face was pale with rage His big fists
were elenched, and his voice tremoied as
he went on:
.Youn have to stop talking about this
young lady, Highly. I won't stand it,
Haven't I a right TO admire
Admire and be id. but keep your
mouth shut
Brock paused for moment az If to
restrain his rising passion. Then his race
sof. ened, he came closer and almost whis-
pered:
Excuse me, Hig, old boy. didn't mean
to be rude" Then he turned to the stu
dents and said: Excuse me. gentle
men. 1 want to speak to Mr.. Highly pri-
vately.
They went away together. arm in arm.
Highly mystihed and big Brock bending
over him in earnest conversation No
BODY ever heard Highly talk about his
new fairy after that. Instead a change
came over him for which none seemed
able to account He quit drinking and
took to study He grew serious and staid
in words and habits, and began 70 shine
bit at examinations. The students
thought they understood IL all when word
went round the college that Brock and
the laundry beauty had been seen to-
gether at church. Certain it was that
Brock the aUstere. Brock the woman
hate-. Brock the ascetic. had at least
won a measure OF recognition from the
naughty beauty round the corner.
She vas seen talking TO him across the
counter. and the smile on her face was
certainly not inspired by any argument
over a lost collar. Along toward Christ
mas Brock began 10 take her home from
work. They seemed very confidential and
happy as they marched away. ana every
man in the college envied the Ken
tuckian. The queer part of the affair
soon developed. however, and after Brock
and Highly, one at each side OF the god
dess. had been seen escorting her form
the laundry, nobody knew just what 20
think. Every man in the college knew
that Highly was violently and probably
had cut him out. and that the chances
were good for r fierce and bloody feud
between the two former friends.
Ii was Just before the final eIamina-
tons that Highly made verbal announce
ment Of his approaching wedding
who's the lucky girl Eigg the stu
dents would ask.
'+Oh. you don't know her he would
smile I'm intnduce you after The we'd
ding Were 10 give al you fellows re-
ception ana 9 chance 70 dance fn Our
honor Brock - 20 b. best man
That seemed 70 settle IL OF course
Brock wouldn't - best uan FOR his sac
oa-sru1 rival and the students decided