The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-23
HELP -
Thy C. E. Corbet.1

stopped before an ordinary looking
brick house in a certain busting west
ern city and indicated by his attitude
and expression that he was listening.
His persistence attracted the attention
of the drug clerk down the street, who
in the absence of customers was enjoy
ing a smoke on the sidewalk under the
awning, SO he Joined him and also be-
gan to listen The laundryman VINO
came to deliver a package next door
sat in his wagon and eyed them silent
then came over and inquired what was
doing. This small group was gradually
increased by the addition of the Weary
Willie from down on the corner-the
cook from across the street, several
chance pedestrians and numerous small
boys who were all ears and mouth.
There's some troubles in here ex-
planned the first individual, to whom
everybody looked for enlightenment.
Il distinctly heard cries for help, but
hesitate to interfere unless it is really
something serious There! Hear that?
It seems to come from upstairs And
all eyes were Immediately directed to
the second story.
Then borne distinctly on the clear air
could be heard the agonized cry: 20
gods! Stay Zoe. stay! What hast thou
done?" This was followed by sharp
tones of remonstrance, then the low
mutterings of two voices and finally
silence. The cook looked at the laun-
dryman and nodded her head solemnlv.
THE auld spalpeen do be gettin' his
deserts" said she. "Many's the time
little woman. but Zoe seems to be hav-
in tie upper hand now"
Meanwhile in the frontroorn up stairs
entirely unconscious of the interested
group below, so absorbed was he in the
delightful mysteries of the histrionic art
there stood a perspiring young man
with wild eyes and rum pied hair OPP
posite him. reclining in the easy chair,
his faded velvet coat plentifully be-
Sprinkled with cigarette ashes, sat the
professional who listened to the wild
paroxysms of passion uttered by the
youth with perfect indifference and ap-
parently not the slightest interest. Oc-
casionally he would turn his languid
eyes upon the agitated countenance and
despairing gestures and remark: "A
little more feeling there my boy: ex-
centric excentric attitude of feea and
more agony in your voice and face"
Thereupon his words and action would
be repeated again and again until the
critic, reused by his tameness, would
jump to his feet and. throwing back his
long hair, give the passage with all the
fire and extravaganza of a true son of
Thespis.
But while this process of inspiring dull
clay with PrOmethean fire was going on
matters were growing serious down in
the street. AS over and over again the
cry was heard even the cook began to
think that perhaps Zoe was a little too
severe her Hege lord and that her
determined attempts to avenge past
wrongs might end disastrously for the
belabored party But the small boy was
in his element. There was trouble in
the air, and he saw visions of a quick
rush of the patrol wagon loaded with
bluecoats for an animated discussion
was in progress between the original
discoverer and the 1aundryman to
whether an officer should be called or
not The Willie listened suspiciously
and furtively to the development of this
plan. The cook turned around COM
pletely and was loud in her denuncia-
tons of the hussy' up stairs who was
"murthuring her auld man." and the
clerk smiled complacently to himself in
anticipation of a rush order for drugs
and restoratives. Suddenly came in
laundering tones:
20 g99d dsa Stay. Zoe, stayl What has thou
Helpi Helpl She diesl o jailer. she is
gone!'
They looked at each other for an in
1t was murder and suicide together The
original d1Scoverer sprang toward the
Fr0n1 steps and the made fb
Weary Willie shambled unsteadily and
boy, utterly unmindful and regardless of
the tragedy before him, shrieked: Hi
there, Zoe! You're all right. Give him
But before any Of them had gone three
steps a fat youth bearing the letters A. D.
T. on his cap, who in his leisurely pro-
'gress down the street had stopped just in
time to hear the last cry, called out:
Here. you guysi What's the matter with
you? Don't any of you know anything
about the dramatic art? That amt no
murder nor nothin'. It's one of them fell
lows what's learnin' to chase up and down
the stage and rescue girl from burn
In buildin and play the whole thing all
in time. Huh, You don't know much"
The Weary Willie went on down to the
corner, the drug clerk ambled back to his
cigar in the shade, whistling nonchalantly.
the laundryman drove off without word,
the cook went home and slammed the
door. the original discoverer boarded a
passing car and when the bluecoat hove
in sight there nothing more unusual
to be seen or heard than telegraph boy
sitting on the stump of a tree whiting
q niece of wood