The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-28
i" TWENTY FIVE CENTS. /"

ing for formal dinner creeping peril
ously near, while his eyes remained
fixed on the pages of a book.
will you kindly attend to me2"
voice.
John came out of his unreal world
and found himself between the shelves
OF books, young woman of brilliant
blonde beauty standing before him, her
eyebrows met in small triangular
frown.
Il bought this book only an hour
ago" and she placed a package before
him while glancing around the shelves.
Il bought it for a friend to read on
journey. At luncheon I glanced
through It, It's simply deadly. l want
it EXCHANGED"
Johns expression would have be-
trayed him. but the pretty customer
was not looking at him. 1t never oc-
things" conductors, elevator boys, or
walters had faces to be looked at and
were to themselves quite as conspicu-
Gus in the scheme of things as she was.
She moved about. pulling down books
and not putting them back, while adj
dressing the air.
There's no objection to exchanging
1t, 1 suppose?"
No-er-certainly not"
once the words had passed his lips
ne felt himself committed to the stu
alton. Besides, it might be interesting
to study a society girl from the stand
point of a poor clerk who sold books
\ in gaslit shop while the world of
kR7shion walked and drove in the winter
I'm in something of a hurry" she
said over her shoulder, an ingredient in
her voice which made him feel alto
gether a clerk and nothing of an indi>
ViduaJ.
IF you will kindly make a selec-
ton" he said entering with secret de-
light and some fear into the new role.
She did not seem to hear him. but
moved about, her pale gray velvet skirt
making marks in the dust on the floor.
Very wealthy. 1 imagine" muses.
John. "A beauty. and horribly aware
of it. She has a manner that would
be called insolent IL she were plain.
don't believe she was always RIGHTS
like wine in her blood. Has she brains?
Not enough to make her uncomfort-
able. ~ look at this book she's
thing of her mental equipment"
he removed the wrapping and glanced
at the title. The Fates Are Three"
He drew a quick breath and his ears
grew red. He was angry, then humbled.
The abused volume was his own work
his latest novel, the hit of the season,
which had opened wide the domains of
reputation and money to him. The lit
erary fatherhood within him was hurt
but he decided to push the steel farther.
We sell a great many of The Fates
Are Three, he said almost wistfully
i have heard So" she said, whirring
the pages of a book
May 1 ask why you don't like it?
We-er-we value an expression of opin-
ion from our customers" and he felt
all deceit.
oh. it's one Of those deep things
no swing to it. It's stupid. that's all"
But Mr.. Murray has the critics on
his side"
She lifted her brows. but did not trou-
BILE to answer
IN take this''-laying pearl colored
volume before him with sprays of
orange blossoms as decoration. rs
there any difference in the price?"
Johns armour propre came out of it's
rner and mounted on a dais when he
aw the mental meringue which re-
placed him, Welded But Not Mated"
by Angelina Dalrymple
Twenty-Five cents" he said, briskly
wrapping the book up. Shall 1 send it
.Yes-to Miss Glendenning. No
Fifth avenue"
While he wrote the address she swept
away leaving violet fragrance in the
musty corner. John looked after her
with bit of malicious humor
Miss Glendenning-Mar idol
who raves over The F'ates Are Three
and is so anxious to meet me because
I'm the author of it. I'll get even with
her for this"
He put the rs cents carefully in
wallet, substituted another, and left it
on top of his book for one of the clerks
to find later and speculate over Then
he sent welded But Not Mated" to
Miss Glendenning from a messenger
office.
A few days later a note from his
cousin Margaret awaited him with his
coffee:
Dear Jack: I'm off in a rush for golf
and dance at Ardsley, but there's
something you can do for me while I'm
gone. Will you go to Hester Glenden-
ning's, No. -, Fifth avenue and in
troduce yourself? We are getting up
tableaux for my kindergarten, and are
taking bits from the latest novels. Miss
Glendenning is managing the staging,
and is not quite sure of some details
in the costuming of the medieval period,
in which THE Fates Are Three" is laid.
''Nor any other period but the pres
ent. imagine" he snorted.
You will like her. She is a most en-
thusiastic admirer of your book, Jack,
and this ought to please you Go like
a good boy. MARGARET.
Il don't care in the least to know
her" he announced to the toast rack.
Later in the day he wrote:
Dear Miss Glendenning: The inclosed
letter from my cousin explains why
write you. 1 keenly appreciate the
I, honor you do me in wishing to stage
some scenes from my boOk-but why
ut take Welded But Not Mated" in
.-ad? You like this so much better
you remember you paid twenty-five
cents more for it-and there are such
fervid love scenes, ruined abbeys, secret
chambers, stiles, moonlight, unbound
golden hair on the part of the heroine
not to speak of the wild snowstorm into
which she rushes madly to escape from
the vfllain-and without a hat of course
haven't read it myself, but feel posi-
tive all these are in it.
Ny dear Miss Glendenning, you did
not know the service you were doing me
when you paid out that twenty-five
cents. It will keep me humble when
relatives are too encouraging. I am
sincerely and humbly your debtor.
JOHN MURRAY.
IT don't think my customer will look