The Topeka state journal., 1905-11-27
TIE EVENING STORY
Parker,s Plan.
rBy James Norton.l


Brent Parker scowled at the red "3O''
on the calendar above the mantle. He
supposed he should be thankful for
many things, yet, somehow, he found it
hard to offer up thanks when his one
desire was moving so slowly toward full
fllment.
Ever since Nina Afnsley had moved
| into the house. four months ago, he
had vainly sought an introduction. He
had stolen her cat that he might return
| 1t and had received only pretty speech
Of thanks. He had taken her groceries
/ of the dumb waiter by mistake for no
| other purpose than that he might trudge
| up one flight to deliver them and she
/ had passed him on the street the fol-
! lowing day without a sign OF recogni-
/ ton. He thought seriously of cutting
his hand or something, but was re-
strained by the KNOWLEDGE that Mrs.
/ Button, on his own floor. would prob
! ably be the one to bring first aid to the
/ injured.
He was not a man of quick senti-
nent, yet from the very first he had
/ decided that he would marry Miss Aims
( ley or continue in a state of single
| blessedness. The chances seemed re-
/ narkably strong in favor Of the liter
condition, yet here he was called upon
by proclamations frc~7 the president
and governor to give thanks.
Inere was not even a chance for q
/ thanksgiving dinner except al the
restaurant in the block below. He was
/ entlrely alone in the city and it was
not likely that any of his few business
/ acquaintances would invite him to
share their feast.
That he was home lover was proven
/ by MS occupancy of an entire flat in
! stead Of the bachelor apartment his
/ means would have permitted, but the
larger the fiat the greater the lonesome
ness, and he scowIed again at that
crimson go" that was supposed to
i mark a red letter day
For half an hour he stared into the
/ glowing Goals of the fireplace. then, with
a shout, he Strengthened up. It was
/ only the matter oS a moment to ex-
change the dressing gown for a street
coat and over on the avenue there were
/ butcher shops in plenty. Parker paused
/ before one brilliantly lighted window
| studying the heaps of turkeys within.
/ In all the stories he had read the turkey
/ was always a 10-pound specimen of his
race Parker did not know exactly how
! large a 10-pound turkey was. but he
I went boldly inside and asked for one.
1 It was surprising how large it looked,
4 but he was not one to set tradition aside
and he had it wrapped up.
Where shall send it?" demanded the
clerk.
TN take it, was the prompt response
and with the heavy parcel under his
! arm Parker went out on the street.
It made a rather awkward thing to
/ carry that way, so he tried carrying it
/ by the string until the cord broke and
/ he only saved the turkey from falling
1 by wildly grasping it in his arms
He hugged it tightly to his breast un-
til the paper gave way and the bird shot
/ into the air as though it would fly; then
he tried carrying it by the legs until
he discovered that the head was drag
/ ging on the ground. then he doubled it
/ up and carried it by neck and heels.
He was too much interested in his own
/ endeavors to notice the amusement his
/ appearance excited but he was thor
oughly glad when, at last, he reached
| the fat entrance and staggered up the
stairs with the turkey in his arms as a
| woman carries a child.
There was a little dirt on the head,
/ but that came off with spOnging. and
he argued that his tailor could make
/ his OVeTcOat presentable. Having as
| sured himself of these facts, he straight
ened his necktie and scrambled up the
stairs to the fat above.
! Mrs. Afnsley came to the door and
/ stood waiting in polite astOnishment
| for some explanation of his belated call.
sI beg your pardon he said, plung-
/ ing desperately into his subject, but
I have a turkey
Mrs. Ainsley inclined her head ever
so slightly in acknowledgment of this
| evident fact, and Parker felt the blood
| rushing to his face.
Its a mighty nice turkey he went
on, "a regular ten-pounder. My uncle
3
Rhode Island. where all the good tur-
keys come from"
Another polite nod OF wonderment
| and he ran or
you see, have no means of cooking
it down stairs, and I thought perhaps
you would take pity on me and cook it
! fof -sa."
I think the baker would roast it
1 very nicely for you she suggested. Il
| believe they do those things.
But you see, went on PafSer more
I glibly Just a turkey wouldn't be any
good couldn't fix it up with the
sauce and all that sort OF thing, ana ll'i
/ thought perhaps-perhaps you would
share the turkey with me- He seemed
/ to be choking again. I'D hate to have
| a Thanksgiving without n turkey from
/ home, yet there is no one I can go to.
I might have asked Mrs. Burton to
cook it, but she has such a big family
that there would scarcely be room for
me and I thought you might take pity
on me and"
Mrs. AinsIey stretched out her hands.
/ sfOf course I will" she cried iTnpulsive-
" 1--WE have not bought a turkey yet
and you shall have a real home dinner.
! I'm glad you came"
/ Does it need any fxings or-things?"
he asked.
1--WE have all that is needed she de-
/ clared. Would 2 o'clock suit you?"
First rate" he answered heartily.
MAY I come up about 1 and help? I
/ love to help"
Mrs. Ainsley smiled. "I guess. you
never tried to help in a flat kitchen. -
she suggested. You'd better come up
about =
He made a graceful speech of thanks
and went downstairs tTeading on air
At last he was to dine with them. to
meet Nina and, perhaps, be asked to
| come again. It would not be his fault if
the invitation were not extended.
He settled himself in fror+ of the fire
! again but not to scowl at the red go.
! Instead he made a ~rimace at the mod
est "29'' which stood between him and
I the red letter day.
On the way down to his Office in the