The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-21
TIE EVENING STORY
Growers Glove
.Rv Colin s. collins

aLIaIU OF UOTTTUe-
put there was something al5out the Eve
loot daintiness OF Laura Lenhart that
mace Lloyd Grover blush and stamsner
IKE the rawest schoolboy in the maddest
Stages OF his first love affair.
lie never would have dared to annex
me ne glove had he not been certain thai
MISS Lenhart was unaware of her loss
ana he stuffed it in his deepest pocket.
trembling from head to foot lest some
one suddenly appear and demand that
ne restore the souvenir to its owner.
Later on he participated in the gem
eIaI hunt for the glove, and none was
more eager than he in the search. Even
liter Miss Lenhart laughingIy declared
mat IT did not matter he kept up the
pfetense and made that the excuse for
reporting at her side as often as her
partners left her alone for moment.
Dropping In at his club on the way
nome, Grover could not resist the temp
latlon to draw the glove from his pocket
ana gioat over his holiness. He even
pressed 1t to his lips. after making sue
cnat no one was looking, but he crushed
II hurriedly in his hand at Jack Tur-
nef approach, and as he did so, for the
nrst ti91e, he realized that there was
something inside the glove
win the Precipitation standing cold
upon his forehead ne realized that it
must be a ring and his active imagina-
LOn at once busted itself with plans for
returning the jewel undecided. He
gould never bring himself-fo confess the
theft Of the glove. He could not pretend
10 nave found the ring without being
FORCED to explain why he had not re-
turned it at once. and a thousand and
one suggestions, all equally impossible,
rushed through his mind.
All the time he was keeping up a con-
Versatlon with Turner, and he much
surprised that young man by answering
By registered MALL when asked how
he was going home.
was going to walk" laughed
Turner, land suggest that I keep you
company as far as your door, but il
you are going by registered mail,
think I will pass"
Registered mail won't do was the
absent reply. you see I'll have to
give my address to the postal clerk
You'll be giving your address and
other details to the desk sergeant -
laughed Turner, ''if you try to get
home in this state" And he left the
smoking room fully convinced that for
the first time he had seen Lloyd Grow
er intoxicated.
For an hour Grover sat and pom
dered the situation and at last, with
out having arrived at satisfactory
the fresh air might stimulate his fac
ulttes to some plan of escape.
So engrossed was he with his
thoughts that he did not realize how
1aA 44C AlcQ Wd1hGQ u41LIls VIII d start
he found himself several miles from
home and in most unsavory quarter
OF the city. He turned to retrace his
steps, and in an endeavor to reach a
car quickly he took a short cut
through an alley.
Half way down the block he heard
footsteps behind him and turned to
confront a burly ruffian with a leVeled
revolver in his hand. With a spring
that had gained many a five yards on
the gridiron, Grover sprang on him
and in a moment they were on the wet
pavement struggling to gain the adj
vantage over the other. The footpaQ
landed several telling blows, but in
the end Growers skill told against the
others weight and Grover was just
rising from his opponents PROSTATE
form when, with a rush, the police
were on them. The fight had been OBJ
served and the patrolman had sum-
moned help.
dragged to the station house and
charged with assault and battery, and
when he was searched the glove with
its ring was brought to light.
zone of those Raf1es chaps" was
the grinning comment of his captor.
III bet that sparkler is worth five
hundred"
one of the wardmen stepped for
ward. s'That is the ring Miss Lenhart
lost" he declared eagerly. Her
hour ago and an alarm was sent out.
They think one of the walters at the
Colwell ball stole it
This chap looks like a waiter" sug-
gested the policeman, surveying Gro
Ver's battered face. ''Guess Wen hold
him.
They laughed at his request that
various influential persons be sent for.
1t was then 4 o'clock in the morning
and the sergeant would not call any
one out of bed to come to the rellef OF
a waiter who had been found ngntlng
in BLOODY Alley" SO they conhscated
the ring and thrust him into a cell with
scant ceremony.
For the rest of the night Grover
paced the narrow limits of the cell or
sat on the edge of the iron bunk and
thought He had heard of men who
had gone to prison and had concealed
that fact. 1t would be a good idea in
his case. It would be better to pass
three months in Jail and give it out
that he had gone abroad than to face
the jeers of the fellows, and when. in
the morning, Laura came to the station
house to identify her property before
Grover was taken to court. he stood
silent while she sought to identify him
as one Of the walters.
With his blackened eyes ana cut lips
it was difficult to tell what he looked
like, and she turned away with shake
of her head. Growers heart leaDed as
he realized that so far his scheme had
worked successfully. Now all he would
have to do would be to plead guilty
and take his three months sentence.
But his hopes were dashed by Laura's
next remark.
'sWin the man get a long sentence %
Not very long" was the careless re-
NV of the wardnan. LAS TAR as we
can make out, it's his first offense and
he'll get off with five or six years"
It was too much. Grover started
forward. Laura he called. The
girl turned in establishment while her
father made a step forward as if to
resent the familiarity Don't you
recognize me?" he pleaded. Don't
mention my name, but for heavens
sake let me see you for moment in
private!"
ssWhere?" she asked uncertainty.
There's the captains room. Miss