The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-31
THE EVENING STORY
As &c Chiznes RAM.

Waterman raLtleS tnat this year were
dividing favor with the horns as an
audible expression of New Years joy.
1t would be two hours yet before
old Trinity's chimes would ring out
the old year and give welcome to the
new. There were few If any who
would hear the bells when they did
ring, because of the din. yet this was
made the rallying point of the crowd
and 1t would be long after IL o'clock
before 1t dispersed. They swarmed
down the side streets for couple OF
blocks around. To get home she
would have to force her way through
the crowd
Carefully she counted the small
change in her purse and closed 1t with
sigh. It would never do to waste car
fare for the short ride. She had lin
gered at the office to clean up her
work in preparation for New Years.
1t would be no happy New Year for
her. for the trial balances she had so
neatly copied showed that no profit
had been made, and as soon as the re-
ceiver could be brought in her work
would be done. To spend cents to
escape the crowd would be an extrav-
agance.
AS she tidied up her desk and laid
the typewriter sheets on the desk in
the bookkeeper's cage, she thought of
the year before. when she and jeff had
come down to hear the chimes. They
were to have been married in the
spring. but JEFF had been offered a po-
sition in California and had gone out.
promising to send home for her. Then
his letters suddenly stopped with one
announcing that he had married
half-breed woman, with a gold mine
to replace physical attractions
1t would be very different tonight
with no one to force a way through
the crowd for her. She buttoned her
shabby coat tightly about her and
made her way downstairs. Some OF
the cleaners shouted out Happy New
Year after her and she called back,
There was none of the holiday spirit in
her heart.
Once past the revolving doors she was
caught up in the crowd and carried
along in the human tide. At the cor
ner they struck cross current Of hu-
manity that forced her into a niche be-
tween two huge pillars. Here she was
discovered by a crowd of rollickers who
with half drunken good humor insisted
that she join their party.
She shrank back into the shadow. but
her tOrmentors would not be baked or
their prey and pressed forward. One
Of them laid his hand upon her arm and
with a frightened cry she sought to
wrench herself free A burst of rude
laughter that greeted her effort was
stopped short as a brawny arm reached
over and caught khe buliy's collar.
There was a quick exchange of blows
and then with a last shout they were
swallowed I'D in the crowd. Ruth look
ed up to thank her protector, and en-
countered Jefferson Rerrian's gaze.
i've found you,'' he cried exultingly.
Il knew that I should. I had a pre-
sentiment that If 1 come down here 1
should find you"
II was detained at the Office she ex-
planned. 81 was going home"
Alone" he cried Indignantly. why
didn't your husband come for you?''
MY husband?" she laughed. Where
4 I'M r,v-
First hand. I suppose" he said. cat
least I had a letter from you in which
you explained that you were tired of
waiting and had married a Bronson
Deering."
Il never even heard of such a per-
son." she denied.
Here it is" he said. as he reached
into his pocket and drew out wallet
He placed a letter in her hand. The
folds were scanned by friction, but in
the light from the interior of the build
ing she could make out its contents.
THAT looks like my handwriting Z"
never wrote any such letter When did
you go to Wyoming?" she added as she
studied the envelope and noted that the
letter had been forwarded from the Cal
ifornia ADDRESS.
II wrote you at the tine" he explain
ed in surprise Jim BoIan took it to
town with him and mailed it there 1t
was shortly after I got out there. The
Wyoming to prospect"
Did you meet your wife there or af-
ter you went to Arizona % she asked.
We'll, that's a good one he laughed.
who told you that I was married?"
You wrote that you were tired of
hard work and that you had married
a half-breed woman who had a mine
Did the letter come from Arizona ?"
he asked.
mo, it came from San Hernandez.
You explained that you were going to
Arizona the next week"
When did this happen?" he cried
DO you remember The date?@
1T was some tine in February" she
explained. Il Got the letter on St
Valentines day.
THAT was a pretty sort of valen-
tine" he commented. See here, Ruth,
did Jim Bolan ever ask you to marry
him?"
twice" she said. Once before you
went away and again when he was on
here last summer"
Il think 1 can see how 1t was" he
said quietly. Jim was bookkeeper at
the mine and made up the mail He
must have forged my letter to you and
when he received one of yours after
left, he steamed open the flap, inserted
a forgery and forwarded 1t to me.
He knew as well enough to feel GER
tain that we should not write each 9TH
er and compare notes. and - thought
he had disposed OF me ana would be
able to gain your consent to marriage
to him.
Il don't think he is clever enough to
FORGE she declared.
He was sent to prison for forging"
he said when he came east last
summer they went over his accounts
and found that he had been forging
to vouchers right along.
They sent him to jail. but he escaped
somehow and mas never been located
Then that is the way 1t was she
raid. Somehow I could not believe
that II was true"
And there is no one else2'' he asked. |
She shook her head.
There never has been any one else !
she said softly. Unmindful of the !
I. ..--l,t I, HI L