The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-02
TIE EVENING STOR r
-AI-Iu Z ~tIEs
(By Edith NJ. Doane- J

any and watched her husband side
ways out of her dark. inscrutable eyes.
The other Eliza beth
stood by the window, a letter with
queer, South American postmark in
her hand.
Poor, lonely old man" she said.
softly. Listen, Tom='Im kind of
hungerin' for the sight Of a face that
belongs to me'-and tlis-I jest want
to get acquainted with my own folks
isn't that pathetic2"
I amt beholden,' she went on.
scanning the letter swiftly. I don't
ask no favors, but I'd kind Of ike to
feel that them that is to have the little
| something 1 leave will have a kindly
fellin for the old man who scraped it
all together. when he's gone. "
She looked UP with swift comrre-
hension at the tense attitude Of the
other two. You do not suppose that
little something can be a fortune DO
you r. she said, half nervously.
It might be as WE'LL Thomas Cole
man suggested, ito acquire more
definite information concerning it
before committing ourselves.
Thomas Coleman was a man whom his
friends called "1evel-headed.
May be nothing in it, he added
But if there should be-" suggested
his wife, still drumming softly on the
polished wood. Only his wife knew
how fearfully Thomas Coleman had
been hampered in money matters
lately.
Whether there is or not, he has
claim upon u.s." put in Elizabeth, hot
~. He's a poor, lonely old lnan-our
fathers brother"
Thomas Coleman raised remon-
strating hand. BE reasonable, Eliza
beth. We do not know him. It is not
to be supposed that we can offer him
home Indefinitely unless we receive
some =ah-remunera in the
end
Although it would be in line with
Eliza beth's Quixotic ideas TO do So
said Toms wife. sharply.
Elizabeth was a standing grievance
with her sister-in-laW. Elizabeth. who
was supremely Indifferent to the value
of money-Eliza beth, tall and straight
and splendid who preferred a self-sup-
porting life in a tiny fat to dependence
in her brothers beautiful home, and
/ who proposed to throw herself away
on a fellow whose only lack was that
Of money.
She confronted them now Indignantly.
1T is a shame.' she flashed. looking
like an enraged princess with her fam
/ ing cheeks and heavy, red-gold halr-
"A lonely old man begs for affection.
He freely offers US all he has Be It
much or little, it is all. In return you
weigh and appraise and calculate. Oh,
she broke off. L am ashamed of you.
Let US make him honestly welcome,
4
and in that first day, while the 9TH
lers hold aIoof, it was Elizabeth who,
in warm hearted irnpulsive fashion wei
coined the little old man enveloped In
a shaggy greatcoat, who regarded his
Town folks with shrewd blue eyes
which looked out rather Witfully from
under the shaggy brows.
On the second Gay Uncle Peter ap-
| preached Thomas Coleman.
Some mornin' when it's convenient,
] To like TO go down town with you.
want to find Willie Moore's Office, he
added alphabetically.
Thomas { oleman looked up quickly.
/ civilian T Moore, the Iawyer2
The old man nodded. willie Moore 8
father and me was boys together, and L
always had considerable confidence in
/ Willie. I've got a few papers I'd kinder
/ like him to keep" he added
The "feW papers turned out to be
one million dollars worth of shares in
the FL .Tuarez gold mine.
Uncle Peters welcome was assured.
For six months he was the recipient
/ of every attention which the solicitude
| of his beloved and happily surprised
nephew and his wife could devise,
/ then, one day, like a bolt from clear
sky, the storm burst
The FL Juarez mines were flooded
The rumor started in the Mining
exchange when stock that had been
$3.50 was quoted at SIS a share; then
the reporters got it and the Journals
Wall Street," ''El Juarez Mine Flood
edt'' Later the report was confirmed,
and by o'clock the shares of the FL
Juarez mines we're not worth the pa
per on which they we're written.
The old man to whom the mines
had been a lifelong companion stared
desperately at the Haunting headlines
then, covering his face with his rough
worn hand, gave way to his grief with
the abandon of a child.
Them mines was jest like my own
child" he sobbed- Il knowed they
wasn't actin up jest right when left
'em. but never suspicloned they q
fetch up where they hev', and again
tears flowed unrestrainedly down the
furroWed cheeks.
Disappointed, embittereds almost
maddened by the loss of sorelys needed
wealth just within his grasp, THOMAS
Il Coleman broke the silence.
.'Don't worry he said coldly- you
are not too old yet to find some suit
able employment"
ment then as the meaning of the cruel
words dawned upon him his face went
suddenly and pitifully white
II kinder thought If I was ever II
trouble I could depend on my owr
/. folks The old voice Quavered pit
eousIy as the curtains parted and
Elizabeth entered the room. Sweeping
past the others she took the old mans
hands in her young ones.
I have come TO take you nome WIZ
me-" she said simply.
But the mines," he said. unsteadily
Never mind. There isn't much room
in my little fat but there's a loving
welcome and soon''-sae blushed hap
pily-"there will be little house in tbs
suburbs"
but how about that young fellei
you're goin' to marry2' questioned thu
old man, doubtfully.
He told me to come for you," an
/ Il
eyes
The old man rose and. still hoIdins
Elizabeths hand, faced Thomas Cole
man and his wife.
You said 1 wasn't too old to fns
suitable employment" he said, and
? 49, I...a found In e-oir. To t,.,-