The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-12
THE EVENING STORY
AIeters and AIeetIngs.

ScsAN NdRGEiys pG6ElElB through the COM
paint window and wondering how It
was that such an entirely charming
young woman could work for SO
heartless a corporation as the gas
company
Il am the regular clerk" was the
the slip Caverly had half thrust
through the window and glanced at
the name
IT want the one who gets the mail
complaints" he stammered. The girl
laughed musically.
I am that lop-sided, frozen-hearted
person who would not answer your let
ter, she insisted. You see, in your
heat you forgot to give any address"
Caverly thought of some OF the other
and more personal illusions he had
made. and groaned. Until then he
had rather prided himself upon his
ability at inveetive.
Il didn't know that you were-that
1s-that the complaint clerk was q
woman" he stammered.
'I didn't think you did, she
laughed, but I'm used to that sort of
thing. I had a man over at your place
yesterday"
did he have an ax?" asked cav
erly. IT'S the only way to get the
best of that meter
THE gas was turned on in the oven
of the stove" she said smilingly. 1T
But I don't use the oven," he pro-
tested. I'm a bachelor, and I just
get my breakfasts there"
Perhaps when you were cooking
the modest egg" she laughed, you
brushed against the lower cocks"
Caverly blushed He had been
proud of that line. when I poach
the modest egg or fry the humble
rasher, the meter straightway charges
me enough gas to prepare dinner
fr7-- civ !. s@1, 4f,r,r, L
heaven. I do not possess" Now he
thought it sounded very silly.
Il must have smelled 1t, II it was"
he argued The girl shook her head
There is a pipe connection with the
chimney" she reminded. 1T never
"Then guess it's up to me-" he said
slowly.
yes, she assented. 1920 for last
month; $40 this month. Pay at the
last window"
I'm sorry I have given you all this
trouble he said awkwardly, and said
-er-those things, you know"
That is all right; I understand" she
said. I hope you will have no more
trouble"
Il hope I do" he announced ambig-
uously as he raised his hat and went in
search of the cashiers window, but
won't write letters
After that Caverly's meter seemed
troublesome in town. Two and three
times a week he called with some com
plant that somehow never seemed to
need more than a word of advice.
Meanwhile, he had discovered the
name of the young woman and was
searching everywhere for some one
who knew her. so that he might seek
an Introduction. 1t was several weeks
before he discovered that his mother
out in Chicago was an intimate friend
nf Ora VNfncfantc mr. ,crl-
this medium he was able to meet the
girl conventiOnally. He lost no time in
asking her to accept an invitation to
a little dinner which in some way
might make uD for the trouble he had
caused her.
you should go to boarding. she
advised one evening, as they fingered
over the demf-tasse. They had re-
peated the dinner. You would have
no more trouble with the meter then .
i've had very little since [ met
you he declared. 'and I hate board
ing houses.
why not get married. she smiled.
That would solve the problem
Il know it." he agreed "I've got
the very girl in mind. too. I haven t
asked her yet. but L mean to. SOON
1t is very good idea she said
coldly With wife you would be
more settled down, and not have to de-
pend upon restau1 ants
"Oh, I don't know about that" he de-
INJURED. st should want to have our
little dinners occasionally, even after I
am married"
Il think you have a rather poor opin-
ion of me-" she said.
by our little dinners I meant my
wife's and NINE" he said explicitly.
The girl flushed. Il beg your pardon. y
she said.
Caverly yelled his amusement-and
satisfaction. You see" he added. II
shall have plenty of time then: I
shan't have to watch the gas meter so
carefully
Mop
mo; there won't be SO attractive a
complaint clerk at the gas comDany's
of1iee-then," he said, pointedly.
A month afterward the same two sat
at opposite sides of the same table
you see. we are having our little
dinners, after ALL Caverly leased.
Yes; and the gas bills are only half
as big; but 7 am careful to do the
complaining myself. if there is any to
be done. It's a dangerous thing to let
a man do Copyright, 1906, by NJ. NJ.
Cunningham.