The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-21
TIE EVENING STOR r
Two Losses. Plus

A cablegram had reached the house
not ten minutes after they left it, but
that only deferred the explanation.
aunt Mary had resided in Wisconsin
up to year before, and never having
been in the big city, she was anxious
TO look around a bit The niece had
some shopping to do, and they had put
IN couple of days when what Aunt
Mary called the tragedy happened.
They were visiting a waxworks show
IN the evening, and the old lady was
nightly taken with all she saw. Her
EXPLANATIONS Of surprise gave a young
man chance to make a few remarks
and attach himself to the pair, and the
result was that when they were ready
to leave the place Aunt Mary suddenly
exclaimed:
''Nettie. have you got the bag with
the money in it2
NO. You were afraid I'd lose it, and
you took 1t from me just as we came
Wen. it's goner'
You don't mean itl''
But do. Somebody has got 1t with
in the last ten minutes. You may call
me an idiot all the rest of my days"
the young man had also departed,
and no doubt in company with the bag.
Miss Nettie went into a fit OF laughter
at first, but she soon realized that the
loss of the money might prove a very
serious matter. To avoid the queries Of
D
in the lobby to talk things over. Aunt
Mary had noticed the lay figures there
on entering, and could hardly be con-
vlnced that the policeman. bootblack,
Uncle Reuben and others were not liv
ing, breathing human beings. She had
no eyes and no interest now, however.
She had lost $50 in cold cash, and there
was hotel bill to pay, and the railroad
fare home.
1t puts US In a bad predicament. y
said the girl, because we are stopping
at a hotel where they don't know me,
and two or three c. o. D. parcels will
be delivered early tomorrow morning.
1t is just possible that We may find
some one from our town stopping at
the hotel, and can borrow few dol
lars
.'I'Il never forgive myself-never."
exclaimed Aunt Mary, as the tears
filed her eyes. Think of a woman of
my age having her pocket picked! I
shall be ashamed to face them at
home. They'll make fun of me to the
end of time. Have we got anything
we can pawn?"
Nothing. I was careful not to bring
any of my jewelry, and that wedding
ring and breast-pin of yours wouldn
fetch two dollars. We can't even tele-
graph to pa unless they will trust US,
and they say the telegraph company is
very particular about that. What's
the matter, Aunty?"
The old lady had uttered a half
Shrek and started back from one of
the lay figures and was looking at it
II thought you said they were
wax" she gasped.
so they are
But I'll take my dying oath that
one moved a httle!"
about the loss of the money. We shall
have to walk back to our hotel. and
we might as well be moving on"
A week previous to this incident a
Yale student named Walter Thompson
had added to his demerit marks by
taking the train for New York to have
q real good time. He had it, and
awoke one morning to find himself al
most penniIesss and very much
ashamed of himself. He had made
matters so much worse than they were
before that he hated to go back and
face the music.
During the day he managed to
brace up, but the bracing took the
rest of his cash, and he had only a
quarter in his pocket when he came to
a halt at the corner of Broadway and
Fifth avenue, and the women, bound
for the wax-Works show, passed him.
A young man must be worse than
embarrassed financially not to take a
second look at a handsome girl passing
him on the street. After the students
second look he followed the women,
and as it happened to be a half-rate
evening, his quarter bought him a
ticket
He may or may not have been no.
ticed by Miss Nettie as he loitered
about with other spectators, but if he
was she did not charge him with be-
ing the pickpocket who despoiled
them. He looked too honest and re-
spectacle for that. When he over
heard them speaking of their loss he
side he lifted a dummy aside and took
its place. At another time-a time
when he was himself=he would have
offered his services frankly, but he
hadn't the cheek just then. If they
had lost their money he also was
without resources. If they were Won
dering how they were to pay the rail-
road fare home, it was for him to
wonder how long 1t would take him to
walk the distance.
But I've got to help them out Of
their trouble some way, he unused,
after they had departed from the
museum and he had started to follow
them at a respectful distance. Don't
go much on old ladies, outside of the
mater, but that girl is a sumner 1t
would break my heart If she cried
over this trouble. Magnificent hair
and glorious eyes! Just the sort Of
face I've dreamed about. Lots Of
style and go about her. Broke, and
yet I've got to help her"
The ladies were followed to the no.
tel As they passed around to the la
dies entrance young Thompson en-
tered by the front and walked UP to
the desk and inspected the register.
He soon found their names. also the
name of citizen from their town who
was reputed to be wealthy.
In all probability they would apply
to this gentleman for a loan: If not a
loan they would at least ask that he
telegraph for them. The thought pro-
voked the student IT was for him
and no one else to help them out of
their trouble
Noting the number Of the mans
room. he turned from the desk to the
elevator and was landed on the
fourth floor Four doors down the
hall was the right door. The student
did not ask himself why he was going