The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-05

pie who had never seen the inside of
the building before.
The letter which was the cause OF
the increased patronage for one night
is said to be the handiwork Of the
new manager who acts as his own
press agent and Miss Adelaide Ohm
stead, who is in the Office. The letters
were almost identical as far as the
wording is concerned with the excep-
tion that the husband was located in
a different state by each letter. Here
is one of the letters:
ssR{v Dear -
Z know you will be surprised to
hear from me after SC long an alb
sence. Am here for a short visit and
could not resist the temptation to
write you. Since our last meeting, I
have married and am at present living
in Texas.
my husband has gone on east and
I am here with friends. It would not
be prudent for me to give you my adj
dress as I must be careful but # you
Will be at the rink this evening, we
viii have the pleasure Of a nice little
visit. etc. For reasons best known to
both of US I will not sign my name
but will wear a white e~arnatI9n for
Identification. Shall very much
on the pleasure of seeing you again.
So please be there.
Sincerely, =
The recipients of the letters began to
arrive early and one Of them at least
stayed until quite late IN the hopes
fha the white carnation and its Wearer
might have been delayed on account
OF the heavy rain which prevailed all
evening. The affair was not the sue
cess that it might have been had not
several who had received letters met
at the Elk@club and exchanged con-
ddences. The similarity of the letters
was discovered when a North Topeka
G-ozer-- Gr~x1rv4ef- called a U04InP man
whose father owns a large wholesale
dry goods house on Jackson street
aside and In confidence told him that
he had received & letter from an old
time friend and that he was going to
b rink to meet her. The exchange OF
! condolences became numerous and q
count of the letters In pale blue en-
nevlopes developed the fact that there
were an even dozen of them in the
one bachelor lawyer. who is known
to his frfnds as judge on account OF
once having been police judge, left
early and declared that he was going
straight home and to bed for fear that
he might be tenpted to Just have enc
look" and make a mighty mistake.
one of the most interested seekers
for the wearer of the white c~arnation,
was the proprietor Of a store in the
center OF the business district of he
city. Shortly after he had received
his invitation in the afternoon he called
10 the skating rink and told one of
the that he would not be
able to get down early in the evening.
and as a favor that he woul like to
{ have some one keep q sharp lookout
for a young lady wearing a white car
nation, he was sure she was a young
lady.
Shortly after the rink had opened the
telephone rang and it was the buSi-
ness man who inquired if the lady had
arrived. Just Their q lady came in and
the shoe merchant was informed thai
she had just stepped in. Although the
distance intervening IS something like
three blocks he was at the ticket Of
nee in less than five minutes mop1ng
away the Precipitation and gasping for
breath. He found the rink empty n
for the first time he decided he had
been duped and hurried through the
rain back to the store.
Closely following the departure Of the