The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-16
EVENING STORY

fBy clay Marsden.

(By Clay Marsden.)
"Come right in said the girl at the
head of the stairs. Il have been ex-
pecting you for an hour
1T is pleasant to be expected,
.srlaat viii do said the girl sharply.
NO fnapertinence or I shall report you
to the janitress."
Burden could not quite see what the
5anitress had to do with the matter
was a part of his fishing toggery and
started to pass on up the stairs to his
apartment.
Come in here called the girl inn
periously. You don't suppose that ]
came downstairs to meet you do you? ~
She led the way through an open
door affording vista of chaos into the
parlor of the apartment. Those pic
lures had better be hung first, she
commanded. II will tell you where"
Burden gasped. For the first time he
realized what was expected of him.
She had mistaken him for the day
worker for whom she had probably
sent to aid her in Strengthening out
her new home. The fact that he was
in an old suit and had rung the nearest
bell IN the lobby because he had for
gotten his keys accounted for the
error It had been her bell he had
rung, she was expecting a man to help
and she had supposed that he was the
one. She had not been flirting after
all. Somehow Burden was rather glad
of it.
There Would not be very much doing
in the street that afternoon, so he
slipped off his coat and went to work.
1t was evident that the little woman
intended to get the full worth Of her
money out of him, for She kept him
busy, and under her skilful direction
the fiat soon assumed an appearance
Of orderliness he had not supposed
possible in so short a time.
She explained that her mother
would arrive the next morning and
that she was anxious to have things all
in readiness for her. On that plea she
kept him working until 8 o'clock. but
she was generous when she paid him
off
Burden waited on the landing until
she closed the door, then he ran up
stairs to his own rooms and tumbled
into the tub. It had been hard work
and hot, and he was glad of the chance
to clean up. He had risen at four for
a fishing trip and had made a long
day. but he thought he would dress
again and slip over to the club for a
chat and a bite.
At the foot of the first fight he
came face to face with the girl She
recognized him, in spite of the change
that evening clothes made, and gave
a little cry.
s'Fhen you were not the man the
janitress promised to send up?" she
said.
Burden lifted his hat
81 admit it." he began. when I
saw the mistake you had made and
remembered that I had seen Phil, the
chore man, disgustingly intoxicated on
my way in, let you persist in your
mistake that I might be Of assistance
And you let me pay you money,
she reproached.
eff you think I didn't earn It" he
smiled, "I'u give it back"
But I made you earn it," She
shuddered as she thought Of how she
had driven him. And I gave you ten
cents for q glass of beer
Beer is only five he explained
won't you have the other one?
guess that you must be as tired and
as hungry as / am, you did your full
share of the work, SO won't you come
andsshare the reward2 I know that
it's unconventional, but it viii be such
fun. VIII you Gomez
The girl looked into his eyes. What
she saw there must have satisfied her
for she turned to descend the stairs
with him.
my name is Burden he announced
when they reached the street. Nathan
lei Burden, commonly known as Nat"
II am Lois Trevor she retorted. u
am glad to meet Mr.. Burden"
Burden tucked her arm through his
and led the way to the street car. II
was only a short ride and Lois gave q
little ga sp when she saw the restaura Mt
Il did not realize how hungry I was
until I began to wonder il they would
serve an unescorted woman at this Tins
of night"
Burden glanced at the clock in tbs
window. It was only half past ten, but
it seemed later to her
I'VE won't worry about such things,
he suggested. tfjust about what is best
to eat"
over the tasteful meal he had ordered
she grew more communicative. She had
come to the city to study music, he
learned There was only her mother
and herself left of a large family, and
they wanted to be together. There was
something in Burdens manner that in
spired confidence and almost without
realizing it she was chatting as with al
old friend.
The next afternoon he called to pay
his respects to Mrs. Trevor and before
long the two women had come to re-
gard Burden almost as one of the fam
ily He took them to concerts and the
theater and formed the habit of drop
ping in for a chat in the evenings wheT
he was not going out.
Then came the panic and for a week
many a firms fate hung IN the balance
The one in which Burden was a part
ner was persistently included in the lisi
of the doubtful concerns and then one
afternoon the late editions came out
with the statement that the house haC
been forced to suspend.
Lois read the report feverishiy, bu
when Burden came home late that nigh
and YEARLY began to ascend the steps
she was at the head of her flight t
welcome him, calm-eyed and quiet.
Mother wants you to come in and
have some Coffee she pleaded. I'VE
saw the papers and are 50 sorry
ssIlI come, gladly" he said, as hi
drawn face lighted up. 4 shall b.
riad to forget business for the moment
/ find you waiting here like the frs
| time we met in a way as unexpected
as it IS pleasant"
I'VE could not Sleep she explained
! fswhile you were in trouble. We want
| ed to know that all was well with you
| If not with the business
| ..-zca, diar,.t slnnoaa 7 vas going &