The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-15
TIE EVENING STORY
James Financial Embarrassment.
(By Helena Smith-Dayton-)


lavender box with none Of the enthu-
siasm she usually displayed on such
occasions. "Of course 1t never would
have occurred to the exIravagant un-
known adnirer to send fifty cents
worth Of postage stamps instead"
Jane glanced toward her desk,
where neat pile of brown envelopes
stared her reproachfully IN the face
An entire weeks work held up be-
cause the brilliant young writer, Jane
Gaylord lacks the necessary postage!'
she groaned. las it's all timely stuff
and special orders-I may as well
destroy it unless 1t goes today. I may
as we'll give up looking for that check
and do something desperate" Jane
paced up down the apartment trying
to think of method to obtain the
trifiing sum at once.
ASK your mother for fifty cents to
see the elephant jump the fence" she
repeated for the hundredth time. The
silly jingle refused to be dislodged
from her head There I 90 again If
it were only fifty dollars could hustle
around and get it-but fifty centsl" 1t
seemed as If hooking voice echoed
ITO see the elephant jump the fencei"
"Of course" she went on, sarcas-
tically, 81 might waylay little children
and steal the pennies from their moist
palms-or I could make these violets
into small punches and sell them on
the street corner-doWer girl in
tailor suit and Paris hat would be a
novelty! There must be some way of
raising fifty cents without selling my
possessions I never approved of get
ting the pawnshop habits hard to
shake, once acquired. I don't like to
let little-hfty-cents-to -see- the-e1e-
plant get the best of me.
why, I won't need another penny
until my check comes. My board is
paid in advance. and before anything
is due there'H be lots of checks. But I
must have ty-cents-to-see-"
Jane stopped impatiently, and as if
the narrow confines OF her own room
were sitting her. she opened the door
as voices from the upper landing float
ed down to her. She always paused
when she heard Peter Gleason's deep
tones.
Run over to Carriers and buy me three
or four magazines. Haven't seen one
for a month, so anything you get Will
be new to me. And you may keep the
change. John"
Thank you. Mr. Gleason came
Johns sQueaky answer. I'll be back
with 'em in a jiffy.'' He came down the
stairs two at a time.
"Johnw called Miss Gaylord, softly.
Pm on an errand for Mr.. Gleason,
but when I get back
Yes, yesl It's about thats'' she in
ticular favor. John. It's all right, but
rather unusual. I have some new maya
zines-the very ones Mr.. Gleason would
like. I've more than I can read. 1t
would save you a trip out in the storm
the magazines are really just as new as
buy them from me?"
1t was out at last. Jane never had
felt so shy of any one in her life as she
did of the astonished little hall boy.
Sure. Miss Gaylord he said. with
out hesitation. I'D do anything for you.
It's on the level, amt it?'
yes. John. strictly on the level" she
answered, with a little laugh that sug-
gested tears.
Have EN- ready when come back, -
he whispered.
You are a dear boyr' cried Jane.
She fed back to her room in a panic
of nervousness at what she had done.
She selected several magazines of recent
issue and was back at the door long
before the return of the boy.
IF I was back with the books too
soon, he'd get on to It," was his naive
explanation.
And John she pleaded in a voice
that shook, please give him this box
of violets-don't tell him who sent them
but he has been so nl-poor man.
You see it will give good measure, for
the 80 cents"
John nodded wisely and took his way
upward.
Good boy. John she heard Gleason
say a moment later. Couldn't have
made a better selection myself. ViO-
lets, too? No name given? You won't
tell? Very well-if you promised not TO.
of counsel"
Back In his study Gleason tossed the
violets carelessly on a table already
loaded with flowers and took up mag
azine eagerly.
L hope my little Jane has a story in
fT,t- ,, es,fd inc f11, 4 !
Bile of contents. He passed his own
name, but James was not there he
took up another and again was he dis
appointed, but in the third magazine
James name headed the list He was
turning to her story when a sheet Of
paper futtered out. On the closely
written page his own name caught his
eye. Naturally he read every word,
though 1t was obviously part of let
ter.
you remember it ran. ''how I used
to rave about Peter Gleason and MS
work? Strange that he should come to
board at Mrs. Stuart's and be taken SO
Ill almost Immediately after-and that
1 should have the privilege of assisting
his trained nurse when he was I'm
conscious. Yes, he is all I imagined
him-and more. II you must know the
worst, mo, I can't write 1t to even
you, Mollie. But put romantic ideas out
of your head, just as your silly cid
Jane must-for Peter Gleason Is tndif-
ferent and-Im very busy, As usual
But -" That was all.
BLESS her!" whispered Peter, over
and over And thought her too
wrapped up in her work to give me
thought. Helped to nurse me, did she?
Ny little janet And she must have
sent these agazines-and the violetsi
And John the scamp, never told mel
But. on the other hand. John is such
an honest little chap he wouldn't have
kept that so cents. If he really bought
fhena-hovu came that letter betyve eI7
the pages Of a magazine from Car
ter's?"
Then, in spite of himself, a doubt
flashed into his mind. Was it a clever
ruse=was the letter placed there by
design? Peter was not cynical-but
there had been so many traps laid for
him! Slowly he placed the paper on
the Goals in the CRATE and watched it