The Topeka state journal., 1906-06-12
TIE EVENING STORY
what Leroy Round.

nose.
But I cannot get IN otherwise .
pleaded Leroy. MY keys. my papers,
everything, in fact, except my pocket
book and cigar case are in my other
clothes"
1Uh, hu.'' agreed the new elevator
boy, but ainter gwine ter lose no job
Dustin in yo fiat and gettin' fred in
the mO'uln'i He turned out the light
in the elevator car and went back to
the settee in the reception room Nat
Leroy's secret of success had been his
ability to admit defeat and he turned
sadly toward the door.
There was an apartment hotel on
the next block where Margaret lived
The clerk there knew him. There
might be a chance to get an unoccu-
pied apartment. 1t was his only hope
unless he took the long trip down town,
and he was tired to the point OF eX-
The clerk looked up in surprise as
he entered the office. but surprise gave
way to mirth when Nat drolly Initiated
you can't blame en- the clerk
condoned There was a chap the 9TH
er night got a boy in the Belfort apart
ments to break in. Gave him nVer
for the job. The police figured that ne
must have made clean profit of
How about you p asked Nat. Hap
pen to have a vacant apartment Where
I could put up over night2
We've got a waiting list OF nIIy-
eight names,'' declared the clerk Nv e
won't have an apartment vacant until
October even at that
mo chance?" pleaded Nat.
The clerk shook his head and Leroy
turned away. Just as he was about TO
push through the door he heard his
name called and he turned back.
Il tell you what I might do" Whis-
pered the clerk. Miss Ashton IS out OF
town. She expects to be away week
longer. I can put you in there If you
promise not to let on.
"II promise anything for a nights
rest agreed Nat, mindful of roomy
couch in the cosy corners OF Margaret
den. A bill changed hands and pres
emily he was following hall boy, also
sworn to secrecy, up the stairs
It seemed a rather mean trick TO play
on Margaret; to invade her apartments
without permission, but he promised
/ himself to pry into none OF her secrets
and comforted himself with the re-
Election that she would probably nave
said yes" but Margaret was queer.
| Almost from childhood she had been
supporting, and she had steadfast-
| ly refused to regard men as women
natural protectors and supporters.
Twice since he had known her, men
had asked her hand and she had not
| only said No but they had been
quietly dropped from her friendship
Leroy valued this friendship too
highly to risk it on a proposal, and he
! had worshipped. if not from afar, at
! least he had concealed his worship and
/ had been rewarded with the privilege
of being her chosen friend.
Rapidly he divested himself of ms
outer clothing. but when he came to
his collar he could find no place to put
| il except the tiny writing desk by the
| window. and that reminded him OF
some notes that he must make If he
/ fraGh in mind for the
He turned down the unlocked flap and
reached for some paper. There was
paper in plenty in the neat pigeon
| holes. and he thought of what his sis
! ter used to say: "Show me woman 5
desk and I'll tell you what-and whom
This desk was very like Margaret,
with it's orderly array Of notes and
trinkets, its well-kept pigeon holes and
the spotless blOtter, but pencils We're
Twice he searched the pigeon holes
without result, and at last he found
that the middle of the lower section was
not blank, as he had supposed, but
formed a sort of secret panel.
Here. then, was where the pencils
were to be found. He threw up the
panel but in an instant all thoughts of
! the pencils vanished. It was not place
for penciIs instead it seemed to be a
sort of shrine. and to his wonderment,
Nat found that he was its genius.
There, in the center, was his photo
| graph He could not remember that
she had ever asked for one, yet here it
stared at him from the midst of an odd
1 assortment of trinkets. There was the
| tiny flower he had worn In his coat
when they had had their first dinner.
| He had begged a rose, and she had
laughingly insisted upon an exchange
/ He could have sworn that he had seen
her throw it away, yet here it was be-
side the menu card, on which he had
| sketched the odd couple at the table
across the aisle.
one by one he recognized little souve-
Mrs of their jaunts, then with reverent
hands he drew down the panel again.
It was as if some skilled surgeon had
laid bare Margaret's inmost heart. He
felt almost guilty of sacrilege;
The pencil was forgotten now he
wrapped himself in the slumber robe
from the couch and sat at the open
| window. which commanded a view of
the river and he watched the lights
across the water glinting on the quiet
| stream He did not feel like sleeping,
| he had come in utterly exhausted, but
| thjs revelation had completely changed
/ his mood He was conscious neither of
/ fatigue nor sleepiness; he knew only
that Margaret loved him. cherished the
little trinkets he had given her and held
| his memory dear in secret He recalled
/ now something she had said once about
girls who laid their snares for the men
| who caught their fancy. Clearly she
would give no sign of preference, and
! she had buried her secret in her desk
to wait until he found out-if he ever
aid. He shuddered as he thought Of
what might have been.
There was the sound Of the opening
! and shutting of a door, but he gave no
heed. He had told the boy to bring
ice water
NAT what are you doing here?"
He sprang to his feet and then sat
down again as he suddenly remember
ed that he was draped largely in a
colored slumber robe.
Il suppose you think I am playing
! indian. . he remarked over the back OF
the chair "but I am here through the
charity of our friend downstairs
Quickly he sketched his dilemma,
and she had to laugh IN spite of her