The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-22
TIE EVENING STOR Y


(By Taylor White.)
It was just for a moment that
Marion pondered. just for a brief space
that temptation warred with training.
but in that half minute a lynx-eyed
store detective had pounced upon her.
The holiday shoppers thronged the
place, there was no time to waste fol-
lowing a shoplifter outside of the store
TO establish clear case. Almost be-
fore she had realized what had hap
| pened, Marion was being hustled over
to the elevators.
A few minutes later she stood be-
fore a sharD-faced woman at a roll
and address and was putting her
through a series of cross questions.
But the inQuisition was suddenly
broken by the appearance of a tall,
up to the desk of the head detective
and checked her. questioning.
Il saw Miss Perkins make this ar
rest he said. quietly. "She has made
a mistake"
but the girl admits that she stole
these" sharply retorted the girl, hold
| ing up some dainty creations of lace
Il think 1 would admit murder"
laughed the man. IF I were ever lined
up in here. It's pure nervousness.
There was a woman standing beside
her who slipped the things in her
pocket. 1 suppose the rest of the plan
was to follow her to the street and
pick her pocket after she had carried
them safely out of the store"
"Of course, II you say So" be-
gan the offended Miss Perkins.
81 do say So" he answered quietly,
as he tore from the book the page on
tered land if Miss Kay" glancing at
the sheet. will excuse US, 1 will see
that she is not subject to further an
noyance. You see." he added to
around the holidays that mistakes are
bound to occur"
He lightly touched her arm and led
her from the room. Already another
woman had taken her place, and 9TH
ers eyed her obviously as she passed
Chatting pleasantly, the man led her
to the elevator and presently Marion
found herself on the street again.
That night her fears were re-awak-
ened when a card engraved with the
name of James Dalton was brought to
her. 1t was in Boyce & Dalton's store
that the incident had occurred Per-
haps they had found out, after all
she gave a sigh of relief when the
young man of the morning rose before
her.
You will pardon my intrusion" he
began, but since these unfortunate
things were the cause of so much trou-
BILE. I thought it only fair that you
should have them"
He held toward her a parcel that
Marion instinctively knew contained the
coveted caps. She shook her head.
Il cannot take them" she walled. Il
don't deserve them. did steal Fem."
Technically, yes" said Dalton. Il
saw you slip them in your pocket; but
knew that If Miss Perkins had not
been SO quick that you would have re-
placed them. I saw the struggle in your
face Were they for your mother?"
Marion nodded.
You see,'' she began, lit is my first
Christmas away from home. When
fatAer died and the money was all lost
had to go to work for living.
I'm addressing envelopes at home to
make some extra money. Before I al
ways made mothers caps; but now L
have not the time. I had some money
all saved up to buy two when at the Of
fee they took UP contributions for pres
ents to the time%eepers and some of the
others It's big office. you know. and
it took all my Christmas money"
And you came over in the mon hour
to see if there were any cheaper ones
you could still afford" he broke in
Temptation was strong upon you, and
just for one tiny moment you fell. 1
could see the whole process in your
face"
you knew that I had taken them
when you spoke this noon2" she gasped-
Certainly was the smiling answer.
Il knew that you had stolen them. but
that you were not thief l could not
bear to see you posted as a shoplifter.
and when Perkins took you up I fol-
lowed
but I ought to be punished" she
cried. self-accusingly.
You are punished" he declared. The
memory of those moments upstairs VIII
be punishment enough
Il can't take them" she said, visit |
fully. II couldn't send them to mother
See here" he suggested. Suppose |
you buy them from me. You send them /
home and pay me little each week. I |
know just what graft those presenta- |
ton things are in a big office I've /
stopped them in my store. but know |
what 1t is
back" she objected. Il cannot pay up |
more than a quarter a week"
"Pll let you have them at wholesale |
price, he offered. I'VE shall have to |
put them on the bargain counter after |
the rush anyway. Nice old ladies who |
wear lace caps are growing very few" |
you're awfully good to me- sobbed |
Marion You can't understand how it |
hurts not to have anything to send |
mother I wouldn't have taken them |
for myself, but when I thought of poor I
mother wondering why did not send q
present after all the fairy tales I've |
written her about how well I've been |
doing-just for a moment 1t seemed that
1 had to have them"
tsFa1,t do understand" he insisted. Il
can recall & Christmas when my din
ner was dry bread because I Vas too
faint from hunger to fight for a place
in line where they were feeding the
poor. 1t is because l do understand
that I sought to bring a happy ending
10 . little tragedy of poverty
The simple words seemed to establish
q bond of sympathy betw an them I'm
pulsively she caught his hand You
are awfuIly good she murmured-
more than deserve
"But I'm SELFISH he persisted. Il
want to ask a favor of you in return"
srYhat is t?" she cried, eagerly.
zt,-,a, y he explained My sister, who
~ .1..sa fn,. me is Travelling In !