The Topeka state journal., 1906-04-30
THE EVENING STORY
A Gallant Old bachelor.
by Donald AlIen.7

anu AAo wing that II would take him
several months to accomplish it, and
pelng. man who preferred peace and
quietness. he looked about for lodgings
ana soon obtained what he wanted.
MI Stebbins had turned the 60 mark
and there were young and envious at
torneys Who spoke OF him as old Steb-
olhs. lie had never married, and there
were other young and envious attor-
neys VINO said that it was a blessed
Soou So, thlhg Tor at least one woman
mat he hadn't. The fact was that Nfr
oteppinS was bitter, cranky and not at
All willing to extend the glad hand He
Ilao never been known 10 exhibit the
leesI consideration for womankind,
even when one OF them was on the
stand Tor him as a witness. As for be-
ing gauant-the idea was ridiculous.
one Gay, IN walking about with his
hands elasped behind his back and his
shoulders humped over, the old lawyer
happened on an auction room. There
was sale going on, and in idle curl
oslty ne dropped in. An eseritOire was
up Tor bidding. 1t was an antique The
bids were low and the auctioneer in
round himself the owner Of the piece
OF furniture at what he knew to be
about one-third its value.
A minute after it was knocked down
10 MN man came rushing in and
seemed greatly put out that the escri-
tore had been sold. When he found
that Mr. Stebbins was the new owner
he took him aside and said:
Ihar article was included by mis-
take among lot of other goods sent
here for sale. It belonged to a friend
OF mine VINO IS dead, ana was really left
to me by his will. l will give you
1OV francs advance on your bargain"
Mr.. StebbinS was sorry If any one
IN Paris had died, and sorry if any mis-
take had been made in loading up vans
with furniture, but he couldn't see his
way Gear to parting with his pur-
cnaSe. The offer was increased to ZOO,
300-5OO, but in vain. He said he might
sell 1t when he was ready to leave
Paris, but not before. The escritoire
was removed TO his lodgings and rubbed
up a bit, and it's next adventure took
place a week later.
The lawyer was in the public IL
bfary to look up some dates connect
ed with his case when he saw man
who closely resembled the one he had
met in the auction room. They did
not spreak, and the tribe was forgot
ten in five minutes.
Three hours later the lawyer re
turned to his lodgings just in time to
malt Two men who were bringing his
recent purchase down stairs to be
loaded into van. The landlady ex-
planned that a very nice French gen
tleman had called and exhibited an or
der signed by Mr.. Stebbins, and of
course she thought it was all right to
let the article go. The man he had
seen in the library had put up the lob
to get possession of the escritoire
Mr.. Stebbins sat down to reason it
out He had paid fifty francs for the
piece of furniture. He had been
offered five hundred francs advance.
The piece wasn't worth the money
Why was the man so anxious then
to get it into his possession? It had
been pretty closely examined when
first brought home. 1t was now given
another inspection, but the lawyer
could discover no secret drawers. He
gave the landlady strict orders and
went his way.
Ten days later he told her he
would be gone all day. Half an hour
after leaving the house he returned
for some forgotten data and found
her showing his room to a stranger
the man he had met twice before. The
stranger hurried away without ex-
euse, and the landlady said she was
showing the room because the gen
tleman stood ready to take it as soon
as Mr.. Stebbins vacated. The caller
had looked at and admired the
escritoire, and had even moved it
about, but had taken nothing from it,
She was talked to in plain, legal Phil
adelphia language and her key taken
away.
A couple of weeks passed away. before
anything more happened Then. as the
landlady came up with a young woman
behind her. This young woman was
plainly, but neatly dressed and looked
to be lady's maid She introduced
herself and the landlady left She had
friends in Philadelphia and learning
that Mr.. Stebbens was from that citV
she had made bold to call on him to
ask for information. The lawyer didn't
believe her story for a minute. but
while he was preparing to draw her out
and show up her Inconsistencies she
suddenly elapped her hand over her
heart and tumbled down in a faint. OF
course, Mr.. Stebbins summoned the
landlady. That IS, he started to 20
downstairs to her his room having no
bell, when a laWyer-like idea came to
him and he turned about. He as Just
in time to find the fainting girl at work
at the escritoire. She screamed. Then
she was taken by the ear and led to the
door and tremendously bowed out
Sir you are no gentlemanp' she ex-
claimed as she went.
Miss you are not a success rs a
faintist" he called after her.
The escritOire was now hauled into
the middle of the room, all the dra wers
removed, and Mr.. Stebbins went over
of his work when the lady's maid re-
turned to say:
Il came here and told you a story,
and I am sorry for it."
'I have no doubt the jury will take
that into consideration" grimly replied
the lawyer.
7 will now tell you why I wanted to
look into the escritoire,' she continued.
1.-The date of a certain person is writ
ten on the bottom of one OF the drawers
or some other place. I was offered a
thousand francs to get it."
But you got over your faint too
soon."
''Win Monsieur put his price on the
piece Of furniture?"
Monsieur won't. I'll take the old
thing all to pieces and find out what
you folks want of it..
If Monsieur would take, say two
thousand francs
I'm busy this evening, my dear"
She stood for a moment as if wonder
ing how she could accomplished OBJ
5ect and then purst into tears and took
her departure. Mr.. Stebbins peeked and
---.-..--.s .-.-. l....... 49,.