The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-20
TEE EVENING STORY
Buck Briggs slowness.
Nv Lulu Johnston.l


when the gong had struck Some of
them had enga gements for trolley
rides for the evening, and were in a
hurry to be dressed and off. Others
made haste to reach home for supper.
Sally had neither of these reasons for
haste. Her thin, white face did not
attract the few men she knew-they
never invited her anywhere, and the
streets were at least cooler than the
stuffy little room that she called
home.
She knew that presently she must
make her coffee and fry her single
chop over the tiny oil stove that filled
the room with the reeking odor of oil,
but by walking slowly she delayed
that time as long as possible.
She gave a little gasp as she came
before the installment bazaar win
dows. Instead of the rolls of wall pa
per and carpets, the "nobby'' parlor
sets and iron bedsteads, the four big
windows of the store were gotten up
to represent the four rooms of fiat,
card in each window stating the cost
of the equipment to be ten dollars
down and five dollars a month for an
unspecified time.
Sally passed from the plush ele-
gance of the parlor to the simplicity
of the bedroom and the cozy dining
room with a real sideboard, but it was
against the glass inclosing the kitchen
that she fiattened her pudgy nose the
longest.
The domestic instinct was strong
within her. and this array of cleaning
pots and pans, the glitter of the cheap
china and the plated knives and forks
fascinated her. If she only had
kitchen like that instead of the one
burner oil stove on the soap box at
the foot of her narrow cot! She drew
her breath sharply and exhaled it in
a long sigh.
Mice, amt it?" Sally looked up in
alarm, but there was nothing in the
appearance of the man at her side to
cause alarm His twinkling eyes were
frank and honest and not a line of his
rudy, freckled face was sinister. That
he was no "masher" could be seen at
a glance, and Sally smiled an assent
to his question.
II bet girl who knew how to cook
could get fine dinners in a kitchen like
that" he saba shade Of wistfulness
In his hearty voice. eff / knew one
by links, I'd buy that
HUH Sally's voice was scornful.
She could understand why none of the
men at the shop asked her out to trolley
rides and things, but for this great
strong fellow to admit his inability to
ind a sweetheart was absurd.
1t amt so easy" declared the other
holly. Il amt much with girls. They
like fellows better what can dance and
say fool things. I amt never learned
either"
Then you ought to begin now" sniff
ed Sally as she moved away. The man
made as though he would follow, but
the broad shoulders hunched together
despondently, and he returned to his
inspection of the kitchen.
But now he could also see the mis-
tress of the apartment. a slender wisp
Of a girl the sort of woman a man
wants to take in his arms and cuddle.
To him SaIy's wan face. was beauti-
full, her thinness elegance. Buck
E2rfO ho n OF h &c fof
The next evening Sally. coming slow
Iy down the street, found him in front
Of the window again, and passed on
with only the faintest glance of long
ing at the shining kitchen. If he had
any idea that she remembered him he
should sc that he was mistaken. Buck
looked disappointed, but he followed on
to the dreary pile that Sally called her
home.
She did not see him as, with tagging
feet, she assembled the high stoop and
the five flights that led to her
attic room. but Buck crossed quickly
to the opposite side of the street and
rang the bell, for his eyes had caught
rooms were to he had. and that night
he slept under the same roof.
He was on the steps the following
night when Sally came along, pretend
before him, He nodded as the girl
came up the steps, and pulled off his
cloth cap.
"Say. d'you want to ride out to the
park after you eat your SUPPER" he
now" he added, as though that con-
5tituted q proper Introduction
For moment Sally hesitated, with
The feminine instinct to be hardly won,
but the afternoon had been excessively
not, and twice she had dropped over
The machine. The foreman had been
Kept busy with smelling salts and
water, for the girls had suffered ter
-ibly.
With an easy gesture Buck thrust
MS hand in his pocket, and ratified
.hree nickels and a dime against the
quarter and half dollar. but it was
lot this so much as the thought of her
-oom that decided Sally. With a nod
ind "I'I be down soon," she hurried
I'D the steep flights.
She munched the bread and smoked
she had brought home with
her while she hurried about her dress
ng. There was a clean waist she was
saving for Sunday, and a broad GRIM
son ribbon that brought touch of
color to her face. The rest of the
was worked in her face
through the thought that she was to
nave an escort.
Buck blinked as she came through
he grim doorway: His startled,
You're all right, SIS was uncouth
but it was the first compliment |
sally had ever received, and she smiled |
upon her cavalier.
The ride to the park was a trip to |
after the clatter of the ma |
and the heat of the operating
DOM. Buck beamed when she de- |
.lined his offer to find a partner for |
Ter to dance with, and they sat listen |
ng to the music and watching the
lancers while Sally slipped her lemon
oda and Buck his beer. Twice he
reated her to ice cream when some OF
he other girls were near. and, under
he warming influence of his admira-
ion, Sally's wan face became trans
ormed and even one of the shipping
Jerks stopped to speak a few words
o her.
Regretfully she turned away when
Buck finally suggested that 1t was
ime to go, and that they knew how to /
.et there again. She could have