The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-27
THE EVENING STOR Y
Also a Gentleman.
(By Leslie Stewart.)

When Miss Irene Jackson left Co
lumbus Ohio. to pay visit to her
aunt at Hastings. New York. her
mother gave her many warnings. She
was to look out for collisions; she was
to beware of open switches; she was to
hold no converse with either young or.
old men; she was to hang on to her
purse; she was to regard any woman
who might address her as an adyen-
turess.
All but one of these instructions
were carefully followed by the nine
teen-year-old girl. She was somewhat
surprised and a good deal delighted to
find herself in New York city at last,
and she bravely followed the crowd on
to the ferryboat and landed at the
foot of Thirty-fourth street. There
she took cab for the Grand Central
depot. 1t was only when she got out
that she found her purse was missing.
She remembered that some one had
crowded her as she got off the ferry
boat, but that bit of news didn't affect
the hackman at ALL He was a married
man with a family of seven, and he
had to assist In supporting five differ
ent saloons, so he wanted cash on the
nail. There were tears, but they didn't
move him. He had often seen them at
home when he had reeled in on Satur-
day night without a cent in his pocket
Miss Jackson couldn't pay the cab
man, and she couldn't buy a ticket to
Hastings, and for ten minutes she felt
as helpless as a child. She was about
to give the cabman a diamond ring as
security, when young man. of 70
stepped into the breach. He had the
long hair that some professional men
affect, and he had the rusty clothes
that other professional men affect, but
as for his heart, that apparently was
pure gold. The cabman smiled and
wfnked and drove away. Then the
young man introduced himself as
Prof. Nordenfelt, of Columbia college
professor OF languages. He asked
the inestimable privilege of buying
ticket to Hastings for the young lady.
He asked it because some one had res
cued his sister from just such a posi-
ton in Chicago a few days before.
As soon as the young man announced
that he was professor, Miss Jackson
drew a long breath of relief. She had
met but few of them in her life, but
she knew them to be all right. Like
sensible girl, she leaned on this one.
She wasn't even surprised when he said
that he was on his way up to IrvingtOn
and would take charge of her as far as
Hastings. She might have opened her
eyes had she seen him pay for both
tickets out of her lost purse, and she
might have been most unhappy had she
known that he had her diamond brooch
in view. but as it was she felt nothing
but glad relief.
They sat together on the train. Miss
Jackson tod the professor all about
Columbus, and he told her all about
Columbia. He spoke seven different
languages and was learning seven 9th
ers. The girl had always heard that
profe ssorS were profound. absent-mind-
ed and taciturn, but she did not find
this oen so. He had given her an adj
dress so that she might return the
money he had loaned her.
When Hastings was reached, her
gratitude became profound. She in
sisted that he stop over one train and
allow her aunt to thank him. He smiled
in curious way, thought over it for d
moment and then accepted the invita-
ton.
The. aunt was no spring chicken, and
she was puzzled over the professor At
first she set him down as confidence
man, but his knowledge of Columbia
college and the seven languages upset
this theory His manners were good
and his conversation confirmed his as
sertions. He was finally accepted, re-
paid the loan and invited to call again.
The police will never be able to salts
factorily explain to themselves why
Jimmy the Kid as his photograph in
the rogues' gallery was labeled, should
have made a second and third visit
to the house on he Hudson. 1t couldn't
have been from spirit of bravado, for
Jimmy was sly. He couldn't have been
hit" for he was the one who had rob
bed the girl on the ferryboat and was
still making use of her money.
For his second call, Jimmy had dress
ed up a bit. 1t helped him in one way
and damaged him in another. He
didn't look SO much like a professor in
his better suit, but it did help his looks
as caller. He was still interesting, too,
and an hour passed away. When he
had departed and the women had criri-
cised him favorably the aunt said t.
Irene:
"A professor of languages must get
a big salary in a college,.
surely he must"
"He must be received in the best of
society?"
"Of course
"And he is probably rich?''
'I don't doubt it"
Irene, wouldn't it be funny
wouldn't it be odd-wouIdn't it be ro-
mantle if something were to come of
this?''
.sWhat kind of something aunt?"
asked the girl without blushing. There |
was a man in Columbus. To be sure |
he was not a professor-but---
Jimmy's third appearance was HIS |
last He announced that he had mas |
tered one more language. and would |
soon be ready to tackle the ninth. He |
said something about his having help |
partment at the university, and he |
mentioned that he had received an
autograph letter from King Edward. |
These things were not stated in a |
boastful way. They simply crept in |
It could not be said that |
Jimmy was seeking to make an i'm
preston, but he made one for all that. |
and a favorable one, too The only |
slip he made and that was not noticed |
until afterward, was in referring to his
travels. For a Columbia college pro-
fessor, engaged in teaching languages
for six hours day, he had gone
around the country at lightning speed.
He had also made some acquaintance
that do not fall in the way of the or
binary professor. He knew Detective
Johnson and Capt. Flint and the po-
lice commissioner, and because of his
knowing them he had a surprise on
hand.