The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-17
The EVENING Story
Her Birthday Present.

4
Gun King and magician was in town.
biliposters were everywhere ANNOUNCE
ing MS arrival at Peck's Vaudeville the
ater. telling Of the wonderful feats he
~ moulu perform. Standing before one
VI these posters was a pale-faced, tired
girl, on her way home from the office.
II was incredible to think that a man
could do the things advertised. To see
man break out of 1aill To unlock the
oread handouts before your very eyes!
IN. no. IT was too wonderful to believe.
Sne mad often watched a crowd of ur-
cnins Following a man who had been
arrested and once had seen him taken
10 the lookup. but that a man could
get out of his own free Widths
seemed incredible.
She gave a final look at the picture
OF the man on the poster. tucked nes
novel tightly under her arm ana
moved slowly toward home. 1t was her
Dlrtnqay and her mother had given ner
dollar to buy herself present. Sne
stlll nad the dollar. and the tnouSnI
occurred to her that-she could take a
girl friend to the vaudeville tonight ana
see this wonderful man. Then she re-
called that her mother objected TO glris
going to the theater alone. AFTER eat
ing her dinner she decided that she was
too tired. She would stay at home.
The ringing of the doorbell after din-
ner aroused her from her lethargy. Sne
went to the door and opened 1t.
Hello. Janet"
"Why, Billy, won't you come in. or
shall we sit on the stoop? It's pretty
warm inside"
ST came around to see If you would
go with me to Peck's yaudeviile To-
you know, and today Is your birthday.
'..Oh, Billy. will you really take me?
I've been longing to go ever since
read about him. You sit here on the
stoop and I'll be ready in a jiffy."
Billy sat down to wait and Janet was
soon in the midst of her toilet. She
donned her best brown frock and flow
er-trimmed hat. because she noticed
that Billy had put on his best gray
suit and had his cane with him. They
found the theater packed and were for
tunate in securing two balcony seats.
The noisy songs and tiresome dialogues
which came before the handcuf kings
appearance on the bill seemed interim
nable. No. finally appeared-his
number. He came out-not the strong,
big man she had pictured, but 1.-the,
muscular foreigner. and they chained
him hand and foot. locked and re-
locked the leg irons and handouts on
and left him there to get out as best
he could.
Janet hung over the balcony rail and
Billy's eyes Toasted on the bright and
happy face beside him. The little fell
low on the stage began his act. Slowly
twisting. turning and writhing. seem
ingly in great pain. for several mo-
ments he made no Roadway.
BILLY he is being hurt! Why don't
some one help him ?' Janet implored.
"Of course. it hurts him, but no one
can help him-he must get out alone"
Yes. but that's cruel. Just see the
stand it to see the poor man suffer so.
Look, Billy. his face is getting redder
and redder every minute" she cried as
she hid her face in her hands.
There was a deathlike silence in the
house. You could hear pin drop in
the awful stiffness in which the man
held the audience. Janet peeked out
her fingers. but dared not real
ly look. Billy leaned little closer and
gave her arm a reassurinR pat. 1t en- |
couraged her to speak. Leaning close
to him she whispered:
BILLY. I'm ashamed to tell you, but |
I want to go home. Please take me.
I'm so frightened.
why, of course. little GIRL but
thought you wanted to see him get
loose"
TT didn't know it would hurt
him. she whispered.
Out in the street with tight hold
on his arm. her fear left her. and when |
Billy suggested Green's for plate of
ice cream she readily agreed. Away |
from the atmosphere of the theater and |
the picture of that wr1thing, suffering
man. she was once more herself.
Suddenly Janet stopped eating. her
eyes stared straight ahead. and instinct
Ively Billy turned to see who had at
cuff king. not king after all. just
man thirstinE for a dish Of ice
cream.
"Oh, Billy, I'm so glad he got out. I
never could have slept with the picture
Of that poor man in chains.
"Of course he got out, you silly child,
he always does. Janet. you women are
funny lot. You never know what you
want. came home this afternoon and
passed you as you were standing there
razing at the billboard. thought you
wanted to see this man do these Won
derful things and that is why I took
you Guess you don't like my present
% you-do you?"
been planning to do things and when |
the time comes to do them my ambi- |
lion is gone. long for something diff
something I ought not |
10 have Then when I get it don't |
want it. It's Just as If I reached out |
md touched a passing bubble, and, at |
nv touch 1t burst. Yet there is always |
hat longing in my heart for an un-
Known something. and 1T turks there
"Janet, little girl. my present to you
vas not much of a success. ! wanted |
% make you happy and only succeed
ID in frightening you. Suppose we turn
he tables and YOU give me present ?"
"Why, never heard of girl giving
. present to some one else on her own
birthday. What under the sun do you
II mean this dear. I want a pres
nat only you can give me. It's big.
precious present. You say you don't
NOW what you long for. but I know
What am reaching for and that some
hing is you, Janet Will you give your
elf to me? A present to keep always
md to love forever.
BILLY, that waitress heard every
word you said. It's not fair to propose
O a girl in an ice cream parlor. I
wouldn't dare say mo- If wanted to-"
do you want to say no. Janet?"
.lmost whispered Billy.
well, to be perfectly honest, 1 don't
hink do. Billy. maybe. after all, it's
on In longing for. maybe it's you