The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-07
THE EVENING STOR Y
An Unprotested check.
(By Edith NJ. Doane-


ended and the fortune that had been
Robert MaxwelPs was finally handed
over to his beloved daughter Eliza
BETH" that young lady regarded her
new-found responsibilities in dismay
and promptly proceeded to shift them
to other and broader shoulders. James
Gordon had been her fathers secre-
tary and his shoulders were presum-
ably better fitted for the burden.
But you can not hand me over your
fortune to carry as If it were book or
parcel" said Gordon distractedly,
though inexpressibly cheered by this
profession of confidence. "You do not
understand
''Oh. yes. do" returned Miss Max
well serenely. Il understand perfect
ly. I shall appoint you
Chairman of the finance commit
tee,' suggested Gordon.
Yes" said Miss Maxwell. II will
be the committee"
well, I shall do my best said
Gordon, laughing. But the commit
tee will please remember that it has
certain active duties
II don't see why it should have
any," she retorted. Practically. you
have already managed the estate for
the past five years. You were inval-
liable to father
Perhaps 1 was" Gordon returned.
Though don't remember it and he
preciate your confidence and will
serve you faithfully; but (gravely)
what IL 1 should make mistakes? Is
1t wise to lntrust the handling of so
much money to one MANI"
II should think it might depend a
good deal upon the man. said Miss
Maxwell softly.
So Gordon fitted up an office in a
downtown skyscraper. where he sat
at a table strewn with papers and
pink-taped, legal-Iooking documents,
figuring and writing late into the
nights; and Miss Maxwell, having ar
ranged her financial affairs to her lik-
Ing, annexed a meek, elderly relative
to other difficulties
Her first, chiefest and most fmrne-
date difficulty was her cousin Tom
Cornish.
ut isn't that do not like you" she
painstakingly explained for the hun
dredth time. You know do. AS sis
ter, now, u
gantIy.
And anyhow, shall never marry
$50 it's all up?''
II think I have been telling YOU
that for the past five minutes,' said
MISS Maxwell impatiently.
You know what meant all
along" he said sullenIy some one
vices"
Your vices are nothing to me. nor
your virtues either. If you" The
words died on her lips. For the first
tlme IN all their lives his arms closed
around her. Convulsively he held her
to him. bending his head till his lips
met her soft. brown hair.
Betty, 1--we got to-teII vou-
I'm in no end of trouble-I need You
i need your help-I-'
By single vehement effort Betty
released herself.
How dare you! How dare you!"
she raged-then came to a dead sion
her eyes grew wide with dfs1nav ana
the room. ~ =
"Mr. Gordon!" she said in a con-
voice.
It was Gordon indeed. He was quite
at the o.her end of the long room. but
not SO far that the late tableau could
pc unseen by him, and the. distress of
, her race was intensified in his as he
bowed hurriedly and the yellow
portiere fell behind him.
Betty blushed furiously. A person
Iooklng on and not understanding
might, of course. She turned sud.
denly to Tom, who stood staring at
'Go!' desperately
Meanwhile Gordon had found his
l nat ana the sidwalk and walked blind
~ down the avenue, Forgetting the
papers he had gone for: foreetting
everything except the girls flushed
dlsmayed face. 1t was scandalous that
she should be allowed to drift into
com pl 1, with that fellow. It
cousin, but what of the fellows char
acter-a gambler, a fortune-huntaro
yer what could he do? All that
gay p ne had looked forward to seeing
Setty. wen, he had seen her. And
she must have been in earnest Sho
wasn't the kind of girl to LET mar
1nd as memory gripped him he |
plunged gloomily on
1t was several days later +bo+ MI,
maven, blue-gowned and demure. |
turned into the entrance of a bank on |
lower Broadway and walked calmly 70
me paying teller's window
suppose you know that this over
1raws your account, Miss Maxwell.
said that gentleman handing ont q
packet of fresh banknotes.
Inc girl stared at him in astonisb
nent. mo, did not KNOW had not |
thought" she said nervously.
THAT last check was rather largo
ten thousand"
Ten thousand" repeated Betty weak
Yes. We did not question f. of
iraws large amounts He looked at her
xeenly ut was all right. I SUPPOSED"
Yes, oh yes,' said Betty unsteadily.
1T was all right. II suppose Mr.. Cor
Ion cashed it?"
He sent a messenger, as he usually
loes.'
Betty nodded. The bank swan and |
'or an instant her brain reeled. as she
.urned away, perplexed and vaguely |
of impending evil
Ten thousand dollarsi
Even to Betty's vague business rea-
ioning, ten thousand dollars seemed a
good deal to lose track of. But there
must be some good reason why Gordon
lad filled in the check for SO much. |
Tor Miss Maxwell's methods of dealing
With the management of her estate had
lot changed. and though she still sign
ID all her checks. she serenely washed