The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-12
IN CHASE OF A RED HAT.

] Hinkley, of the Green Seal club
never narrowed money of his fellow
members; If he lost at cards he
promptly paid the amount: he was no
kicker about the rules; he, was no
backbter. These thingsxcwere put
down in <Hinkley's favor and they
went long way. On the other hand,
| he was aan egotist. and he was tined
! He was thirty-five years .0ld, good
looking and the beau ideal of a
masher:@ According to his memoranda
UNI book, something like eight thou
sand ladies had smiled in his direction.
Eight thousand others were ready to
do the same thing, but Hinkley had
become tired. He wanted no more
conquests. He sighed for no more fat
terry. He simply wanted the female
sex to let him aIone.'f p aS9' go
Everybody knew that it was a case
OF ego, and everybody put the man
down a. an ass. and yet he lost no
friends They waited for the cure to
come along, and they did not have to
wait beyond a few months Hinkley
was .dawdling along Fifth avenue one
afternoon. bored by the sight of SO
many homely women passing him, and
wondering if he would ever take the
slightest interest in female humanity
again, when young lady wearing
red hat came out of a store and passed
him. In fact, she almost ran over him
in her haste to reach her cab. His
hat was knocked off and his cane went
Gathering, and If sh e said anything in
the way of apology e@didn't catch the
Words This was a new experience for
Hinkley. Tt aroused his sleeping inter-
est He looked after her cab for five
minutes and then decided that life had
not lost its SAVIOR after all He was
too late to pursue, but fortune was
with him. The erratic dame was going
to give him another chance.
AS the club man sauntered down to
Twenty-third street and headed for
Sixth avenue, intent on showing his
form to the ladies of the shopping
red hat again. She was entering
dry goods store. Hink1ey entered after
her. She. went to the paraso1 counter
and he followed Aside from the red
the wearer was a handsome young
woman of about twenty-three. She
knew -Hinkley was following her. Had
she seemed to know 1t. however, he
name to the eight thousand IN his book.
He was the professional Broadway
masher. He was a club man who made
the business fine art. He gave the
girl with the red hat a chance to OBJ
serve that he was good looking man
that he was dressed in fashion-that
his garments fitted to- perfection
that he had been abroad-that he
aunt who was going to die soon and
enlarge it; that he was looking at her
Just as a man with an artistic soul
would look at the painting of a Greek
goddess. He soon got a pain. The
young woman did not seem to know
that he was on earth. As she looked
at all sorts and kinds Of parasols she
walked on. his feet or elbowed him
out of the way. Sometimes she looked
past him. and sometimes over his head,
but never at him. When she had
bought a red parasol to match the red
hat she took it and walked out. In do
ing so she had to crowd between a
small red-headed boy, who was about
to- inquire If they kept bar soap. at
the parasol counter. and the man of
eight thousand conquests. She begged
the small boys pardon, but went no
further. $3.50 t ssT@ syor
Mr.. Hinkley was, no longer bored
He was getting a move on. Life had
come back to him with a rush. He
followed the red hat out and saw it
get into a cab. He took another cab
and followed on and landed, at the
Grand Central depot. He followed to
the ticket window and heard the.
Young woman ask for a ticket to a GER
tain Long Island village. He was at
her elbow, but he was ignored. There
was plenty, of room for her to. turn to
the right. but she. turned to the left
and walked on his feet. again and pass
ed through the gates and took her
train. Mr.. Hinkley always carried. a.
case of good cigars with him. He had
a soft and gentle voice. Passing a.
cigar into the window. and speaking