The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-26
THE EVENING STORY
Dorothy's Dime.
OtA . 1ANhACSs
(By Carl Williams \

Grayce looked grim as he threw
open the door and stumbled over the
roll of rugs that lay just within.
another night has come and that
landlord still lives his evil life," he
called. and from the dimly lighted
parior came an answering sniff.
bert Grayce hung up his coat on
the half shrouded hatrack and entered
the room. The furniture was swathed
In burlap and excelsior, the piano was
covered with old blankets and other
sort wrappings, and trunks and. boxes
were piled with some attempt at order
along the bare walls and upon the
equally bare floor.
On top of the upturned soap box a
group of candles guttered dismally,
their feeble rays serving to accentuate
desolation of an exodus-brooded
everywhere, even upon the face of the
woman who sat in a low rocker be-
side the candles. and vainly made pre-
Hers was a lovable face, framed in
masses of silver hair, and Grayce's
smile softened and grew more tender
as he bent to kiss the still smooth fore
head.
Cheer up, mother mine" he said
laughingly. "All is not yet lost.
though the painters remain on strike.
painfad the at new home vii will be
comfortably settled"
Are you sure? 2" demanded Mrs.
Grayce wistfully. "If you are, we will
not have the gas turned on again."
home" he reminded. You will for
get these nights of Egyptian darkness,
and the next time we move we shall
not order the current turned off until
we are safely out of the house."
To think that at the last moment.
with all packed and ready to move,
this strike should have come up!"
said Mrs. Grayce with a groan. Are
you positive, Bert, that the painter
you have engaged will not be won
over by the strikers? %
Never more certain of anything in
my ltfe," was the laughing response.
The painter is no less person than
your accomplished son. 1 stopped in
and ordered the paint sent over this
morning. Tomorrow I shall go and
WELD the brush, so you must wake and
call me early. 1 must put in a full
day."
Bert passed on to his own room,
lighting his way with matches, and his
mother heaved a sigh of relief For
eight days they had virtually camped
in the apartment they had given up,
waiting for their new quarters to be
finished. The packers had done their
work, the man had come to cut off the
gas and the moving vans were backed
up to the door when a telephone mes
sage came to the effect that. owing to
a strike of the painters, the new rooms
were not yet ready for occupancy.
From day to day the landlord had
promised that something would be done
at once, but now a full week had pass
ed and hope had commenced to fail,
until Bert decided to do the work him
SELF
He made an early start and s o'clock
found him in a suit of jeans applying
the paint with as skillful a brush as
though painting were his regular Occu-
patton. He worked rapidly and well
and the rooms had begun to assume
habitable aspect when he heard the hall
door open and close and looked up, ex-
pecting to see the landlord.
Instead he faced about to encounter
the gaze of a pair Of brown eyes which
seemed to pierce his paint-stained jack
1t and give him an oddly queer Sensa5
ion about the heart. The posseSsor Of
he eyes was a fragile slip of a girl
whose pure oval face was oddly like a
picture by some old master. The slender
'orm was wholly concealed by a brown
holland pinafore and this was splashed
With color. A dab of blue which had
sought a higher resting place made a
;aucy beauty patch against the dimp-
ing chin.
80 you have come" she said at
ength. II was beginning to think that
you would be out on strike all winter.
was promised that my floors should be
;hellacked first"
Yes but began Bert.
'I want no answers, said the girl with |
|
IN exhibition day after tomorrow and the |
loors must be done by then, do you
,ear?"
Then pick up your pail and brush and
ONE along was the quiet command. If |
had not smelled the b paint dsv In the w ha
need you so much more. Come on
lease"
here was no argument to be made, and
Bert, grinning over the Righteousness OF
he affair, followed her He saw with
lea sure that the other apartment was
My across the hall from his own. 1t was
much smaller place. and it did not take
;ert long to penn paint the IsooTs ghe
FORK, and Bert was sorry when at last
e rose from his knees and announced the
You win Still have time to finish the
Their apartment" said the girl severely.
iii have less trouble. You know very
yell that the agent told you to do this
partment first. He promised me that he
Hell promise anything" began Bert
rimly, but the tiny foot stamped warn
,g. The, girl did not care to argue the
i'm with a nod. Il
Come in tomorrow and give it second
he added as Bert turned to go. Buy
ourself good cigar" she finished as
ne handed him a coin
18th a murmured word of thanks and
acked out of the door. Once on the other
de his embarrassment died down. and
a paused long enough to ascertain from
le card on the door that 1t was Dorothy
emsen who occupied the apartment That
ne was a china decorator he already
new, and vaguely he remembered having
card of her skill.
He was tired when he sought his home
lat night, but the thought that he would
ae the girl again on the morrow gave
i'm a feeling that the day had been well
oent He carefully slipped the dime in
,cket which he wore on his watch fob
nd smiled as he thought of his tip:
hing next morning and then turned his
ttention to his own apartment. 1t was
lie in the afternoon when he hadfnished
nd was cleaning up. There came ring