The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-10
THE EVENING STORY
F,indillg Miss FiIson.
(By Nora Bayne.

L
Man." and Andy Brant. with a prompt
and respectful Eyes SIR tucked the
letter into his pocket and finished ADD
ing the column of figures upon when
he had been working.
Had Lowell & Lowell told him to go
out and find the north pole, Andy
would have replied in precisely the
same tone and would have started on
the trip in precisely the same spirit.
Nominally the assistant bookkeeper,
Andy Brant was the general utility
man. 1t was he who had given first
aid to the injured water pipe with
piece of rubber overshoe and some
adhesive tape from his bicycle kit and
who had treated the office cat when
it had fits.
But the present quest was not SO
promising. A correspondent had ask
ed that his daughter be located. 1--WE
know that she was to have gone to the
Z. w. G. A. wrote the westerner. mo
doubt it will be easy to locate her"
Andy grinned as he replaced the let
ter in his pocket and started for the
association office.
The elderly woman in charge was
willing to tell what little she knew,
when Andy showed his letter as au-
thority. Miss Filson had come to
them three months before. but had
soon moved to an address far uptown.
she smiled approvingly upon Andy as
he thanked her. She liked this clean
skinned, honest-eyed young fellow,
and she even unbent so far as to ven-
ture the hope that he would meet with
success
Andy's answer was a grimace.
Young women had trick of losing
themselves in New York. Miss Filson
had left the association three months
before. 1t was not likely that she
could endure life in one cheap board
ing house for that length of time. Most
places were endurable for less than a
month
His s11snioions ,.,era 11a,;6ad x,,t,a,, he
reached the uptown address. Miss Fill
son was dfmly remembered by the
rosy checked servant girl who answer
ed the door. She stayed only two
weeks and had departed on an express
wagon, explaining that she could not
trust the driver with the trunk 1t
was this incident and the fact that she
d1d not leave her new address that fix
ed her more clearly in the girls mind
than most of those who came and
went.
Andy interviewd express wagon
drivers in an increasing circle for the
remainder of the morning, and wound
up SO conveniently near his own
boarding place that he stepped in for
lunch.
Mrs. Lemons establishment was
different from the average New York
boarding house. Andy had lived there
for a year and still liked it, Now that
golden-haired Bess Saunders had
taken up her residence there he was
willing to remain indefinitely. Andy
was not susceptible, but the first time
Bess had come into the stuffy dining
room he had fallen in love; so deeply
in love that when she had lost her
position as stenographer and could not
pay her board bills, unknown to Bess
ne mad arranged with Mrs. Lennon
that he would be responsible for the
bill until Bess found a new place
when the landlady should reimburse
him.
"Any luck p" he asked as he slipped
into his seat opposite the girl. She
shook her head.
well, I have some good news for
you, he went on. "Our typewriter is
going to quit the job, and the Old Man
says you may have it,
Bess clapped her hands delightedly
and Andy beamed upon her.
Lets celebrate" he suggested "I've
f1ot an order that 1 can't fill. Let's go
to the matinee, will you? Might as
well do that as tramp around town
for nothing"
front steps smoking a cigarette and
building air castles while the girl
dressed. They had only cheap seats
in the rear of the balcony, but it was
feel the slight pressure of the girls
arm against his own, emphasizing her
nearness. He did not think much of
the vaudeville performance. What
maJIereQ the accomplished tS OF the
trained seals and the toe dancer when
he could lean back with closed eyes
and conjure up visions of light house
keeping with Bess as the housekeep-
err? He was earning enough salary for
two. After all, she need not take that
place with Lowell & Lowell.
isn't that great?'' asked Bess. |
Andy reused himself with a start to |
observe the accomplishments of a pair
Sure thing" he assented. ST was
of something bigger and
greater"
81 was thinking he explained, "that |
perhaps you wouldn't need Miss Aus
tins place in the office. What's the |
matter with US getting married? We |
could get little bit of a fiat and live
mot board"
Andy's voice made the distinction eIo-
luent, and the girls gray eyes grew.
But you don't know anything about |
me-" she protested, wistfully.
It know you're the girl I want to
marry he insisted stoutly. Mrs. Len-
lon's known me for a year, and the Old |
Mans had me working for him for
'terville and find out the rest about me
f you want to. I'm not from Missouri.
where you're concerned
There was a sudden darkness as the
lights went out for the motion pictures.
md in the gloom tiny hand sought
lis, and was quickly captured.
rs it yes?'' he asked, his breath COM
ng in sharp aspirations.
II can't write back home" she said
oftly. But If you will take me as I
I'm, Andy, it's-yes."
There's nothing wrong he declared
toutly, "but if you were a shoplifter,
ID marry you just the same'' The
audience was filing out before the last
pictures We're thrown on the screen,
,ut he leaned over and kissed her.
Were engaged" he declared. stbut
-ou'll have to wait until Saturday for
he ring
The lights flashed on again and UNI
willingly enough Andy gathered up
heir belongings and Prepared to Join