The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-23
The EVENING STORY
Miss Deakins's Dog.
CBy Philip Kean.)

| (By Philip Kean.)
| jerks" said Miss Deakins, don't
| go across the hall again"
4 jerks Topped down on the door mat
1 and sighed. canine fashion.
1 You understand" said Miss Deak-
| ms.
| jerks wagged a dfsconsoIate tail
| and closed his eyes.
Very WE'LL and Miss Deakins Wen.
| in and shut the door, withdrawing
from jerks the vision of her trim
| figure, enveloped in q blue linen apron,
down the front of which travelled
| splotches of paint
jerks, outside on the mat, heard a
faint whistle, and lifted one ear. Then
he whined softly
! A door opened across the hall.
"Cut it out and run, Jenksie." said a
masculine voice.
jerks yawned eagerly, but did not
move.
Come on wheedled the man on
the other door mat.
jerks stood UP and wagged his tail.
There was a hee-behind-me-Sa-
tam protest in his attitude, coupled
with yielding.
And just then Miss Deakins opened
her door.
Were you calling my dog?" she de-
manded.
yes. You don't mind. do you?"
The man came toward her as he said
and the paint stains matched those on
Miss Deakins's apron.
ST do mind" Miss Deakins assured
him. Jerks has been taught to lie on
his mat until twelve o'clock. Then
he has his lunch with me-"
"Such beautiful regularity muir
INJURED the man in the velveteen coat.
Miss Deakins flushed.
''I don't see why he wants always to
go to your room"
CO. ~
OUTPUT jerks is rather fond of
me-
you give him ham bones,'' she ac-
cused him.
st do There are some people and
some dogs to whom you have to give
things in order to make them love you.
Perhaps jerks is not that kind of dog.
Perhaps he may have a soul above
ham bones-perhaps, without ham
bones, jerks might love me. Psyche
want to put it to the test value
Jenks's affection too highly to seek the
cause"
I'm too busy" she reminded him,
"to talk in the abstract. And-Td
rather you didn't call jerks"
Very WE'LL he said, formally, and
went back to his room and shut the
door.
Miss Deakins stood irreso1utely on
her door mat, with jerks by her side,
and looked at the closed door, There
was red in her checks and there was
the dog, Come on, jerks. I'm sorry
you can't be trusted, but you can't"
And as they entered the shabby lit
tie room, lighted into whiteness and
glare by a great skylight, she went on:
"I don't believe l can trust anybody,
not even dog, JenkSie.'
She painted all the afternoon, and
as the twilight came on she sat and
looked out over the roofs, and jerks
sat beside her with his cold nose in her
the top of the highest building, she
said, I'm like the Miller of Dee: I
care for nobody, no. not I, and no
body cares for me. -i''s
Just then there came knock at the
door. When she opened it no one was
there but on JenkS'S mat was bunch
of lilacs, such as one buys at the cor
ner stands.
As she filled all her bowls and vases,
Miss Deakin sang little song, and be-
fore she finished there came another
knock at the door.
what were you singing?" asked the
man from across the way.
you kncw-the Spring Song" she
told him. Jelly.
IT have just painted a little picture
of spring." he said, ingratiatingly. |
May show it to you?"
1t was a water color-just a stretch |
Of young fields, with a sweep of orch !
ard beyond, but it make her catch her |
breath. I
'I can almost sniff the fragrance" |
was her impetuous comment. "It is |
beautiful
'That is the way the world is look |
ing outside the city, he said with en- |
thusiasm. There are violets and pus-
~ willows and the birds are calling
let me take you out there tomorrow. |
It will do you good, you as SO pale"
She froze at that. Certainly not" |
she refused, and spoke with sternness
70 jerks.
"Jenks," she said, ''I told you not to |
cross the hail."
jerks got up YEARLY from the OPP
oosite door mat.
ST don't see why you won't be
friends" the painter said, as he stood
rresolute, with his picture in his |
1and
st have my work, and nothing must
Interfere with my career,
But we have lived opposite each
,ther for six months"
"'It would be the same If we had
lived opposite each other for six
rears," was the way she closed the
discussion.
More stars were out when she again
,at with jerks by the window and the
,vef the roofs she caught the glow of
different illumination, a red, murky
glow, that f1ared up presently into
James and columns of rolling smoke. /
Its fire, jerks" she told the dog.
jerks whined-
Its down the street, was her fur
her information, and then in a sudden
,anic. Its in the next house, Jenk-
ie.''
With the dog close behind her she
an to the door. The hall was full of
moke. Through 1t she saw the man
cross the way.
I'VE can't get down." he said quick
Y. THE stairs are on fire, but there's
fire escape from M window"
He caught her in his arms. and be-
ore she could protest they were de-