The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-14
THE EVENING STORY
Their Prettiest Girl.
(By Henry BerlinPhoffO


(By Henry Berlinghoff)
1t was Ned Bellinham who dis
covered THE Girl Across the Way
Crosby Maurer hooted at the sug-
gestion that she was the daintiest and
most wholly lovable young woman on
the globe.
Ned retorted with some heat, and
the result was that then and there the
domestic partnership was threatened
with dissolution
1t was the first time since they had
set up housekeeping In bachelor
apartment three years before that
they had had a disagreement.
Maurer had flung himself out of the
had sat himself down at his drawing
board to make 1.-THE Girl Across the
Way the central figure in a set of
illustrations he was doing for a story,
blissfully ignoring the fact that the
authors heroine was tall, above the
ordinary, fair-haired goddess of the
Norseland, while 1.-The Girl Across the
Way" was petite and decidedly dark.
Maurer did not return to dress for
dinner, and Ned was fast asleep by
the time he did come in. There was
no reopening of the discussion, and
in the morning the clash of the day
before was tacitly ignored.
More than a week passed, and the
waiting for the breakfast to be sent
up from the restaurant in the build
ing approached the window and gave
a low whistle of surprise.
you're right, old man." he cried,
land I'll eat all the humble pie you
dess in miniature"
Ned sprang to the window, a
pleased smile of triumph on his face.
But the smile faded when he looked
closely.
tits awfulIy good of you to say so.
old chap he said gratefully, "but I'll
eat that pie myself. Funny I should
have thought her such a sumner.
She's a good locker, but nothing like
the goddess I've been raving about"
Don't be a beastly fool" urged
Maurer politely. You're an artist.
You must know that she's one woman
in a thousand.
DO you mean it?" demanded Ned
saying it to please me. Funny that
you should like her. Usually your
taste is very good"
"Good!" echoed Maurer. "Of course
it's good, and it tells me that that
girl is a remarkable beauty"
Nonsense" scoffed Ned. Shes
good looking, but commonplace. There
are hundreds like her."
Maurer turned a look of ineffab1e
scorn upon his friend and silently
breakfast now was spread.
The meal was eaten in silence, and
for a. second time within ten days
Maurer departed for his office with
out the good luck in your work, old
man." which started Ned on his draw
ings in proper humor with himself.
Instead of going to his drawing
board Ned went to the window and
for a long half hour he studied the
dainty figure sewing by the window
across the street.
He turned away with a sigh, then
regarded the half completed sketch
tackled to his drawing board. It was
a remarkably good likeness of the girl
afresh. Ned started to efface the fig
ure with another sigh for his lost
ideal.
He took a melancholy pleasure in
drawing in a girl who was tall and
plump, and whose hair glinted
yellowy against a crimson curtain.
This was to be the frontispiece of a
and he had wondered the
afternoon before If the girl would see
it and recognize her likeness. He had
her since that first morning. and now
he wondered how he had ever been
such fool.
That evening Maurer smoked his
pipe in front of the window where he
could watch his new divinity, and Ned,
to avoid further rupture, clapped on
his hat and went out for a street car
ride, form of amusement he de-
CeSIed, Wn1cn was better Chan
Maurer make a fool of him
self.
Ever since he had come to the city
he and Crosby Maurer had been the
firmest of friends. For three years
they had lived together in the little
four-room apartment that had be-
come a real home to them, and so
closely had they studied each others
peculiarities there were none of the
outbreaks of Ill humor that had
L. FTyI-4 rY
was the first time that there had come
a real clash and Bellingham felt it
keenly.
In time the edge of the trouble
wore away, but there was no real
of the old friendship.
Maurer was still too hurt to forget
all that had been said in the heat of
passion, though he had forgotten the
things he had said to Ned at the first
vance of the old forms, back of them
was lacking the real regard that had
made them something more than
forms.
vainly Ned sought to overcome his
of opinion, but it was nearly
two weeks before he could change.
Then. as he was dressing one morning,
he CHANGED to glance through the
half-opened shutters and a moment
later he was in his friends room
"You win" he cried with such
abruptness that Maurer cut himself
with the razor he was welding, THAT
girl is a raving beauty. Maurie. Funny
that 1 should have taken that dis
ike to her, but it's gone now. She's
Ill that you say she is"
"And that isn't much" was the
-eply in cold contempt. Funny I
should have raved about her. She |
ooks like a chorus girl. 1t was a |
shock when I saw her this morning"
Are you craZy?' stormed Ned. |
WHY. she's the daintiest little wo-
nan the world can show. Shes bet |
.er looking and sweeter than /
thought she was at first
"She's a tricky sort of young per-
;on." observed Maurer calmly. lone /
IL L. IA f.,cr nd L