The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-21
The EVENING STORY
Barter and Exchange.

eHu ory- AT least so thought |
Etnel Yorke, as she turned over one
page after the other in hopes of finding
an Item OF some interest.
amnesty her glance wandered from
one sheet to another, and her attention
~ was nnaily attracted to the Exchange
terest her. She read it to the end.
unused to herself IT WONDER" then read
II again aloud to herself to see If it
sounded the least bit plausible.
WIN exchange a f1rst-class type
Writer IN Al condition for genuine an
g., Box all"
ANTIQUES" commented Ethel to her
selr. well. we're strong on antiques
nave everything from the human to
stlii-hfe, from dear old Aunt Cornelia
10 the pen used in signing the Declara-
ton of Independence Then again Aunt
Cornena is worth more than a second
hand typewriter, and the pen is prob
apiy not worth the bell on the old ma
chine. Let me think"
Aunt Cornelia appeared at the door
way as II In answer to the suggestion.
whom are you talking to, Ethel?"
she asked as she glanced around the
apparently empty room. "It seems to
be very one-sided conversation, for I
hear only your own voice." she added.
"Auntie, dear, am conversing with
very bright young person of my ac-
quaintance-none other than yours
truly, Ethel Yorke," said Ethel with
sweeping bow. "Auntfe, want a type
writer, and
Il know you do. dearie, but talking
to yourself won't get one"
"Auntfe I'm not fooling. want a
typewriter. and I'm going to get one.
Behold" said Ethel as she presented
Aunt Cornelia with the "ad'' to read
The old lady read 1t carefully, glanced
at Ethel. then said:
WELL dearie, there Is the old me-
lodeon- That is true antique Your
Grandfather Parker gave that to your
grandmother for a wedding present. 1t
Is all carved by hand and inlaid with
lockwood"
Aunt Cornelia sighed az she went on.
II suppose IL you want to learn to be a
stenographer and go out in the work.
aday world, you must have a typewriter
better offer the dear old melodeon in
exchange"
The "ad'' was duly answered, and
within forty-efght hours a prompt reply
was received saying that the owner of
the typewriter would call that evening
to inspect the so-called antique"
Ethel answered the doorbell Of the
little apartment that evening, for the
household boosted Of no maid since the
loss of their little fortune A tall.
smartly dressed man entered and was
ushered into the sitting room, followed
by Ethel.
Are you the young lady who wants
a typewriter" he asked as he took in
the graceful lines Of her well rounded
figure. her mass Of red-brown hair, and
the even contour of her beautiful face.
Yes she replied as she offered him
chair. 81 want to become an expert
typist, and I was attracted by your ad.
Here is the melodeon, If you want to
look it over" and she walked across the
room and lighted another gas Jet to
lIzsA tel 1~~k
tage The man followed In silence.
@.It's a really, truly antique said
Ethe1 I'm not aSfakir such seyou
suggest in your tad. =
/ The young man walked up to the
beautiful old melodeon, priceless
treasure to one who knew its value.
For the moment he seemed lost in his
admiration Of the delicate workman
ship the beautifully tinted woods, and
he sat down before it, dreaming. The
girl looked at the man as II upon the
figure in a picture. The lights fell upon
him as he sat before the instrument,
and she wondered why he did not speak.
Maybe. after all. the old thing was
worth nothing.
Howard Philips, man Of leisure and
collector Of antiques, turned to his
companion, hardly knowing which he
admired most-the inanimate wooden
treasure or the beautiful girl
eff acceptable to you. Miss Yorke, I
will take the me1odeon, giving you in
exchange the typewriter and q bonus OF
$50" he finally said. THE instrument
is a beauty and a very rare specimen"
he added.
The final rrangements were COM
pleted; and the next day found Ethel in
possession Of q typewriter, and Philips
with the melodeon. Philips went on
how he felt that the greatest treasure
on which his eyes had rested in months.
aye, even years, was the girl whose face
seemed to haunt his dreams
A terrific snow and hail storm kept
him in doors some weeks after the pur-
chase, and Philips sat down before the
instrument to see what sort of music
it would produce. His fingers ran over
the keys, but no sound came forth; he
peddled with greater force, yet silence
was his only reward.
Somethfng was wrong within, and his
deft fingers went to work In the meoh-
anism, and after several minutes
search he was rewarded by finding a
package pressed against the keys.
The package was apparently wad OF
the collector, Philips began to undo the
yards and yards Of Irvine about the long
bundle. He was speechless. Before him
lay a pile Of bills, money that was not
his by any other right than possession
The girls money!
He counted it carefully twice. One
thousand and three hundred dollars. He
must find the girl and return it. Here
was the longed-for excuse to see her
again.
The storm had somewhat abated, and
in a few minutes he started to the little
apartment, in search of the girl He was
Informed that the Yorkes had moved
out three weeks ago. Where? Nobody
knew! The janitor thought they had
moved to q smaller fiat in Harlem.
$hof he could mt And the girl. l
Philips realized the folly of not having |
kept track Of her. Perhaps 1t had been
love at first sight. Indeed, as he thought |
about it seriously. he knew that he was
very much in love. But how could he |
tall her so il he could not find her?
a visit to the postoffice left him none |
the wiser. They furnished no addresses.
He Hrffted home to his open nre and |