The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-04
THE EVENING STORY
The Mysterious signature.
By J. Ludlum Lee.1


me modern bungalow is a delusion
ana snare"
churlish lott
Thus did Harriet and Pierce Elkins
| respectively sum I'D their first month
| at Meadow Manor, where. on the adj
wee OF old family friends, Mr.. and Mrs.
| sam Rodgers, they had taken q pic
turesque bungalow for the season.
Harriet based her Judgment on warp
ing doors and a shortage in hooks and
otner small domestic essentials, sum-
.ltns up with the announcement that
Wnen women turned architects houses
would be properly planned
Her brother founded his criticism on
the TACT that the young woman whom
ne nad nominated as the Meadow
mar. manor beauty had SO far ignored his
very existence. She boarded the $3.50
IRAN with him five days out of seven
and yet seemed to hold herself aloof,
not only from him but all other mas
culine creatures.
she was most competent young
opportunity to do her a service. In his
| Denomination to make an opportunity
Tor knightly service he ignored the
friendly overtures Of other neighbors.
horizon. Pierce had taken the 2:30
traln nome In hopes of getting a turn
| on the links to counteract the depress-
ing enects of falling stocks, and there,
walking briskly ahead Of him under
the arching trees Of the quaint village
was the inaccessible beauty. And in
the dust at the right Of her dainty
uphfted skirt lay a handkerchief.
Pierce Elkins darted forward.
dropped this"
The girl glanced first at the man,
then at the bit OF cambria in his hand,
| and smiled.
But I did not drop IT," she said, and
1 nj he ukn voI
her handkerchief from her sleeve.
Mumbling inaudible words of apology,
Pierce turned down the opposite street
| toward home. Even golf did not i'm
Ing at breakfast his mood had not
| changed.
will you have two lumps?" asked
harriet as she was pouring the coffee.
| Seventeen" growled Pierce
Seventeen: all in one cup!" cried
Harriet In amazement.
| Il thought you asked me the day of
the month: explained Pierce. Two
will do. The fact is, Sis, did not
befuddled. That blamed roof leaked
again and the rain came right in on
my bed. I've decided not to go to
town this morning. but instead I'm
going round to see our landlord and
The roof over the kitchen leaks,
too" said Harriet plaintively you
might mention that also"
| What's the beasts manner" asked
II really don't know" Harriet an
swered. 1.-THE bills come in signed
M M. per Hook & Hook"
We'll won't bother Hook & Hook,
for they are like all agents." said
Pierce. II want the man higher up
the owner himself. M. NJ he mused
IT bet his name is Mike Murphy, and
III also wager that I'll rouse his Irish
before l get through with him.
He lives in the little white bunga-
low on Maple avenue; Mr.. Hook point
| ed 1t out to me-" directed Harriet as
her brother started on his mission
| Pierce soon found the bungalow and
rang the bell. He waited a moment
mood to wait. From the hall inside
voice called: Coming, coming
And she came! The beauty!
| Pierce gasped. He had evidently
made another mistake.
| Il am looking for our missing land
lord" he explained. II really don't
know his name-some Irish contractor,
I'll bet. ashamed to sign his full
name"
"Sit down on the porch, won't you,
would make no mistakes.
"Elkins is my name-Pierce EIkins-
and fear have made a mistake. My
sister and I live in the little red cot
/
our landlord name unknown. but
| methods atrocious. Really Miss
Miss" Now Pierce hesitated.
MAXWELL" she added.
This landlord signs his receipts M.
NJ and I'm after his blood" finished
EIzins.
Wont you sit DOWN." again sug-
gested Miss Maxwell and she deity
turned the conversation into more
agreeable channels. The landlord was
81 wonder If your sister would like to
know me-" said the beauty finally. 81
know it is my place to call-but rath-
er hesftated-well for several reasons"
"Oh do wish you would call on Har-
riet She's brick all right, and as
| lonesome as stray cat. No one has
called yet"
well, I'll come over this afternoon
! while you are on the links" said Miss
MAXWELL with some emphasis about
But when Miss Maxwell called that
afternoon 1t was Pierce who answered
the bell.
You see I've such a fearful cold
from that leaking roof he explained,
chat thought better stay home and
nurse it,"
Miss Maxwell bit her lip
81 do hope, Miss Elkins," she said
that may be allowed to see this much
talked-of roof while I am here. The
hating speech-"the fact is. oh, bother
I'm your landlord"
| Pierce took a firm grip on the table
to keep from losing his balance. Meth
err he nor Harriet spoke and the beauty
| was forced to cover the pause.
I'm the Terrible Turk TIM Mike
Murphy alias Muriel Maxwell, alias
! M NJ" She seemed quite relieved
/ that the awful news was out
well, I'll be hanged!' This from
Pierce.
.'who would think it?" This from
| Harriet.
you see, built these four houses
as an investment with some money