The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-14


self If your eyes are so dull to real
1oveliness,' retorted Ned. when YOU
have finished your breakfast. let me
know, and I'll come and get mine.
The lease here runs out at the end
of this month. I guess 1 won't re-
new my share, Maurer. Better get
some one else"
Think I'll move, too" assented
Maurer. 81 don't want to stay here
with a female freak like that living
across the way. I'll stop at the Of
fice on the way out and tell them to
look for another tenant
He went out to lonely breakfast,
and when he had gone Bellingham
came out to play with the cold chops
and the lukewarm coffee. He did not
go to the drawing board, in spite of
the splendid inspiration of "The Girl
Across the Way"
He was tremendously fond of
Maurer, and this abrupt Termination
or their friendship. coming as it had,
only puff at his pipe end and wonder
what 1t would be like to set up house
keeping alone in smaller apartment.
He would take an apartment in the
same house to be near the girl, but
he would need only one room.
Maurer paid the larger share of the
joint rental. He was making more
money and insisted that he would pay
as much were he alone. Ned had an
preciated his kindness, and when he
did not look at the girl, he reproached
himself for his new ingratftude
But when he saw the little brown
head and the delicate profile through
the window opposite, he told himself
that an unseeing brute like Maurer
did not deserve sympathy.
The luncheon came UP. and was
sent back untasted, and the afternoon
shadows grew into dusk and still Ned
sat and smoked and thought.
The girl vas gone now, but he could
still fancy that she was there, and
he was so absorbed with his thoughts
that he did not hear the key turn in
the lock, and not until Maurer burst
in with a whoop that ratified the
shades on the electric globes did he
rouse himself.
Were both right, old man."
shouted Maurer as he dragged Ned
from his chair and forced him to
participate in an impromptu war
dance about the tiny parIor 1.-THE
prettiest girl in all the world lives
across the way, but your prettiest girl
is not my prettiest girl, thank heaven
There are two of 'em, old man-yours
and mine-at least they're going to
be yours and mine, 1 hope"
He sank into a chair
I'm taking care of Gordon's clients
while he's in Europe and Mrs. Fos-
ter sent for me today to consult about
some real estate deal. That's where
my prettiest girl went! They're twins,
Alice and Phoebe Bavard, and they're
Mrs. Fosters nieces. She's an invalid,
and they take turns living with her.
She says it's too much of a strain to
have them both there at once and to
try to tell which is which That's
why sometimes it was my prettiest
girl, and sometimes it was the one
you liked. We made the mistake of
thinking that there was only one. The
old lady's going to Europe with a
trained nurse for keeps. It's a good
thing that we gave up this apart
ment Wen need two and they won't
be in bachelor halls either"
Ned grasped his friends hand in
his own. There's only one prettiest
girl" he declared, "but yours isn't
commonplace" and with that con-
cession Maurer was CONTRADICTORY
righted, 1908, by Associated Literary
PreSS)