The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-03
THE EVENING STORY
TaIbot,s Recovarv

eomlng spring. Up and down the
aspnait rolled trim carriages, whiz-
ing motors. and smart high-seated
nops, ana IN the carriages and the
laughed and chatted and drank in the
glory or the perfect day.
ana because of all this Talbot,
stretched on the couch by the window
He had the grace to be aware thai he
snould be thankful just to recIine
tnere and watch the sunshine and the
ROBINS and the whirl of traffic en- the
pavements below. He had been very
~, ana even now the doctor was eau
.ioning the nurse to keep Talbot very
quiet and to be sure he didn't over
exert himself now that he was con-
valescing
But the splendor of the day with
ous pred IN the pale young man de-
cided sense of unrest. He turned
away his head and made wrv face
as ne listened to the doctors instruc-
tlons and the nurses assurances that
ne would follow them out to the let
yer; Then Talbot glanced at the cal
enoar on the desk in the corner, saw
tnat the date. the 7th of April, had
a circle about 1t, and his lips set stub
pornly He had been striving might
and main to get on his feet by that
cate, ana here was the doctor telling
the nurse that the patient must be
at least. "eoA'
The young mans mouth widened in
certain grim smile; but out Of the
corner of his eye he watched the doc
Tor take his departure, and listened
anxiously until the elevator gate down
the corridor changed and the car went
Wh1rring down to the street floor
Then he yawned YEARLY
Jlm, he said to the nurse, what
is there to read ?"
INSTANTLY the n1,rse roIloc+ad . 1sfa
OF books and magazines and bore
them to the couch. Talbot shifted.
'Those!" he said in fine disgust.
"Read 'em all long ago. They're no
good, anyway"
He pulled a handful of silver from
his pockets. go out and get me
some fresh ones" he instructed. "All
you can pick up. And say, don't come
back without a copy of that English
review, the what's-its-name: you
chuckle. well knowing the nurse
would have to travel to a certain lit
tie shop a half mile or more distant
to procure it. 'Be sure to get that -
Eyes, sir. You shall have it if
there's one in town" the nurse de-
clared, changing his white coat for
one of tweed and picking up his hat.
No sooner had the nurse departed
than Talbot was off the couch. He
was still rather weak. His legs were
WdODly OSHSdtA- anu MS nedQ
was altogether too much inclined to
lightness; but he set his teeth,
glanced at that date on the calendar.
threw off the gorgeous bathrobe which
swathed his tall frame. and began to
dress with a nervous haste Whatever
else happened, he must be out of the
apartment before the nurse returned.
Dressing proved rather more of a
task than he had anticipated, but for
all that, he stuck to it doggedly. and
when he stood finally before the long
mirror surveying himself in the street
clothes which had been hanging on
their forms in the closet for the past
two months. he was aware of de-
cfded glow of triumph. He caught a
carnation from the we11-f1lled vase on
into his buttonhole. Then, walking
rather unsteadily and with eyes pre-
ternaturally bright. he slipped into the
hall, went down the corridor and rang
for the elevator.
The elevator boy stared at him in
delightedly, dropped an eyelid. and
thrust a hand into his pocket. A
moment later a bit of gold found its
way into the palm Of the elevator boy.
you haven't seen me. Of course.
Mike he suggested. do you get the
fdea?"
"Sure. 1 get it." Mike chuckled as
the car stopped at the street floor and
Talbot wabbled out Of 1t toward the
sunlit street.
At the curb he summoned han
som. climbed In and gave an address
to the cabby. Then the equipage
ratified off, and Talbot settled himself
on the cushions with a long sigh of
relief. His little ruse had worked;
he had made his escape from Jim's
watchful eyes.
At the first corner they turned, he
saw on the sidewalk Jim himself fur-
rying along with a huge bundle Of
magazines. Talbot leaned far back in
the hanson and chuckled again
Uptown they whisked through the
mellow sunlight Of the spring after
noon and stopped finally before GER
tain house. Talbot alighted, paid the
cabby, gave him instructions to wait
and then mounted the steps and rang
the bell.
A few moment later Talbot. seated
In a big, dim library, heard the swish
of skirts and a little stihed cry He
got unsteadily to his feet, just as a
girl came into the room
proof, wonder, ali in her tones at once.
what does this mean? What are
you doing here?"
Barbara" he.replied. what day is
this?"
'tI told you three years ago today"
said Talbot quietly. that on the 7th
of every April I should come to you
to renew my pleading. Just once
every year I said I should come, and
on the 7th Of April. I always keep
my word
"But Ted, you crazy boy. you have
been Ill. They told me you wouldn't
leave the house for another month
yet
Ibid they. indeed % said he calmly.
oil mr. h1v 7 Shn111dn'f have
done so. but you see. this very i'm
portant date happened to- arrive on
schedule time, and So
'Where was Jim? How did you
manage to bride him %
st didn't bribe him." Talbot
laughed There are no sins of cor
ruption on my head. I sent him out
to get some magazines, and when he
went I-well, sneaked seems to the
word best fitting my exit