The Topeka state journal., 1909-01-26
The EVENING STORY
The Untold HAN.
By Arthur Boltonwood.)

port. There was no particular stir
| along the water front that biting,
| foggy morning in December when the
Admiral Dart came wheeling up the
| harbor, swung into her berth at the
| yellow Star docks with the aid of a
| couple of tugs-for the tide was run
ming strongly-shot out her gang
plank and disembarked the four pas
| sengers she carried.
| She also disembarked Bobby
shacklett, but Bobby Shacklett did not
| come to the wharf by way of the
| gangplank. While the fussy little
| putting valiantly and swinging briskly
out of the Admiral Darts hold the
| many punches of green bananas,
Bobby Shacklett, very thin, very pale
| ana very much unwashed. came up
from the stokeroom, took a long
| breath of the misty air, shivered a bit
for his clothes were painfully thin
and shabby-and then climbed over
the rail and dropped unostentatiously
| to the wharf
| A couple of carriages bearing the
| steamers late passengers whisked
| past him, three rumb1ng drays went
humping past, one of the drivers
| shouting impolitely to Bobby to get to
Bobby grinned. It was not a pleas
| ant grin. He was thinking of his
| homecoming as he had planned it and
| as 1t had actually turned out, and
comparisons. which are always odious
| things. were particularly so in this
case.
He thrust his hand into the pocket
| of his ragged trousers, drew out few
| pieces of silver, grinned once more,
| shivered again and made his way to
| the street.
A solitary hanson was drawn up to
the curb, waiting for a chance fare.
| surveyed him scowlingly, but Bobby,
quite oblivious apparently to the dub
ious glances cast in his direction,
climbed calmly in.
He gave an address on a certain
conservative street uptown. The
| driver stared at him. Bobby smiled.
Don't blame me, old chap" he
| said, noting the others hesitation.
'But want to go there, strange as it
may seem, and incompatible as it may
What's the row. Afraid I won't be
good for the fare? Here you CO."
He passed up the handful of silver
through the trap. Now, then, drive
on" he commanded.
The whip lash sang through the air;
the shambling horse lurched into a
trot; the hanson rocked. and away they
went through the dingy. noisy streets.
They drew up finally before an impos-
ing house on the conservative uptown
street. Bobby climbed from the ham
som, and while the latter turned and
went gathering away, he shut his teeth
steps with a light of determination in
his eyes.
In response to his vigorous tug at the
bell the door was opened by a stat
uesque butler. whose dignity stood out
obtrusively all over him. He looked at
the figure on the stoop and closed the
door halfway.
"Well?" he said, and the manner in
which he said it plainly bade the visitor
us Miss wadsworth in?'' said Bobby
quietly.
Hi think not, sir. In fact, Hi am
very sure she isn't" the butler replied.
A look came into Bobby's gray eyes
look that had made better men than
the butler quail many times before now.
"I rather think you are mistaken"
said he. I'm sure she is home, and
what is more, 1 am sure she will be glad
to receive me. If you don't believe it,
just tell her, If you will, that the gen.
eral manager of the Colona Intercoast
railway would like word with her.
I'd advise you to do as say
The butler hesitated but a second
longer. The man on the stoop was look
ing at him with a most disconcerting
determination in his bearing. The but
ler. unwillingly, it is true. opened the
doo-.
"Step in, SIR" said he. Hi will see."
A fire cracked cheerfully in a big
Fireplace at one end of the warm, dark
hall. Bobby drew a chair close to 1T,
and sitting down, held out his stiffened
fingers to the grateful blaze.
Up the wide stairs creaked the butler,
with as much haste as his ubiquitous
dignity allowed. Voices sounded above.
There was little gasp, cry. the swish
of skirts, the patter of light footsteps
hurrying down the stairs.
Bobby arose from his chair, just as
Mary Wadsworth, more radiant, more
beautiful than ever, came running
toward him.
Bobby" she cried, both her hands
Iieve that it is really you and that you
are back. I'm glad-oh, so glad can't
tell you properly"
Bobby had stiffened. His face was
very grave.
ment," said he. II shan't keep you
long. Just a word of explanation
and perhaps even that is not needed,
he added, with lugubrious glance at
his tattered raiment. Il must apologize
for coming here this way, but stoking
on a fruit steamer raises the very
deuce with ones appearance"
She was about to say something, but
he held out his hand.
must tell you before you say WORD; or
sse shant a 6eapoaG asve fhe goae up, con
tracts unfulfilled, and the fortune 1 went
down there ese to has stow Waed Off IN With Tha
about all, except that came back in the |
fruit steamer to tell you that I'm the
That is all?" she asked suddenly. Are |
you sure that is all? Do you mean to say |
In those few sentences you have told me |
everything?"
''AlI that you should know" said he |
She looked at him steadliy' ana sud |
you are telling me only half" she said. |
He was silent. -
why don't you tell me the other half?' |
she demanded.
Tit wouldn't interest you," he said |
1emeIy.
She leaned toward him. 81 know the |
other half without your telling it, you
"Eh? What? What is it you know