The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-13
THE EVENING STORY
BilIiards-And Something Else.


The trouble was that while Carrick
admitted his offense and was anxious
to present his excuse, Miss welland
by her manner ignored the existence
of an offense, and so made excuse i'm
possible. At first blush, that sounds
all right. But it wasn't.
For how could fellow secure free
DON from his grievous dungeon when
the pardon board publicly and official
ly pretended to believe that he was
enjoying the sweet atmosphere of lib
erty? That was the question which
bothered Carrick.
Miss Welland would set everything
right But she was graciously and
firmly unapproachable. She insisted
on treating him just the same as ever,
dungeon chains, while Miss Wellano
smiled sweetly on Purves Bland.
Carrick wasn't really to blame.
They had been going to the theater
Wednesday evening, after having wait
ed three weeks to get tickets because
everybody else seemed to want to go,
too. And that very Wednesday after
noon the manager had sent for Car
rick.
"Be here at o'clock tonight" he
directed; there will be special meet
ing of the board for the purpose of
discussing your carbon Improvement
pompous smile was rich with promise
For young man whom opportunity
had seized by the nape of the neck
and was thrusting headIong into pros
perity Carrick was singularly unap-
preciative. He knew how Miss We'll
land was anticipating seeing what
Woman Would Do" and the impos-
sibilty of securing other tickets dur
ing the remainder of the run Miss
Welland'S lightest wish was more i'm
portant, just then, than a good many
other things. So he mentioned IAN
other engagement
rick" said the manager, quite decid-
eddy. "Mr. Kern, who is our presi-
dent and heaviest stockholder, will be
here from the west tonight on his way
to New York. He can stay only two
hours. We can do nothing without his
approval. So you see how necessary it
is that you attend the meeting"
There seemed no way out of it. Car
rick wrote a note to Miss Welland eX-
planning the circumstances, sealed it,
and rang for a messenger. When
diminutive representative of the A. d.
T. arrived Carrick was smitten with
brilliant idea. Why not send the tick
cts she could go, anyway? So he
wrote another note, inclosed the tick
cts with it, and handed both envelopes
to the messenger. And the one con-
tanning the tickets was never delivered.
All unconscious of this fact, Carrick
went back to the office at o'clock.
Fifteen minutes later word came that
Mr.. Kern was delayed by a wreck and
that the board meeting would be held
next morning.
On the cnance that he might yet be
in time to escort Miss Welland to the
theater, he rushed off to find her, only
to be informed by the maid that she
had gone out. He went on home then,
where he was promptly pressed into
service by his sister Beatrice, who
wanted company as far as Gladys
Burton's. And at the Burton door
they had encountered Miss WelIand--
That young lady had smilingly cut
short his explanations before they
were begun. Later, when he heard of
the nondelivery of the tickets, he tried
again. But Purves Bland was now in
the play. and explanations were i'm
possible. He never saw Miss Welland
unless the hint-impervious Mr.. Bland
and recitals and tea fights in an en-
deavor to tell her of the meeting that
didn't come off-but in vain.
Weeks of plotting and planning and
came left him worried and hungry
looking. Why rejoice that his carbon
Improvement scheme was a go, when
the only girl in the world-it had
him, or, worse still. looked at him pre-
cisely as she looked at everybody else?
But his persistence won. finally. BY
the assistance of Dick Sargent, en-
gagged ana consequently sympathetic,
he was assured, of a monopoly of Miss
Welland and the billiard room during
a dance at Burton's one night. Dick
promised fifteen minutes, if he had to
tie Purves Bland with the portieres.
Miss Welland," he began breath
lessly, when Bland had been lured
away by Dick and the future Mrs.
Sargent, you know the night of What
Woman Would Do
But you were to teach me to play
billiards. you know" remarked Miss
Welland.
"But 1 want to explain" he
urged.
at got your note" Miss Welland re-
minded him. "And Beatrice has told
me about the loss of the tickets. So
that's all over and forgotten
Being equipped only with the slow
going mental processes of mere man,
Carrick was somewhat dazed by this
information. For weeks he had been
preparing himself to take the enemy's
fortifications by storm. To find that |
there was to be no war was surpris- |
ing, to say the least.
@You know all about to- he quer-
led. stupidity.
''Yes.''
''And it's all forgotten?"
YES"
Forgiven. too?"
81 suppose So
Then" said Carrick, with a radiant !
smile and a CLINT of determination in |
his eye, eve shall take up the billiard |
lesson-and something else. Miss !
Welland chose to ignore the remark.
First we will send the balls to the |
lower cushion to see who gets the first |
shot. That is a bank" /
What funny name!'
eyes" said Carrick- 1.-THE word is |
usually applied to the edges of a river |
Also" with a sidewise glance-"to |
institutions where young men who are !
matrimony hoard up !
their money"
Hadn't we better join the others?" |
asked Miss Welland. irreJevantly.
Il ha hsan Ok fcrl