The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-30
THE EVENING STORY
In the Three-Room Fiat.
(By Dorothy Douglas.)

(By Dorothy Douglas.)
"I'm sick of boarding" Bob Drake
threw himself into the big chair in the
first floor front room and glowered at
bis roommate.
s'WelEIm not a boarding house
keeper, am L? You needn't look at me
as if I had gotten the clam in the
ehowder tonight swear didn't
Jimmy Rogers took his pipe from the
Hantel and lighted it leisurely while
he looked at Drake through half closed
lids. why don't you get married-if
you"
"Cut it out-the only girl threw me
down a year and a half ago and I'm d
jolly bachelor for the rest of my days"
Pm sorry, old mani didn't know
Its all right only Drake looked
out into the sunlit sky-"there's no
other girl for me.''
Some other fellow I suppese?'
mo- Drake laughed a short, harsh
laugh, "she gave me up for a box Of
paints, but I would take her back
told her at the time never would, but
II have had eighteen months in which
to think out her side of the question"
81 suppose it was the time-worn Ca
reer or love-to tell you the truth.
Bobby, I think you are better off with
out a girl who goes about with the
career notion in her head, tempera-
ments and things.'' Jimmy was get
ting interested in his own argument.
Some day you will run across nice
little fluffy girl who won't know a
Rubens from a Gibson and she Will
make you as happy as a clam"
Thanks. But the domestic kind
don't make any hit with mel would
much prefer to pay housekeeper ard
by Jove. You've hit it-let's get a
good housekeeper and take furnished
flatr'
Jimmy was up and looking for the
morning paper before Drake realized
that he was serious. Wonder why he
never thought of that before?"
You're a wonder, Jimmy. and 1 sup
pose you are going to spend this lovely
Sunday climbing up dark dingy apart
ment stairs and dragging me along"
brakes voice held a hint of eagerness
in it. The scheme appealed to him aud
in a moment two heads were buried in
the Furnished Flat column of a
morning paper.
This sounds goed' Jimmy cut out
a paragraph and read: Z" Three rooms
and bath, artistically furnished. Ele-
vater. Fifty dollars month That's
short and to the point, and it is on
Morningside, just a couple of squares
up. 1t is early, but what do you say
to going right UP and looking at it?
''I'm onr' Bobby Drake jumped UP
and the two were soon out in the brisk
April air.
With the clipping from the paper
safely in land, they rang the bell of
the advertised number The card on
the door read, A. livery.
There was scurrying of feet froia
within and a voice whispered. "You go,
Aliee-it may be some one to look at
the apartment"
when the door opened and a slim,
fluffy person in a soft blue something
stood before them. She blushed but
opened the door wider.
''We-is-that is-we saw an adver-
tisement-" Jimmy was stammerins,
when the girl herself came to the
rescue.
.'You perhaps want to look at the
apartment she said, leading the way
inside. I'VE don't want to leave" she
began -. a voice decidedly near tears,
but Miss Denning-
s'Denning! What Miss Denning?"
Bobby Drake had turned so suddenly
on the girl that she was startled into
answering him without thought of
his rudeness.
Ruth Denning-she has won some
big prize or something and We are go
''Where is she new?'' brakes voice
was unsteady.
There was no time for answer. Ruth
Denning herself appeared. She stood
between the portieres with a hand
gripping each one in the effort to
steady herself.
.Bobby-'' She smiled in way
that Alice livery had not seen her smile
even when the great Leylan prize was
given her. She came forward then and
met the hand which took hers as in
wise.
"Are you fat huntins?" The very
foolishness of her question in so tense
n, ont 10 0nF6 and all
four young persons laughed. And
Jimmy so far forgot the fact that he
did not know either girl that he an
swered glibly:
why, move are hunting mush-
rooms with wabbly eyes,
Alice Ivery's silvery laugh rang out
and she cast demure glance at Jim
my. perhaps you would like to see
the view from the fire escape" she
said. looking pointedly at Drake and
world had suddenly sprung up before
them Jimmy took the hint and fol-
lowed the little blue figure to a mini
ature kitchen where he perched him
self up on the enameled tubs to enjoy
the novel situation.
In the other room Bob Drake was
speaking.
"Why are you renting your apart
ment, Ruth? Does 1t mean that you
are-that you have failed?" The true
sympathy in Bob's voice brought un-
told triumph to Ruth Denning. When
she spoke she had gained command
of herself and her steady gray eyes
met his without fiinching and telling
no tale of her innermost feelings.
mo, I have not failed, On the con,
trary. I have succeeded even beyond
my greatest expectations. Didn't you
hear Alice livery tell you"
ST heard nothing after she had
spoken your name"
Bobby, have won the great Ley
Ian prize, and they are sending me to
Paris for three years" The last note
ended in a sob and she was in his
arms She had kept up bravely dur
ing the long, hard competition, and
now for the first time she fully realized
the greatness of her achievement.
Bob Drake had learned much about
Ruth and the depths of her moods