The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-09
THE EVENING STORY
The secret of Mi. Somerset.
(By Lola Viola Hays.)

Mr.. Somerset pushed his luxuriant
auburn hair. as yet untinged with the
ashes Of age. from his wide forehead
and turned YEARLY TO his daughter.
"Are you still inf1icting that young
man upon me?" he asked with a scowI.
IT have always been considered rea-
sonably sure of knowing what I want.
I hope that I have expressed myself
plainly enough that neither you nor
this presuming young fool need think
that want him. My establishment at
your low taste Is only eQualed by my
grief that have lived to see one Of my
race descend to the level Of trade.
Your ancestors. my dear. were gentle
men"
The girl threw her head up haught-
lily. 'I dare any one to question Rob-
ert's right to that title.' she cried.
1T understand" he said. cuttingly,
that his brother-in-law is my bar
His brother-in-law owns the shop
that you patronize." she said. shortly.
HE is not your barber nor the barber
of anybody else, although I fail to
see why that should disgrace him. If
we are known by the company we
keep. you had better have been spend
ing your time in a respectable barber
shop. reading a paper than associating
with those old boodlers that they are
going to send to JAIL"
THAT is sufficient" he said. wav-
ing his hand impatiently. cit is a
waste Of time to argue with a
"And. besides" she broke in eager
ly, you know that Robert is an cleo
trician and bound to make his
mark"
mot on the register of this house.
my GIRL" he said decisively. There
are plenty of pretty shop girls who
would be more fitted to the happiness
Of Mr.. Robert Gray than would be
closed his desk with a click and left
the room.
Marion rushed to the telephone and
called up Robert.
"Oh, It's Just awful she cried.
Don't you think that your brother-in-
law, Mr.. Hamilton, might be persuad-
ed to sell his business and go into the
brokerage business like papa? Papa
thinks it is awful to be in trade"
Hamilton would send me to a SAM
tarium for treatment" he laughed, "if
asked him to do such a thing. He's
got the best thing in town. little
girl.
'Yes-but-but-its stands between |
us. Robert she wept.
What your papa wants Is a good |
filing down." he said wrathfully. "IlII
show him a trick or two. I'll Just abb
duct you and skip the city"
"Pn never, never desert my dear
papa" she said tearfully. You must
try to win his heart. Robert"
Robert was still smiling grinly over
this bit OF pleading when he met Mr..
Somerset at the door Of the barber
shop. He gave the gentlemen back as
chilly a stare as he received as he
turned aside to seek his favorite bar
Der.
After he had received his grooming
for the day he fastened to the private
office where his brother-in-law held
sway. The door was locked. He tried
vain they were all locked.
It's I, Hamilton" he called at last.
I'm busy, Bob" came the answer,
come back in an hour
Concluding to wait until Hamilton
should be at leisure, he sat down to
read. What was his surprise to see Mr..
Somerset issue from the office fresh,
dapper and smiling. Following him
was Jim, the head barber
HE a1lus goes in there for his
shave" said the porter in answer to his |
exclamation of surprise. "Old mans
mighty particular with Col Somerset. |
He's proud of them auburnt looks of |
his'n. Amt many men of his age got |
such fine hair as him."
whats the reason that old man |
Somerset has to go into your private |
SIS soon as he was within the portals of
the office.
Just fussily particular said Ham
ilton carelessly.
'T know the old man doesn't wear a |
wig" ruminated Robert, because he
let's his hair grow till he looks like a
Newfoundland dog before he has 1t
cut"
well, wouldn't lose any sleep over
it," advised Hamilton. Mr.. Somerset
is extremely proud of his personal APP
pearance and youthful looks. He thinks
he receives better care under my per-
sonal supervision. He has no dark and
deadly secret" He laughed heartily |
at Roberts disguised countenance and
began to talk of other things.
1t was a few days later that he met
" cak a driving |
down in a sudden torrent. Neither had
an umbrella and, as If for once inspired
by common thought, they turned and
ran for the shelter of a nearby she'd
AS soon as the air lightened enough
to see Robert could perceive the form
of Marion's papa leaning back against
the shed and striving to pierce to the
depth of the rainfall. Turning to make
cred who it was and, turning abruptly,
marched disdainfully out into the rain.
Robert whistled frivolous air after
him and moved over to the abandoned
point of vantage.
A bit of something clinging to the
wall attracted his attention. he stop
ped and picked it off the silver He
started at it in wild amaZement. A
great light broke upon him. He danced
a wild fandango in his joy and shaking
his trophy to the heavens, whistled
wildly as he started down the street
He shook with secret Joy when he dis
covered that Mr.. Somerset was closeted
with Hamilton all afternoon. He whis-
tied merrily again when Marion tele-
phoned him that papa had been called
out of town for few days. He knew
that he had never come out of Hamil-
toms office and that his meals were be-
ing served to him there
"Ah, you old hnt heart" he cried.
within himself st have you now
1t was the morning of the third day /
that Mr.. Somerset arrived home from
his trip" looking spruce. well groomed
and handsome. In the evening he was /
called frnrn the nreNance of his da1Rh-