The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-18
THE EVENING STORY
A Back Number.
(By Jeanne o. Loizeaux.

| Stanley Pierce. at his desk In the
middle Office, bent his head over his
bookkeeping and wished to goodness
that when he stayed to work over
| time the girls in the outer Office would
go home and stop their chatter He
was at the head of his department,
and was anxious that there should be
| no errors-he was always coming to
the office early and leaving late. His
| fine shoulders were stopped a little
and his dark hair was thinning on top.
He was probably 30-he looked 40.
His face was weary and passive. Then,
hearing his name spoken in Queenie
| Dawson's clear young voice, he looked
up quickly, showing pair of dark
eyes, alert and keen.
''Why Stanley Pierce?" she asked,
and Ruthie Carter replied:
Let's ask him anyhow. He be-
longs to the force as much as We
More" snapped Queenie; "he's
been here a hundred years. and he's a
Ruth interrupted her. lands it's
| the first free Saturday afternoon OF
the summer tomorrow. and we need
another man for the picnic anyway.
nice, and he'd enjoy it. He lives way
out somewhere with an old maid sis
ter. It's no wonder he's drying up!"
oueenie NOT Hell thinp # his duty to
go and will be wet blanket on the
fun. Imagine him trying to flirt! Do
leave him In peace, girls, and ask a
real, live man. He's a back number.
mere column of fgures!"
mo" declared Ruth. and Cassie
seconded her.
Hes saved US from the chiefs ire
many's the time-always doing some
body e1se's work
ooh, if you're so smitten on him,
Ruth, very we'll! Only you'll have the
dullest day of your life for you'll have
to annex him won't"
to be aware that the door was ajar;
a frightened little silence followed.
Pierce heard a suppressed giggle, and
then he remembered it was shameful
to listen, and stepped softly through
the open door back into the private
Office, now deserted. He was safely
inside when one of the girls looked
into the middle room. and remarked
with relief that probably he had been
out of hearing distance.
Five minutes later. seemingly quite
unconscious of the others. he came out
and prepared to leave. The girls gath
cred penitently around him-save
Queenie. who held her head high and
watched him from a corner as she
adjusted her hat.
"Come to a park picnic with us to-
morrow, Mr.. Pierce, do" begged
Ruthie. in her sweet fashion. let
your garden go to weeds, and have
little fun! We're a mar short-and
you need a change anyhow"
He considered the girl with amused
eyes, then looked up to encounter the
famed, and her clear, blue eyes fell
in confusion. 1t was a disturbing
gaze for them both, but the man was
cool enough.
'T shall be glad to come" he said
conventionally. IT had almost forgot
ten there were such things as picnics!
De wo start from here?"
After discussing the details for a mo-
ma rat ad nd
Pierce went home to think. Had the
girl beer. right? Was he a wet blanket
to innocent fun? Queenie's petulant,
young voice. her bright face, haunted
his memory.
The next afternoon, at Pierce's sug-
gested, the little basket-1aden party In
the interurban car, passed the park
and he got off at a strip of open wild
wood. All June blossomed and sung
about them, and there was much merry
finding of flowers, wandering about the
grassy hillsides, much story telling and
laughter. Clark Miller stayed near
Ruth, and each of the other girls had
her satillite. But, with determined
but unostentatious steadiness, Stanley
Pierce fastened himself to Queenie
Dawson. pretending not to mark the
malicious joy of the rest.
Annoyed at first, the girl was soon
interested, finally pleased. The 'back
number" was so entertaining that at
length the whole group came under his
that he was an out-of-doors man?
Why had he hidden his knowledge of
flowers and plants, of wildwood crea-
lures, his quick, humorous observations
on life in general?
Toward evening they began to think
of a place to spread the supper, but he
said he knew the loveliest spot imagin-
able, and not SO far away, of they
would come with him. Immediately
the band was on the march. Pierce,
still with Queenie beside him, led the
way. plucldng a flower for her here,
helping her under fence there, once
cutting a willow twig and making her
a whistle that would have delighted the
heart of a small boy. And he lifted her
like child over little brook. Look
ing up at him she caught the firm,
shoulder. His soft hat was razishly on
one side. Out here he seemed no long
er to stoop; tho heavy look left his face
he was ten years younger than in the
office.
And soon. making sudden turn in
a winding path, they came to a quaint
veranda surrounded cottage set in the
side of a green hill. An old fashioned
bursting with old fashioned bloom.
Green young vines half covered the
cottage.
"Oh! what a dream of place!" said
Queenie. 'Thank you for showing it
to usl Do fairies live here. I wonder?
No; I suppose it's only some cross old
lady with dog who would bite US If
we so much as smeI1ed of a rose
Pierce laughed, and handed the girl
key, as he opened the gate for her
and the others.
do I look like a cross old lady?"
he asked. Come in Didn't you know
was a farmer2 I'm going to send
you men back for the baskets while
the girls go in and make coffee on
my gas range" Now, the man was