The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-04
The EVENING STORY

(By William 81. Hamoy.)

in her chair to rest the muscles of Her
shoulders. The work OF the Mldiand
Coal & Mineral Land Company was
very heavy for one stenographer The
grind grew more wearisome and nerve
wracking every day. But she was alone
in the city and this was the only en-
ployment she was fitted for. Ana she
must have bread and fire.
What did Jackson say about tnat
land in Glade county," asked the
junior partner. looking up from a let,
ter. jackson was the company's coai
expert.
''Said it was. one of the finest out
looks he ever saw replied Biker. the
senior partner. Worth at least hum
and fifty an acre.
what is it worth for farming pur-
poses ?''
"Oh, not much. 1t is poor, very poor;
say twenty OF twenty-five an acre.
about what shall we offer the
young haysaed ?''
start him at thirty" replied Biker,
and turned to other work
The Junior brought the letter to the
stenographer and began to dictate:
Mr.. Willard Ferris, Gladeville. Mo.
r. F. D No. 4.
Dear Sir: Our expert reports your
land absolutely worthless as a mining
proposition. There is some coal, but
owing to the formation, location. etc,
a profit. We can, perhaps, handle
your farm on our exchange list as ag-
ricultural land, and as such could pay
you $50 per acre for it.
VERY truly,
"The Midland Coal & Min. L. Co..
All the morning Miss Ing1e kept
thinking of the young farmer, willard
Ferris. He was still in her mind when
| she started to luncheon. ssThe rascals.'
she said Indignantly under her breath.
And over and over, ST do hope he
won't take it,
No one in the office had ever seen
Ferris, but she had been interested in
him from his very first letter about
the land. All the correspondence
passed through her hands. She opened
all letters addressed to the company.
The first letter from Ferris had been
| a Jubilant announcement of the dis
| covery of coal on his land. In that
frank way which people unused to the
ways of the world have of mixing per-
sonal affairs and business he told how
long he had pen hoping to find some
thing under his farm. as he never
could get it TO grow much on top.
There had been some correspond
ence, and in each letter young Ferris
| naively revealed something of his
home, his family, himself. Baker and
the Junior made much sport over
| these personal things in his letter,
but they were not funny to Miss Ingle.
| She saw instead a frank. generous
young man struggling against odds to
make a living on the poor soil for his
/
| She could even see the weather beat
| en-, implanted farm house and the
| bleak, unproductive fields. She saw
| the great tumult of excitement in the
| little family when coal was found; saw
| the flame of hope leap up in the young
| mans face-and now he was to be
cheated out of it.
| The reply came on Friday. The
stenographer's hands trembled as she
opened it. She was glad no one else
| was in the Office. The letter said in
part:
IT was powerfully disappointed by
fellow is always hoping things that
| won't happen. I don't care much for
| myself, but I was real anxious to send
| all the kids-there are four besides
me-away to school. | guess il that
| is the best you can do, I'll have to take
it, I owe twenty dollars an acre on it,
and I can't never make it farming it.
Yours respt-
| WILLARD FERRIS.
Miss Ingle gulped down lump in
| her throat and reached for her hand
kerchief just as Biker came in.
'Mr. Biker" she said, II want to
resign this morning
| Stenographers were easy to get and
| he let her go without question. She
took her coat-far too thin for the
| raw February day-and hurried out.
| poor fellow, poor dear feliow!" she
said. What good brother he is. If
out for me. I hope 1 won't be too
late" She went to the nearest tele-
garph Office and sent this message:
"Willard Ferris. Gladeville, Mo-
five times that figure. N. T.
Then she went to her room and
cried. She had no scruples over
thwarting the rascais in their deal.
She knew it was against the law of
j business to use the secrets of ones
employer; but she was obeying high
err law. And while she was willing to
expose the rascally deal, she was not
| willing at tho same time to continue
to draw salary from them. She was
out of work, and employment at that
time was hard to get.
/ Miss Ingle had returned to her
dingy, poorly heated room. Today, as
for MANY DAYS. she had searched for
| work-and found noe.
There was knock at her door.
She shrank oack and hesitated to
open it. She owed for three weeks
room and board, and expected, every
day, that her landlady would tell her
to leave.
Miss Ingl-.,' the 1andlady called,
there is man downstairs to see
you
She went down, wondering. AS she
| entered the parlor, strong, clean
looking young man arose and came
toward her with outstretched hand.
/ He wore a very new suit of clothes;
ndQ large DTOAA eyes anu d
lurking smile at the corners of his
mouth.
st am Ferris" he said--she knew IT
before he spoke-"and you are Miss
Ingle?" They shook hands cordially.
1--WE tried for weeks he explained,
ssto find who sent me that telegram;
and I only found out when I over
heard that Biker hog cursing his
stenographer after I wouldn't sell to
him. Then I found out who it was,
and, at last, where you live"
She smiled and a little color came
to her face.
81 hope you got the telegram in
timer
| .sYeS he said shaking his head.