The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-03
The EVENING STORY
Number seventy-one.

and paused in front of his own door,
The CHEEKY whistle came to an abb
fupt close, even as the door slammed
noisily in his face. He had seen
nothing save the bare, lofty room,
with the gray sky beyond the north
windows. Now he heard little rap
boards he had paid Ann Moran to
scrub the day before!
He leaned against the banister and
modestly surveyed his trunks and
against the opposite wall. He had
moved in that morning-and now it
was evident that he had moved out.
His peremptory knock on the door
floor The 7oor opened briskly and
Jack removed his hat in the presence
of most bewildering vision.
Graceful, with mist of blond hair
blowing about pink and white face.
gray-green eyes, dark dashed, with a
fine line of arching brow: charm
ing nose and indescribable mouth
that was the girl he beheld. She was
enveloped in a coarse blue apron, in
d1catfng that she had been engaged
in domestic duties.
IT beg your pardon" Lane said,
meekly, but will you be SO good as to
tell me why I have moved out?"
Her face crinkled into a sympathetic
smile. you we're in the wrong room"
she. said kindly. 81 wanted to move
in here myself, so I had the janitor
put your things outside
Jack stared amazed. There must
be some mistake. engaged this room
yesterday from the agent, paid
months rent, and hired a woman to
scrub the floor-in fact I was here
when she scrubbed it. L moved in
this morning.
She leaned against the door with
little puzzled frown. That's very
strange. 1 came up and looked at
the room last night, and it was so
sweet and clean tn; 7 decided to take
it at once. 1 did so and paid the
janitor a months rent-see, here is
the receipt
She drew a small purse from her
apron pocket and flourished a strip
of paper in Jacks face. He bent
over it just long enough to catch the
name.
81. Lane!''. he exclaimed. That's
ITS my name. too.'' said the girl
Jack bit his lip and knitted his
brows. He felt very awkward stand
ing here and disputing possession of
the room.
81 am very sorry" she was saying,
half apologetically. There surely
has been a mistake: perhaps the
room you engaged is on the floor be-
low. You see, wanted this room
because of the light am an artist"
She blushed a little and caught her
breath as she said the last few words,
but there was a light of enthusiasm
in her eyes that Jack recognized and
respected.
He found himself turning away
with a murn.ured word of regret at
having troubled her, and then the
door closed and left him standing
there alone. For brief instant he
surveyed his traps piled about him.
and then, drawing letter case from
his pocket he extracted the receipt
he had taken from the agent of the
building.
the rental of his big room under the
skylight-No. II.
He walked slowly down the hall
and scanned the cards affixed to the
doors. Two architects and three art
lists were fortunate enough to find
refuge behind as many doors in the
corridor to the right. He looked
hard at NO; 20; There was no card
He pushed it open and beheld the fac
simile of his own room. Bare and
clean and smelling of suds and of Ann
Moranl
This was her room. Nevertheless. he
decided to say nothing more, and,
throwing off his hat and coat, tugged
and pulled and hammered and un-
packed to such good purpose that at
10 o'clock that night he paused and
surveyed the comfortable
quarters. He had laid a fire in the
board fireplace and drawn his easiest
hearth.
Tired and hungry. yet withal.
happy, Jack removed the traces of
his labor, and, freshly attired, went
paper. A light shone through the
transom of No. II, and as he no longer |
heard the click of heels on the floor |
he decided that ]. Lane had also be- |
come settled in her new abode.
On his return he paused at the top |
of the stairs and looked inquisitively |
at the transom above her door. A |
faint dusk of smoke obscured the !
denly lifted from within, the smoke |
issued forth, bearing on its breath a |
tell-tale odor.
To one who has supped heartily
and well the fragrance of a Welsh |
rabbit is not enticing. Jack mentally
his pretty neighbor for sup
ping so unwiselv and fell asleep.
In spite of the fact that they were
close neighborS, they rarely met.
When they did she passed him with a
cool little nod-that was all.
One morning when he was painting
busily soft rap came upon his door.
He was expecting a ragged italian ur-
chin, who often posed for him.
Come ini' he shouted.
There was an instant's silence and
then the door was slowly opened and
her face appeared above the paint
stained blue pinafore- The cheeks
we're quite pink and the gray-green
eyes were very bright as they met
MS dark ones. Jack was on his feet
and at the door.
Il thought it was my model" he
explained.
IT don't know what to say to you,
Mr.. Lane" she said with burning
cheeks. st have just discovered that
he janitor placed the wrong number
On my rent receipt-71 instead of 20
and the room is really yours
That's all right, Miss Lane" said
Tack heartily IT really don't see
much difference between the rooms
myself did just then, because I
it was the only vacant room
n this building had been waiting
- L ~