The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-16
The EVENING STORY
Not a DangIer.
by james o. Loineaux.]

Reeves Allan went out of his way
to pass Mary's gate, though 1t would
make him late to the office. More
ever. her cousin Sylvia, who lived
with Mary's people. caught him at it.
and being near the fence, accosted
him Saucily.
MARY has more danglers!" she re-
marked. Il don't see what she does
with you all!''
Allan shrugged his shoulders at her
frankness.
Lets US adore her. which is all we
But you can't alI-marry her-at
oncel Which is it to be? Myself. I'm
betting on Fred Maritime reflections
on your many charms-but because he
seems to mean business all the time.
1 believe Aunt Ellen has her money
en- him, tool" Sylvia was always a
trifle slangy in her expressions. though
Perfect in her behavior. Fired doesn't
make such conspicuous goose of him
self as the rest CT you. You can't
think how foolish you and Stan WEIGH
and Jack Harris did look last night, all
chasing up here just in time to see
Fred march her Off Robert Bogue
came even later and had an evening
of me-served him right. too. for we
hate each otheri" Allan knew Sylvia
very well, and returned her impertin-
cDce.
Its too bad to be so jealous-it must
lit makes others uncomfortable, Mr..
Reeves Allan!" She laughed mockiDg-
ly. Then with nod she dismissed
him and marched toward the house.
but aow-ste turned and called after
hin,''
''Good luck Mr.. Dangler.''
He suddenly boiled with rage. How
dared she? Was sile-right? Was he
n.aking really a spectacle of himself?
The day was a vexing one. His part
rler in the law, Bob Spencer. looked
up as he entered and greeted him with
that superior dignity of the young mar
ried man to his bachelor friends.
"Late-again, my dear boy! Do you
realize that the law, also, is interesting
and claims your solemn attention
few hours each day? Go a little easier
ON the girl-business awhile and get
down to work! You may not realize 1t,
but YOU 20 about in a dream lately.
Besides, girls usually despise oangler
They take a good time out OF him, but
they marry the steady man who. on oc-
casion, neglects them in favor of his
profession. / guess / know"
''Oh-your wisdom, Bobby.-shut up,
will you?' Allan replied with outward
good nature. advice from you is
odorousi 1t will take more than wife
to put sense into you! You talk like Il
pin-head! Give me those Seaton docu-
ments. will you? And are you through
with that code for an hour?" He went
to his desk and worked in a sort of
logged fury, but in the back of his
head ran a question. Was he really a.
dangler? Did Mary despise him for
playing the shadow-role? He could not
recall any shades of contempt on her
face or in her words or attitude toward
him.
He snatched a counter-lunch at noon,
and went back to work, and when the
spring day was dying wanly, and Bob
had gone righteously home to the
pretty little wife in the pretty little
cottage, Reeves pushed away the pa
pers, put his feet comfortably up on
the desk, balanced his hat on the back
of his head, and lit his pipe to help
him think it all out. Sylvia's ridicule
ranked yet.
: She had said they looked foolisIl-he
and WEIGH AMI Harris and Bogue ana
all of them. The others were, he was
ready to admit, great donkeys, but
harmless, he hoped Was he one also
jealous rage like WEIGH, or giggle in
anely like Harris, or write sloppy verse
like Bogue. He did beggar himself for
violets, however, but that was diner
ent! And Martin did none OF these
things. He was serious and sensible,
and called rather sparingly. taking
Sylvia out as frequently as Mary. In
deed, he had thought it was Sylvia
that Martin really cared for, but OF
course If she said it was Mary, that
settled it.
His cold misery at the thought that
the girl might care for his very GOOD
friend Frederick Martin showed him
where his heart and hopes were! He
did love her-and she did dangle him!
She held him by an invisible chain-a
long one, alas! He was dragged
captive at the chariot wheels Of her
gracious beauty.
1t was dusk and he was preparing to
take his feet down, and was just wax
ing to the fact that his pipe was dead,
when a step sounded in the hall, and
the door opened to admit Martins
rough black head.
Hello, there, Allan! what you mop
ing about?"
ask you something" He rose suddenly,
put down his pipe and took of his hat.
Martin, are you and Mary Canton
% He blurted it out. but the
of his tone robbed the ques-
ton of offense somehow. Martin stared
! moment opened his mouth to speak
and then took the defensive.
ask Mary. Perhaps she may like to
INFORM youl'' Then he deliberately
changed the subject. After a moment |
Of comment on the weather. the two
1t the outer door Reeves Allan turned |
BETTER come with me to Cantons
and ask Mary advised Martin. with
7oung fellow strobe doggedly away
He resolved not to call that evening |
lor the next. He had probably queered
himself already by being everlastingly /
Inder foot. He had shown no dignity, |
10 reserveN He hated himself. Bob
vas quite right. Women always. and
lightly, coveted the rare. the scarce
lot what lay beneath their proud little
'eet.
Going, Iover-like. to the usual ex-
remes, he worked himself in few
lays up to a point where he was self
conscious ar 4 miserable to a degree
hat made him keep out of Mary's
light A week rasse6 ard he did not
70 near her-aLd then another week.
time dared not call for