The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-20
THE EVENING Story
For a Friend and One Other.

WomanS an adventures, but how am
to find out, and Cyril getting every
day more bewitched? If only she
claimed some civilized country-but
Poland, where I haven't a friend-or
even an enemyI"
John Nichols and Cyril Thornton
were close friends. Nichols, much the
elder, and CyrfI's sister were to have
been married, but she died.
Nichols was 8 lawyer from New
York, and in the interest of a client
was now in Los Angeles. Cyril, re-
covering from typhoid, had come with
him for quicker conVa1escence. Ev-
erythihg had been going on smoothly
when their train met with an accident.
They had escaped injury and saved
the life of a beautiful woman. The
woman, whom Cyril thought the most
charming he had ever seen, was very
grateful, apparently very frank. Her
name, she said, was Marie Laska; she
had been widow two years. Her
father-and she said this with lowered
voice-was deep in Polish politics. He
had sent her away fearing she might
come under suspicion. She never
would have left him, but illness had
made another northern winter danger
Gus, and she had taken a small house
near Pasadena. She intended to live
| in retirement and have complete
rest before returning to Poland. But
| these two friends, they must come to
| see her whenever they could spare the
| time.
| 1t was surprising how much time
| had been spared by both; for Nichols,
unwilling that Cyril should spend days
and evenings alone with the charming
foreigner, found himself in Pasadena
whenever his bushes would permit.
This had been going ON for a fort
night.
| AS further complication, Cyril.
just of age, would shortly be in pos
session of $4,000.
Nichols walked forlernly home and
went to bed
Next morning he showed Cyril a
| business letter requesting his presence
| in San Francisco on Wednesday. His
| friend, though decidedly adverse to
any move, consented to go with him.
| Cyril had promised to take Nine.
| LaSka a song that morning, but while
dressing to the whistled accompani-
ment @ Polish air, word came that
she had a headache, so would he-and
Mr.. Nichols, teo-eome in the even
| ing?
| Nine. Laska was tying up a spray
of white rose-tree when they arrived.
She gave them each hand in her
pretty foreign way.
| On a porch table was a half burned
| cigarette. Nichols felt sure he de-
teeted the faintest aroma of g. very
fine cigar also.
The professional instinct was aroused.
l
knew no one in California but them
selves. The cigar seemed to tell
different story.
| Nichols threw his coat in a corner
of the porch. In the pocket there was
an important letter. If he forgot his
coat he would have to come back for
it-tonight-on account of leaving the
next day.
Cyril pressed a guitar into Marie
Iaska's hands seating himself where
| "a fOI neAF'S face. The
boy was of a poetic nature, and here
was everything to speak to it-the
flowers. the music, that lovely face.
Cyril" Nichols said after time
''as we have a journey before us to-
morrow We must say goodby.'
TT will be for only few days." he
heard Marie Laska say to Cyril.
| After bidding Cyril goodnight, Mich
Later he walked toward Nine. Las
kas house, and then, hearing CyriPs
name, stopped.
A man was talking in English, pre-
sumably that the servants might not
understand.
twenty-five thousand dollars will
see our project through and help Po-
land to her own again. Young Thorn-
ton will have the money and you must
get it-somehow. You are beautiful
and still young, and can make boy
like that do anything"
Nichols knew he was listening to an
INSCRIPTIONS fanatic. AS for Marie, If
a tool, she was willing one.
Even as a lightning flash reveals in
an instant miles of country and throws
into relief the most prominent features
until they are seen more clearly than
ever before, so things revealed them
selves to Nichols at this moment. cyril
Il should not marry Nine. LaSka, or give
UP his money One word from Nichols
could fix all that. But If he spoke that
word just now, while the boy was still
dreaming dreams, would that nature
ever be the same again? A sudden
rude awakening has been the making
of many a man, but it was borne IN
upon Nichols that it would not do for
Cyril. ......
| Nichols had deliberately listened. He
now as deliberately went up the steps
/ of the porch and faced the man and
the woman sitting there.
| sT have heard everything" he said
/ quietly.
| Marie's companion put his hand 10
| his hip pocket.
| ssDon't do that" Nichols said with
little deprecating gesture. IT am worth
! more to you just now alive Then he
went to the end of the porch and pick
ed up his coat
/ has papers in the pockets which I
i shall want in San Francisco tomor-
1 row.
The man and woman watched him
curiously. He put on his coat; then he
turned to the Pole.
az will give you S5ooO,'' he said, "for
what in return I know you will do.
Ny lawyer, Mr. Henry Stanton, in Los
4 Angeles, will arrange all matters. In
consideration of this money you will
both leave Pasadena within two days
Il and the country in the shortest pos
sible time 1 will write this down.
taking a pen and paper from his pock-
ct, $50 there can be no fnisunderstand-
ing If there should be 1 might feel
bound - inform the Polish government
that I have knowledge of a suspect"
Nichols stepped inside and drew up
the document in legal form The man
and woman both signed. Then he
turned to Marie.
Write he said. what I tell you
She obeyed silently.