The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-07
TIE EVENING STORY
"Kola; Twenty-Three."

of the brows
Alice Moore, her daughter. six
months married, sat up suddenly, dig
ging her fists baby fashion into much
swollen eyes. She was an uncommon
ly pretty young woman, but had wept
and raved herself out of all comeli-
ness in the hour she had waited for
her mother. Mrs. Creston had an
swered a tempestuous summons, ex-
pecting nothing more than the usual
after-honeymoon quarrel, and been
stunned by demand to take her
daughter home at once.
LAS sure as one can be over the
phone" Alice said. her voice breaking
on every word. ITO think Joe should
act so! II wouldn't-mind-s much
If 1t was anybody young and pretty
but to slight me for-that hateful
old thing!''
you forget you haven't told me-
Mrs. CreStOn cOaxed.
Alice had sunk back among her pill
lows. From them she said: "She's a
Miss Smith-of all names-Joe knew
her years ago it seems-and actually,
she behaves as though he belonged to
her. He has made me have her here
well, at first I didn't mind-though
I never really liked her. Still, she was
so plain. and ever so much older than
he was-I couldn't we'll object. And
she has nice house of her own. and
I do want to get in with. Her cook Is
an artist said in fun. / meant to
steal the cook away-then Miss Smith
came back at me, laughing hard.
'Do--if you can. Then I can take
Joe with perfectly good conscience
ST must say that was bold" Mrs
Creston Interrupted bridling.
| Her daughter went on: Joe laugh
| ed as much as any of uS-but he hasn't
been quite the same ever since. 1 told
hi inc r reyIrf CT,
an old cat-and he said: What a pity
more women aren't catty.' But the
| next day he brought me a new ring
and the day after took me to the opera
SO overlooked things until last
| week. Then we had box seats for the
Savoy-and 1 simply couldn't lift my
head-you know what my headaches
are-how I can't bear anybody about
me. told Joe he must go-and he
did-and took her-then today
L" She broke off. shuddering strong
ly, her hands over her face.
Well" Mrs. Creston encouraged.
Alice sat up again, her hands to her
forehead. you'll take me home. OF
course-and-and- a LAWYER to
see about a separation. I'll never agree
we'll"
"Alice! Can't you tell a straight
story?' Mrs. Creston asked sharply.
Again Alice shuddered: I'm COM
ing to the worst part" she said. drop
called cS over the ,phone[rather made ado
her maid call-that in itself was sus-
picious. When I answered I could
hear her. indistinctly, prompting the
girl what to say. And the girl said
ooh! Mrs. Moore. please tell Mr.
Moore, the moment he comes home
he is wanted amidships-kola; TWEEN
ty-three. He'll understand-you won't
forget?' Then. of course. 1 asked
Who wants him p and the answer
was: Just family friend. But be
sure to send him-unless you do, he'll
| lose a great chance You see they
have an understanding in cipher
as it were.'
What did you answer?"' Mrs. Ores
ton asked.
Alice bridled. ST hung up the re.
ceiver with a bang" she said. begin
ming to beat a tattoo upon the carpet
Her mother sighed, knitting hel
forehead, but after a minute said
''Welli There's nothing for it but tt
wait and watch. As sure as Joe
Moore commits himself fully. home
you come wish, though. you could
wait few years-he's rising so, yol
could get such splendid a1imony."
| An hour later Joe. the culprit. and
| the ensnaring Miss Smith stood con
sidering GENEROUSLY three PARTICULAR,
fine rugs. Each was unique after it,
iklnQ-IOS0lnGT Iuey were the plllI u
wreck and remnant of a poor gentle
mans collection. The collector was il
a hospital, and would never leave j
alive. Miss Smith had somehow fount
out about him, and was doing her bes
to salve his pride. He had friends
willing to bury him, but he wanted tt
bury himself, as well as to pay hospita
charges.
The rugs, well sold, would do both
Joe, who had house to embellish, E
wife to pamper, could not spend money
to better purpose. They had talked !.
i over before Joe went west on a flyins
trip. The purchase was to be kept
/ profound secret from, Alice until hel
birthday, next month, when the rug.
would be spread out to surprise and de.
/ light her She had no discriminating
rug knowledge, but was nightly i'm
pressed with the fact that to own rare
ones was a sort of hallmark of artistic
plenishing. Miss Smith liked her mega
lively, albeit she had the usual woman
sense that Joe, her some time protege
had chosen rather i'll.
1t was to keep the secret inviolats
the cipher call had been agreed on
Miss Smith thought she knew women
but it had not dawned upon her tha
Alice would, be jealous. She had made
the call urgent because another posi-
BILE purchaser had appeared with Z
dealer at her elbow to prompt and
stimulate bidding.
Joe had got the message through M
office, to which his friend had sent i
as we'll as his house. He touched tn.
silkiest of the rugs caressingly, saying
rather low:
1T feels like Allies hair" Their
blushing, You don't mind. Remember
haven't seen her for three who'll:
days.
i .sNo, 1 don't mind in the least
bridegroons ought to stay foolish &
year at least" Miss Smith said, pick
ing up a second rug. This is mine.
she went on. Two are enough for you
I'd limit you to one, only I'm crampec
for rug space