The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-20
THE EVENING STORY
Jack of All Trades.
(By Belle Mandates. }

Jack of All Trades.
(By Belle Maniates.)
Jim Chalmers was tinkering with
his car while his chauffeur stood apa-
thetically looking on.
"There!" said Chalmers, with a last
triumphant turn of the wrench. "She's
as trim as trigger now, and you can
Just run me down to the Stone build
ing. Langley bet that 1 couldn't do
this job of repairing myself
As he walked through tho lobby of
the building to the elevator he looked
ruefully down at his clothes. His
trousers lacked creases. A soft dark
flannel shirt. and old cap and work
ing gloves were not the makeup that
might be expected for one in his posi-
ton, but it was his favorite working
regalia.
The elevator was down, the door
open, but no operator was to be seen
Chalmers stepped within. A few mo-
ments later young woman, tall and
with imperious bearing, entered.
'The tenth floor" she said, in a
musical voice.
Chalmers accepted the situation, slid
the door shut, and in an instant the
car shot up with such speed that the
successive numbers of the floors look
| ed like a sum in addition. The pas
senger looked a little startled, but did
not lose outward composure. AS the
S4SNdLOT SIOpp0Q at the l0uln IOOT
with a jolt she turned to him.
''Would you mind waiting for me?
will be gone only moment, and 1
am in great haste.'
Certainly" was the courteous re-
| ply.
as she walked down the corridor with
easy grace. At the door of studio
of music she knocked and then opened
the door. One minute-two-three
four. Meantime the elevator bell was
pealing forth regular chime, but
Chalmers complacently waited. She
came out of the studio and down the
corridor.
"I had no idea,' she said depre-
catingly, that you would wait all this
time
He assured her gravely that it had
been no trouble to wait. This time he
realized that an automobile and an
elevator were run on a different plan,
and the descent was comfortably grad
ua1. In the lobby an angry crowd
operator stepped out and walked down
the lobby. The young woman came
hurrying after him.
"Take that, please, and thank you
for waiting so long"
She handed him a quarter of a dol
lar.
Thank you" he said.
She hurried out of the building. The
youth who ran the elevator came
Ibreathlessly in. In his wake came
Langley, whose entrance recalled to
Chalmers his errand. A few moments
later they were whirling away in
Chalmers car.
Have you met Miss Randall yet,
Jim ?'' asked Langley in the course of
the conversation. "She is visiting here
from Pittsburg."
mo; and 1 probably shall not have
the opportunity to meet her. L under
stand she told Mrs. Wilmerth that she
did not care to have me presented"
DO you know why?"
at confess to an average amount of
curiosity
Mrs. wilmerth set you forth in
glowing colors Said you belonged to
the idle rich, who despised working
people or any one who looked to effort
for livelihood. overheard the con-
versation myself I am going to take
it upon myself to explain to Miss Ran
DALI"
mo, pray don't" said Chalmers
quickly. "I shall doubtless meet her
in the course of events, and I think
time and circumstances adjust errors
better than explanations"
Chalmers was the last arrival at
the little dinner given for Miss Ran
dali that night.
"You know everyone here, Jim"
asked his hostess as he came into the
library. MISS fIdnQdll-
Eyes, have met Miss Randall" he
replied gravely, looking full into the
astonished eyes of the young woman
standing near. Then he crossed the
room to find the young matron he
was to take into dinner
Miss Randall sat opposite him at
dinner, and he felt from time to time
her stolen uncomfortable glances in
his direction.
"Jim," spoke Beverly suddenly from
the end of the table, "have you had
your machine repaired since your last
mishap?"
Eyes; I put her in running order
myself 1 took the entire morning."
"Oh, Mr.. Chalmers" said the wo-
man beside him, you must be quite
a mcdaniel"
yes" he replied, laughing, ST be-
lieve I am a jack of all trades. Only
this noon I did duty as an elevator
operator in the Stone building"
Tell US about it," pleaded his host
ess.
post and I stepped in to await his
coming. A young lady entered and
asked me to take her to the tenth
floor. OF course 1 did so. Then she
asked me to wait there . moment.
Her moment proved to be the pro-
verbal woman's moment. But she
graciously and generously bestowed
upon me a fee which I shall always
keep It is the first money 1 ever
earned by manual labor"
He looked coolly and directly at
Miss Randall. Her face was flushed,
there was a look of such panied con-
triton that Chalmers felt ashamed Of
his palpable hit.
"I don't see how any one could mis-
take you for an elevator operator"
said Mrs. Wilmerth. Indignantly.
l Won had seen him at that time,