The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-06
The EVENING STORY
Number 422s Palisade.
(By John Hopewell.)

tine Ginning or the MONDAY CLOCKS
Letter after letter was read and con-
lsidered and then either laid aside to
be answered when his stenographer re-
turned or tossed into the filing basket
/ When his desk was cleared he drew
the telephone receiver toward him and
called a number. AS he waited for a
reply his glance fell on scrap of pa
per near the instrument.
"Call 1929 Palisade" was penciled
on it in Miss Clark's neat handwrit-
ing.
When he had concluded brief con-
lversation over the wire Paul picked
up the memorandum once more.
Give me 1929 Palisade, please" he
said.
There was a long wait and then
fearful feminine voice came over the
wire.
..Is that you. Paul?" it quavered.
Yes" he replied, mystifed-
''Well-you know who it is, don't
you?" The voice was dangerously
ssNo@I do not" he hesitated.
"Oh, dearest-please don't be so
stern-and unforgiving-yo know it's
lI-Mabel."
Now, the only Mabel who had the
right to speak thus intimately was
Paul Enslow's married sister, and at
this moment she was supposed to be
in the Adirondacks. Accustomed to
his sisters easily flowing tears, Paul
'sWhere are you now?" he asked.
"At Margaret's-of course-please
don't tease, dear"
"You know so many Margarets, my
dear. that 1 am still in the dark" he
returned patiently what is the mat
ter now Mabel? Has Fido neglected
to send his weekly postal card and
you have returned to town to
PAUL. in sobbing Indignation.
am ztil1 in the dark he n1ur-
mured wearily. ''Is anything serious
the matter-anybody dead
"Yes!" she sobbed bitterly. MY love
is dead!''
sEh? Not old Peter-why. I saw
him at luncheon not an hour ago, and
he was looking pretty fit Now, see
here, Mabel, old girl if you can only
stop that Niagara of tears long enough
Never dare speak to me again!"
cut in the girls voice, coldly indig-
nant and fearless now, and the con-
nection was abruptly severed
Paul leaned back in his chair and
whistIed incredulously. what i'm
aginary grievance has Mabel got up
her sleeve?'' he wondered. uneasily.
Barring F'ido and Peter and myself
in the order of mportance-there
isn't a living soul whom she has a
right to worry over. What is she do
ing in town, anyway"
He lifted the receiver once more to
his ear anu inclined his head toward
the transmitter.
Number 1929 Palisade. please he
said for the second time that after
noon-
A servants voice responded.
Il wish to speak to Mrs. Bliss" said
Paul
Mrs. Bnss?" returned the servant.
in a puzzled tone "Sure and I'm
thinkin' you've the wrong number.
sorr."
''This is 422s Palisade?"
Yes, sorr. but there's no Mrs
Bliss here.
Il was speaking to her only few
moments ago. Will you make in
qUiries? ~
I think I better call Miss Maynard
returned the girl, doubtfully. IF you
will wait moment
Paul Enslow was left to his own
puzzled thoughts for several moments. |
He opened the telephone directory and
found the name Maynard-Benjami |
Maynard, Banker. residence 1911 Pal |
isade Drive. telephone number 1928
Palisade. So far, so good. If Miss !
Maynard's name was Margaret she
must be one of his sisters girl friends
of that stately name.
A sweet, low voice sang over the
wire into his listening ear. "Yes?" it |
said, inquiringly.
"Is this Miss Maynard ?" Paul found |
his heart humping in a most unac-
YES" came the reply.
"I am sorry to trouble ycu, but
all, am Paul Enslow, and
'Oh, Mr.. Enslow, am so glad you
hastily. poor Mabel is broken heart
ed and is repacking her trunk to go
home. I'm sure your misunderstand-
ing can be explained if you will only
that you are coming, and you take her
nv S11rDrfse and" She paused sig
nifcantly.
Thank you. very much. Miss May
nard. I will come up at once I'm
afraid we're making you a lot of
trouble. 1 really am anxious about
her" he said.
The girl laughed oddly "Come up
as soon as you can" she urged. and
rang off.
Paul seized his hat and left the
building. AS his taxicab rolled up
town he was puzzling his head about
the strange circumstance of his sis
ter and her imaginary grievance
against him.
Margaret Maynard must be a de-
lfghtfully sympathetic person to per-
NIT Mabel to dampen the atmosphere
OF her home over some fancied es-
husband Mabel Bliss had never be-
haved so erratically before As he
considered this, Paul grew anxious
concerning his sister
AS he mounted the steps of the
handsome house his heart began to
beat in that queer manner once more
Why. he asked himself should a girls
voice thus agitate such a confirmed
bachelor as he prided himself that he
WASP
Miss Maynard met him at the cur
tanned doorway Of the drawing room, II