The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-30
The EVENING STORY
The Housebreaker.
(By Ella Randall Pearce.


curving steps of the front poroch, fit
ting a key she carried into the lock
of the door. 1t moved easily inward,
and the artist found herself standing
in large hall which, with it's Persian
rugs and furnishings OF black oak
matching the wood trim, was of an
unusually rich appearance.
why, had no idea it would be so
elegant" Miss Trent cast a swift, ap-
praising glance over her surroundings.
THE agent told me it was bargain,
but L was not prepared for this"
She swept aside the curtains of Iiv-
ing room, and saw a charming apart
ment of gray enamel and old blue
with slender lines of gilt here and
there. A baby grand piano crossed
one corner; the opposite corner was
cut off by large oriental screen that
stretched from one of the low win
dows to the dining room entrance
Delightful! Aunt Elinor and
will be in clover here. 1 shall Just
terfly any more, but plain grub
oh, shall be so grubby.'
/ The glow died out of the young face,
| the crested head began to droop and
all the slim, 1.-THE body relaxed YEARLY
! as a long sigh flutered through the
stiffness. Zulma Trent knew why she
! was seeking suburban home, away
J from her gay friends, away from the
! old familiar scenes of revelry and
conquest Like many another daugh-
ter of Eve, she had played the daring
coquette once too often; she had
sought to snare and had herself been
shared. At least, when Cliff War
riner returned from the south she
would be spared the pain and humilia-
ton of a meeting.
A few swift steps to the dining
room door and the artist caught her
breath. There was a living fern on
the table. plate of fresh fruit on the
sideboard. a growing hyacinth on the
window sill. Miss Trent's glance ex-
tended to the little hallway beyond
and took in the dark outlines of mas
culine outer garments and umbrellas.
Goodness! Does anybody-live-
A fearful thought flashed into her
mind. Could she have entered the
wrong house? She remembered how
easily the front door had swung open
almost before the key could have
turned in the lock. Perhaps some one
had left the door ajarl Then, as she
faced the entrance, there came the
sound of a clicking latch and a merry
feminine voice.
Here we are. I. knew I'd fetch
you, sir, if I went to the end of the
street. Why, your train came in long
ago"
Il know it, sis. I was enjoying the
scenery"
Miss Trent, with a wild hope of
escaping notice, slipped impulsively
herself into the shadow, it struck upon
her consciousness that the mans voice
had a familiar ring.
''Shall 1 take my grips upstairs ?"
Come in and sit down a minute,
before you climb the winding stair
with those awful grips. Aren't you a
bit thin, Cliff?'
The girl behind the screen pressed
her hands together. She had recog-
nized the clear, mellow voice before /
the name was spoken. Now she I'M
derstood-she was in the home of
young WARMERS cousin, Gracia, of
whose Washington wedding she had
heard earlier in the season. What
strange, unkind fate had brought her
to this house? She stood, breathing
cautiously, drawn together as if to
Cliff WARMERS voice mingled with
that of his vivacious cousin.
"Oh, yes, I like living here. Some
OF my own folks have been with me
sure you are quite well? And tell me, !
did you see any southern girl who
Oh, Cliff, believe you were really in |
love with that horried little artist with |
"Horried, Gracia ?"
Yes. 1 saw her only once, but know |
the type; cold, calculatiug-a professional |
''Oh, Gracia. not that A wilful, ca
PRECIOUS girl who had been taught her |
own power in the world of mon. A but
the stings she inflicts.''
Butterflies don't sting, Cliff
I'll come out all right. I'm going TO |
says: sail for England on Saturday"
Cliff! Isn't that a new idea?"
Saturday morning on the Oceanic-and |
no telling when 1 may return. Will you |
get me a glass of water, Gracia?"
As soon as his hostess had gone War
riner began to walk idly up and down the
ROOM He came SO near the screen that
the the, giEi behand the embroidered panels
touched him. Then he moved to the WIN
cow on the other side and opened the
the unsecured window sash. he suddenly
dived into the hall to meet his cousin. ana
together they mounted the stairs.
zulrna Trent breathed freely again. Her
quickened wits, which had been alert to
every sound, directed her to the open J.
window nearby. A little push on the sash
easement closed behind her. light /
spring over the low railing, and she was
No. 49, 1t was a double house, and she
had had entered No. 50! Hurriedly she fitted
the vacant dwelling.
She sank weakly into dusty chair and
tried to compose her mind. She was
clearly conscious of only this much-ClIif
Warmer had defended her; he had really
loved her; he loved her yet: he was going
away to the other side of the world-per-
aid longing of a woman s awakened heart,
zulma Trent bowed her head on her
tempest OF her tears passed: Il love you
Cliff, 1 cannot let you 60 What, what
snail l. dor ,
The gay little artist had ever been re
sourcefuI. Were her nimble wits to fatI
her now? When young Warmer passed [
Town the street an hour later, a gate ,
atch clicked at his approach. He saw a
familiar figure in russell brown, smiling ! ,
-osy face with dark eyes flashing from
Inoer the wide briu7, crfnkling mass of
hair of a sunshiny color which some folk
night designate as 'tcarroty. Surprise .
greetings, and Miss Trent telling prettfiy
If her errand, a new shyness and soft
less in her manner; subtle coaxing