The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-14


as typewriter, and when she had made
her first trip in my elevator 1 knew
that 1 was lost boy. She had wavy
hair and teeth of gold, and her smile
was as gentle as powdered sugar. AS
the elevator Wobbled upward l turned
knees. Sarah noticed my confusion
and, laying her hand on my arm, she
softly whispered:
''Sammis, 1 dote on fresh roasted pea
nuts. I believe I could eat peck of
them"
That was sufficient for me. All
thoughts Of that gigantic mortgage fed
away, and within an hour large and
generous bag of peanuts rested at Ter
right hand, as she worked the keys aa1
chewed. Love came to me with the
suddenness of snow sliding off the roof
of a house. My mind was in such 4
whirl that night as L went home that
1 forgot to beat the conductor out of
my fare, and I actually got up and
offered an old woman my seat.
''Sammis," said my mother, when she
saw that my appetite was gone and l
no longer cared to be a great man,
If you have fallen in love do not hest
tate to confide in your mother. She
will save you if anybody can. Even if
you are engaged she will find a way
of escape.
But I lied to her and made out that
I had a lame back and trouble with my
-
left lung.
I did not want to be saved. I want
ed to go to bed and dream of Sarah's
gold teeth and wavy hair. The next
morning there were gumdrops on ner
typewriter They were from me. She
came and waited for me at the sew
enth floor, and as we were alone for
minute she playfully pinched my eer
and said:
''Sammis. I don't see how any girl
can help falling in love with you. Some
day you may bring me box of choco-
late creams"
She had them ere the sun went down.
and the next morning she had a bou-
quet of roses which cost a plunk anG
a half. In return for them she gave
me smile that displayed all her gold
en- teeth clear back to the last one. L
wanted to die for her that day to prove
my love, but I was kept so busy in
the elevator that / had no opportuni-
ty to throw myself from a window or
send out after poison. I did make NY
trict messenger boy loafing on the ninth
floor and walloped him until he BELOW
ed for mercy. For the next two weeks
all my salary went for candy and pea
nuts and bouquets, and 1 lied to my
trusting mother and told her that |
had to give it up for police protection.
On two occasions Sarah permitted me
shot, and I had to borrow my street
car fare home. 1t was after the second
lunch that Mr. Rasher sent for me aid
said:
"sammis, there is a complaint that
your elevator wabbles as you take
people up and down. Are you los
ing your nerve?"
mo, sir
Then be a little more careful. A
wabbly elevator scares tenants out of
the building
1t was my love for Sarah that wab-
bled the elevator, and I made up my
mind that matters had reached a
crisis. One noon, when she pulled
my ear and asked me to bang my hair
for her sake, 1 followed her into her
heart at her feet. She laughed at
me. With her mouth full of choco-
late creams, bought with my cash, |
she laughed me to scorn. She lay !
aughed, and when I had been !
crushed to earth she said:
Now, hubby, run along and get me
| bunch of Violets to wear to the the |
lter tonight. 1 am going with Mr.. |
0riscoll.'
BOY. All my confidence was destroyed |
n a moment. Never, never, again |
Gould l believe in the integrity of |
1 sought my home and fell |
lpon the bed. I was doctored for |
its, loss of memory blood poisoning |
md malaria. 1t was touch and go, |
out L rallied, and inside of a week
was able to return to my elevator. |
t is said that 1 look old and care
worm and that it is easy to guess
hat 1 have a burden on my heart,
out you watch my smoke. No girl
an wreck my life and escape the pen
Llty. 1 am laying for faithless Sarah,
md Fate is on her trail. She smiles
Is before when we meet, and her
golden teeth CLEAN in the semi dark
less of the cage, but there is no long
n a responsive throb in the heart of
Sammis, the elevator boy.-(Copy-
lighted, 1912, by Associated Literary
Press,