The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-02
The EVENING STORY
The Edge.
CBy Jeanne o. Loizeaux.)

"Ask Miss Fairly to come in" his
brow scowled downward over his gray
! blue eyes, but his firm mouth was good
natured He stopped to pick up the
/ letter he had dropped, showed thin
ming spot in his thatch of dead-oroWn
hair and Strengthened again to see
young Person stand before him with a
cheerful grin and an outthrust business
card.
'T represent-' he began as Miss
Fairly entered and stood waiting
you always represent something you
want to sell and thu 1 won't BUY, FER
son. Lots in Angel Heights? Get out!
won't and can't!' Miss Fairly seated
! herself, poised her pencil and waited.
Person undiscouraged, leaned on the
top of the desk and began to talk
no" said Penrose; I'm tax-poor
now. Don't need a lot
you'll marry build home some
day. insisted the young fellow imper-
tnrbably. hen you'll want to live on
Angel Heights. It's the coming resi-
dence district. You know it,
Penrose woul,- have ordered any one
but Jerry Person out, lit he had al
ways liked him.
Look here" he said, I'm busy! But
I'll tell you the plain TRUTH We bitten
off more than can chew. I'm putting
all the profits back into this business,
which has to be enlarged or go under.
I'm land-poor. 1 need ready money. I've
been putting every extra cent into this
investment, and that too long. It's
crucial time now with business, and
I'm living right on the edge! I'm a little
too close to failure for even my sport
ing blood. I've always tan chances,
but I'm no fool! Now will you get out
of here, and not try to sell me anything
for at least thirty days?"
Person laughed, departing and threw
back a word.
Buy a lot in Angel Heights, get
married, build a house, and take a real
risk! Then you won't always be buying
gold bricks from other fellows and
turning down a good proposition like
me-"
Penrose, as the door closed turned
suddenly to the girl beside him. Her
clear, gray eyes were upon him in
strange, disappearing gaze, but she
was cool and poised as usual. Her
calm was one of the reasons why she
held her position.
Good morning." he said. 1--WE a lot
of letters. Will you try to get them
out by noon? This is to Snow & Snow,
of -" he began debating. not swiftly,
but in a jerky, decisive way that most
stenogra pliers found trying.
Gertrude Fairly, in two years, had
learned his ways, and as she wrote
Penrose looked half unconsciously at
the quiet, clear features, the heavy
dark hair drawn back from the low
forehead. She rested him. She was
rather tail with good shoulders and a
boyish muscularity.
AS he finished debating his mind
reverted in exasperated amusement
to Jerry Person, who was always
representing" something. AS the girl
rose he remarked amusedIy:
It's a wonder that follow didn't
try to sell you a lot, Miss Fairly,
five down, and a dollar q week, till
the sentence expires He glanced
at her and met that same strange
look.
you never TALK" he said. please
tell me what you are thinking about.
1 need distraction"
She had risen, but stood waiting.
"I wondered she said in her good
voice, IF you really think that you
know anything about living on the
sion of intensity in her voice. She
went quietly out and left him staring
after her.
A dozen persons on different err
rands succeeded each other in claim
ing his attention. Details of the BUSH
passed. Afternoon waned when Har-
ris, his manager, came in. Harris, SUBJ
ject to supervision, hired all employees
Sales fair today he reported.
Things l oking up. Shall I fire
Brady?" Penrose nodded. Brady .4..-
Miss Fairly asks for a raise. lat |
about it?' This gave Penrose his |
chance. He remembered her words of
the morning.
Tell me all you know about the |
girl Penrose commanded abruptly. |
Il mean personally. I know her work |
to be all right"
''Well, she doesn't talk about her |
self. But trust the other girls to find |
out and chatter. She's not their sort
Good family-orphan. Supports not |
only herself, but is bringing up a lit
tie brother, about ten, the kid is. Keeps
him in school all day. He comes here
for Saturdays sometimes. She's all |
right-nothing cheap about her. /
suppose sh- deserves raise. but the |
others will all want one, too
GIVE it to her. And when you go
out, send Ter in a moment"
AS he waited, Penrose forgot his
work and fingered the June garden
roses beginning to wither in the vase
on his desk. The summer breeze came
in at the window, and the noise of the
streets far below. He rose and look
ed off over the -hrivirg midwestern
city. The curve of the river divided
it, smoke grayed it, but the living green
of trees and grass gladened his eye.
Far on the horizon he noted a rise
Angel HeightsI He remembered Fer
sons advice and smiled.
Then he somehow felt that the girl
stood waiting for him. He asked her
to sit down, and stood before her, but
a certain reserve and dignity in her
made it hard for him to speak. Neither
did he know just what he wished to
say. So he was bit curt.
"Tve told Mr.. Harris to increase
your salary VIII ten more a month
be right?"
She flushed little.
st want no more than I am worth"
she said, slowly. 81 believe you know
that, and that I appreciate how L am
treated here |