The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-20
TEE EVENING STORY
Downstairs.
(By Philip Kean.

Kendall held himself tense. From
somewhere in the great empty house
there had come the sound of foot
step.
His hand went out instinctively to-
ward the loaf of bread and the bit of
cheese which constituted his breakfast.
At all events he must hide these.
Again there was silence, and with a
sigh of relief he returned to his meal
only to throw his head up again,
listening.
This time the sound was unmistak-
able. There was some one in the
house.
Gathering up his provisions, he
stored them in the fireplace, crumpling
a newspaper carelessly in front OF
them, that they might be screened
Then he crept to the top of the
stairs. He was on the third floor. He
seemed to look down through a haze
of dusty pale green light to the en-
had a key in her hand, and even from
that distance he could see that she
was pale and careworn-.
Bring the little trunk in here" he
heard her say, suddenly and clearly,
to some one outside; you can leave it
in the hail."
she opened a small pocketbook and
took out a coin. He saw big hand
reach out to grasp it; then the door
closed, and the girl sat down on the
little trunk and drew long breath OF
relief :
Kendall stood, irresolute. He turned
back into his own barren room. Il
don't dare" he murmured.
He returned repeatedly to the top
of the steps, however, and watched
the girl drag her trunk into what mad
once been a parlor. He could hear
her light footsteps moving to and fro.
Later in the day she went out, and
he descended the stairs stealth1ly and
found that she had set up her house
hold goods in corner OF the big ROOM
She had put a bright cretonne cover
On the old couch and a crimson cush-
ion in a broken-down easy chair. On
a cracked handicapped table was
her house keeping outht-a small
brass kettle, two blue cups and two
blue plates.
There were two solid silver spoons,
also, and Kendall smiled ruefully as he
looked at them. IF / were burglar,
instead of a poverty stricken artist, she
might have her. troubles ABOUT thaI
silver" he said.
He smelled the delicious fragrance
of coffee at noon,s and sighed for
taste of it as he finished the loaf and
the cheese and washed them down
with a drink of water.
He made up his mind that he must
let the girl know that he was in the
house She might hear him and be
frightened. The next time that she
went out, he waited for her on the
She stiffened as he spoke to her.
please let me pass she said hur-
riedly.
sisted, and she stopped. 81 am a ten
ant in the house. At least" he amend
ed IT simply walked in and took pos
session. The property belongs to my
grandfathers estate-it is in litigation.
and remains empty from year to year.
1 am dreadfully down on my luck
I'm painter of pictures, and the world
doesn't seem to want my work-and
SO I'm living rent free"
seWhy. 1 am, too,' she gasped, tonly |
I haven't the excuse of it being my
grandfather's house. But 1 knew 1t
was empty, and it was that, or charity.
and so I took the chances. 1 am a
dressmaker, and know I can make
money if I have place to work in. |
I've been sick and lost my place with
Madam Julie-rm going to pay back
every penny of rent-please believe
that"
..r do he said, earnestly, land I'm
going to move out and let you have |
a clear field" 1.,F,--s-.
ooh, don't want to drive you away |
would it be absolutely constituencies |
for me to take boarder? There's an |
old lady who is going to help me with |
INV work, and she wants a room the |
worst way, but I don't quite dare
at see," Kendall nodded. Nov, sup
pose we quiet our conscience this way |
ri draw up an agreement in which |
we shall promise to pay such sum as /
shall be deemed adequate for the rent |
of our rooms on demand. Then, when
we have made the necessary amount, |
we can hunt up the agent and square,
things with him."
what a perfectly lovely idea she |
agreed. "Tn run right over and tell |
Mrs. Blunt"
Mrs. Blunt was a motherly old soul.I
She was radiant over the adventure /
IaIt,s like being cast up on a desert |
island" she said. why can't we COM
bine our supplies, and I'll cook for the |
croWd?''
..sThe thought of coffee is heavenly"
said kendall. He went out and spent |
his last quarter on fresh rolls and a
box of berries.
..There." he said, as he set them
down. Let's eat, drink and be merry,
for tomorrow we die!"
mo, we DON'T said the girl, whose
name was Grace Kempton, t'for Mrs.
Blunt and I are going to make such
yownsi I've sstaked my reputation on
certain rose-colored taffeta, which 4
little actress has asked me to design.