The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-18
THE EVENING STORY
The Treasure Trunk.
(By Geraldine Case.)

| he waited for the trunk check, he for
got everything in the world except the
face of the girl beside him. 1t had
| been years since he had even believed
such faces still existed. Now, all he
could do was stand like any other
! beauty struck male, and stare at it
| hungrily.
| flower of a girl, with satin waves of
sunny hair framing in her tender,
wistful face. She lifted her long lashes
just once, and he caught a flash of
! eyes blue as June skies, blue as the
| long-stemmed, Maytime violets he re-
membered picking along the edge of
woodland brooks when he was a boy.
| Then he remembered that he had
| just exactly three minutes to beat time
down the concourse and catch the
| Northwest express. He caught up the
| check, and hesitated another instant.
| She was already tucking hef own
| check into little suede handbag, and
| he realized, as she hurried on ahead
of him, that she was actually going on
| the same train.
He had checked his heavy leather
suitcase. That left him free to run, but
| he waited for her, and they passed
| through the gate together, the last to
take the train. Down the long narrow
platform they both hurried, and he
helped her up the steps as she chose
a certain car. And after that he lost
her. She found a seat, one already par
TALLY occupied, and he had to go on
hunting one for himself. The train
was crowded with tourists, in the day
coaches. 1t was warm and sultry. He
finally found place to hang his hat,
but when he sat down under it, and
looked back, she was not there.
The train had reached the Mon
tana boundary line before he DELHI
erately started in to make a thorough
search of the whole train, and found
her, very cool and happy, in the parlor
car.
There was an empty seat nearby.
and he got a cheek from the conduct
him simply to watch her profile and
the droop of her long lashes.
1t was desperate, but his only chance
to find out anything about her He
slipped dollar bill to the porter, and
put it up to him to make inquiries.
Through ticket to Moose Trail.
sah,'' came back the answer in due
time.
Lindsay scowled and nodded. He
was bound for Trent. three hours
journey past Moose Trail. She would
step off into the embrace of these
everlasting mountains and he would
any other time. he would have taken
a chance, and left the train with her; }
but he couldn't. The firm trusted ,
him. In the suitcase was over $780,,
small trunk he had checked at the
same time there were jewels and gold
chains, bracelets, trinkets of all
kinds. all due to arrive at Trent that
day to connect with the western |
salesman, Bidford. He was fntrusted
with their safe delivery. But yet if |
he only knew her name, could only !
throw out some connecting line of in
terest so that she would remember |
him, so that he might find her again. i
A hundred ways occurred and he put
them away from his mind.
She left the train at Moose Trail, |
held her |
gaze. There was a boy waiting to /
meet her, ami he saw her bend her
head to kiss him. From the open win
dow, he even heard the boy say:
All the rest of the journey the sing
ing rails hummed the name to him,
Lola. Before the week was up he
would be back there at Moose Trail,
turning the surrounding country up
side down until he had found Lola
and that freckled kid.
Bidford was at the hotel when he
arrived. 1t was nearly dinner time,
and he was hungry, but the older
salesman insisted on getting the trunk
and suitcase up from the depot first,
and looking over their contents.
Lindsay handed over his checks, and
plunged into a bath. When the porter
brought up the baggage, Bidford called
out to him to hand out his keys.
what sort of fancy watch charm
do you call this trunk, anyhow, Az"
he added, carelessly.
Its all to the good,' came back
Lindsey's voice, munled in a Turkish
towel "Got it in Chicago; stand any
thing, fireproof, burglar proof, bomb
proof"
A deep rumble of laughter from old
Bidford startled him. He slipped into
pajamas, and came out into the room.
On the bed lay the suitcase, open. On
the floor was little yellow steam er
trunk, very new, very lightly made,
very feminine. The lock was a simple
one Bidford had found key that
opened 1t, and now he threw back the
cover of the TILL A mass of girlish
belongings lay exposed to view. Above
all a delicate, impalpab1e emanation of
perfume, perfume that haunted Lind
say, and reused memories of some
thing-somewhere. He could not
grasp the connection at first, and sud-
denly it came to him. AS he had stood
beside her at the baggage counter he
had caught the same subtle Whit of
perfume and woodland violets, from
the girl from Moose Trail.
.sWhere's the bride, Al?'' asked
Bidford. chuckling. ST never suspected
you of this, old man. Let's lift up the
tray
He crossed the room, and banged
down the cover of the trunk, knock
ing out one photograph on the floor
As he stopped for it. he saw 1t was
she herself, and underneath was writ
ten, with love always, Lola
Its a mix-up in checks. I know
Don't get fused up, and report it,
now Give me half a chance to make .
the change"
"And help you cover up the chance
you took, q loss of $4,000 while you +,
chased up a GIRL
Its lie, understand. neverl
chased her. wanted to badly enough,
but came through to deliver the
- I'll -