The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-05
TIE EVENING STORY
Her Fathers Joke.


| NV susanna GlenH.)
Helen Kennedy was a young wo
man with a great many suitors. He
friends said this state of things wa
due to her beauty of face and charm
of manner. The unfriendly elemen
declared that her fathers wealth wal
wholly responsible.
Whatever the cause this young per
son led a happy and even exciting ex
istence and enjoyed it to the utmost
Helen" her father frequently saiC
to her. don't you think it about time
you settled down? There is a dit
ferent young man in my parlor ever,
evening, with Warren Hamilton anc
Dick Burke forming sort of famii
lar background for the play. 1 like
to have you enjoy yourself, but L az
hope to see you safely married before
1 have to leave you. 1 cannot bear tt
think of you marrying some fortune
hunter when I am not here to protect
s yHu. nov warren Is OD
THAT would be settling down with
vengeance Miss Helen always OBJ
| served.
Mr.. Kennedy had liked Warren Ham
ilton since the day the boy came
into his law office five years before,
| quiet, painstaking student.
| He is the finest young fellow I ever
knew he was fond of saying.
But the first time Helen, just re-
| turned home from school, came into
! her fathers office, Hamilton lost his
| sensible head and even more prosaic
| heart. In vain he told himself they
were as far apart as the poles; that
! she was a frivolous young girl, about
| as useful to struggling lawyer as a
painted butterfly; that she laughed IN
his very face OF made him useful, at
her own convenience.
For five years he had haunted her
presence without even having gained
a single advantage.
Richard Burke was the only other
sutton who equaled him in persistence
and he far outstripped HIM in every
other respect. Hamilton'S only real
advantage lay in the approval of the
father. Burke considered himself
winner and waited only to bring things
to a climax.
Casting about in his mind as to
how best this might be done, Burke
ran upon a clever idea. He would
make his rival ridiculous before the
girl. Nothing could so soon kill any
spark of consideration she might nave
for him.
One bright spring day as Helen vas
passing through the little hall con-
Meeting her fathers Office with those
of his partner and his chief clerk
the floor. Curiosity overcame caution,
and she stopped and tucked the paper
in her glove.
Finding her fathers Office temper
arily empty she drew out the paper
and read:
note on Hamilton's desk as if Ken
nedy placed it there, will you? It's just
little joke to jar him up a bit; I'm
getting desperate. You shall be best
man if you put this through.
DICK"
Helen sat in deep thought. That
the contemplated joke related to her
self in some way she left certain.
She must get possession of that note.
Perhaps it was still on his desk If
he had not yet returned from lunch
She went over and tapped lightly
Come answered Hami1ton's ia
miliar voice. There was nothing to
do hut enter
The young mans face lighted up
strangely at sight of her Helen not
infrequent1y went into his office and
ne had always hitherto received her
in the most matter-of-fact manner.
She was now more than ever deter
mined to see the note. quick glance
told her it was not on his desk.
It wonder" she said, with a smile.
eff you are too busy to help me
few minuteS?"
The young man was, as usual, dumb
before her, but his eyes were eloquent
as he seated her in his big armchair.
you know that little closet up I'M
der the caves on the top floor? There
is canvas there wrapped in brown
paper. 1 want it very much. I wonder
if you will fetch it? 1 do not like to
trust the janitor.''
why, to be sure" exclaimed Hamilton,
starting toward the door.
''Wait-you had better leave your coat
here unless you want to brush 1t. It is
sure to be dreadfully dusty up there"
Hamilton slipped off his coat and laid 1t
over the desk in front of her
When the sound of his steps had dIec
away Helen reached with trembling fir
gers for the coat
i've Just got to do it, she Whispered
drawing a folded paper from an inner
pocket.
sary for me to go to Colan today. VIII
you come over for me tonight? will be
at Park station at s. H."
Helen was standing near the door wher
he returned
s'Dfdn't YOU find it2" she asked, looking
have troubled YOU I must hurry now
I'll explain later" And she was gone
with a bewildering smile.
Fifteen minutes later Miss Kennedy at
at her own desk, pen in hand
Warren is poor old stupid, she SAID |
grimly, but I'm not going to have such |
a trick as that played on him And TIL |
show Mr.. Burke the fallacy of getting mis- |
best man before he does the girl
Presently she laid down her pen and /
lived near Park station. And having left |
a note telling her father of her intended /
visit and that Warren would bring her |
home, she started on her adventure.
tiful Miss Kennedv into his runabout at i
8 that evening they were not aware of the 1