The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-18
THE EVENING STORY
Why Not?
(By J. o. Loizeaux.

the house he was cafpenIef1nS Oh,
breathed deep of the fall air. 1t was
sweet to him. He pushed back his
| cap and ran his fingers through his
soft black hair. Murray came along
beside him, pausing moment.
| "Takin' a breath? Oh-say-ain't
it a peach of day. Amt I glad I
amt a guy in an office bumped up
over a pen? wouldn't it be fierce 2?
Dan nodded, his eye on the street.
where a group of young girls were
going home from their work in stores
| and factories.
'"Those-girls have to slave" an
swered Dan, his glance singing out
fair, delicate little girl more quietly
| dressed than the others. And that
little one-in gray-doesn't look up to
| work." He began work again, but
Murray considered him.
| why don't you marry herr" he
| asked bluntly.
! TORY stared and flushed, setting his
jaw.
I amt the marryin' sort, I guess
Haven't very much ahead as 1t is
just patch of land and a shack I'm
| building myself"
You can take care of her and
yourself easier than she can look
| after herself. Marry her, man, why
not? I married girl to take care of
her-and she makes a little heaven
went away whistling, but as Dan Tor
rey put away his tools his mind ran
| on the little slender girl.
He put on his coat and swung out
| into the street, tired and hungry-too
hungry to wait for the supper at the
| end of long car ride. He would eat
downtown. Still in his working clothes,
he went into place of the cheaper
sort, where he would not feel out of
place. 1t was crowded little hole,
and men and women were sitting
close, eating the coarse but plentiful
food. He looked about for place and
4
small table for two, where, with her
back to him. a girl was sitting. He
hesitated, then went over and sat
down opposite her.
With a shock he saw that it was
the little fair girl in gray. She look
ed up with half-frightened glance,
then went on with her supper. II
she had ever seen the good-looking
young workman she did not remem-
Der it.
While he waited for his order he
found himself furtively studying her.
She was little too pale for beauty,
a little too thin, with an anxious look in
the deep, steady gray eyes. He wish
ed he could call a smile to her face.
SO he joked with the waitress-his
Irish joking, irresistible. Like flash
Then she flushed like a rose and
thereafter kept her eyes on her plate.
But for an accident she would have
left without speaking-but Dan had
been meager enough; and as she fin
ished she reached into her little purse
and ffshed out two dimes. She rose,
and Dan watched her step to the
cashiers desk nearby him.
The girl in the cage coldly pushed
back one of the coins.
mo good" she said. worn too
much
TITS all 1 have with me-" the girl
stammered. ST thought it was all
right. Can't I pay you next time
come in ?'
The cashier gave a queer smile and
called the manager, pushing the dime
No good" he said, looking keenly
and not too courteously at the girl.
IT'S all I have with me-" she SIAM
mered. II will come in and pay you
tomorrow. My names Annie Morrow.
I clerk at Strath's."
The man hesitated and then Dan
was on his feet, anger Il his eye.
row. She's all right. Take this. She |
can pay me next time she sees me. |
1t might happen to any Of u.s." he said |
with his Irish smile winning her
81 can't let you,' she said clearly.
NONSENSE" he said. carefully steer |
ing her a-ay from the desk and to |
the door. 81 see you every day. 1 |
work on that new building at Tenth |
and Shaw, you know. You can pay me |
some time when you see me. L d like |
to muFder tndC Cashier. FendpS Will, |
he promised happily as he opened the |
door for her. She gave him deep /
look of thanks.
Thank you-but you're stranger
1 shouldn't let you
"Goodby," he said. IT'S all right"
He went back to his unfinished supper, |
wishing he could fight something for
her The injustice of a girls struggle |
with the world came upon him.
A day or two later, as he was 1eav-
ing work, he saw Annie Morrow pass
and look shyly in his direction. He
knew she wanted to speak to him, and
would not let it be thought that she
was accosting him. He walked straight
up to her, took off his cap, and then
walked on beside her. She had dime
because she wanted to give it to him.
hut it seemed foolish and ridiculous to
him.
Look here he said, I'm Dan
TORY I work for Bradford & Street
I'm a carpenter. I'm not married,
and I'm decent, and you needn't be
afraid of me. Those people in that
eating place didn't think I knew you
II want you to come now to supper
with me to let them see-then you
need never go there again. You know
I'm all right-don't your" l.
She met his clear gaze, blushed
and nodded her head. She thought a
moment. II
..I'Il-go-this once" she said It
was like her not to mention the mat
ter after that- He ordered her good
a meal as the place afforded, and then
went out with her on the street. TheyI
were by then deep in pleasant, friendly