The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-02
TIE EVENING STORY
Button, Button"
(By Harmony Weller. }

4
/ A slow smile dawned in Everly' s
eyes. 1t always amused him to watch
the people dashing madly past the
| ticket chopper and scrambling for the
train that was even then pulling out
| of the station. Invariably the gate
was slammed in their heated faces.
'Why will they rush themselves
into fever over one train out OF
hundreds Just like ito" was Everly's
| habitual mental comment as he leis-
urely purchased his ticket and even
| more leisurely dropped it into the
ticket chopper and strolled along the
elevated platform at the 10th street
station.
Everly had long since admitted his
preference for waiting that moment
| or two between trains to making that
! frantic dash and becoming heated ana
upset the first thing in the morning
Besides he had an amusing assort-
ment of oddments that he had picked
up after these morning sprinters- BY
going slowly he profited by their
hurry. Nothing was worth stopping
for so long as they caught that par
ticular train, and EVERY had picked
up elevated tickets, fresh morning
papers, a quarter or two, back combs
and even a lady's belt His most re-
cent find was a more or less remark
able button, and even in his mascu-
line ignorance regarding feminine at
of those costly ornaments that make
the entire trimming of a modish tail
ored suit.
Had EVERY seen the girl who had
lost the button he most probably
would have returned it to her. AS it
was. he could only imagine suit
that was perhaps navy blue and
which was suffering for the loss of
button. If the suit was imported
there was slight chance of the owner
foIo ha
However, EVERY watched the fem
mime contingent that made its way
businessward each morning about
O'Clock. There was just chance that
he might see a suit that boosted the
mates of the one he had found. 1t
became a habit with him to traverse
the length of the platform and then
the train looking for blue enamel but
tons that were framed in dull silver.
1t was just as the 9:10 express train
was pulling into the station one
morning in June that he saw her.
Her slim back was Everly's first vision
and down at the foot of her trim
walking skirt lurked six blue but
tons. They swung with the rhythm
of her feet and EVERY hurried along
the platform and glanced at the re-
mainder of an almost perfect whole.
Yes, her eyes were blue like the
buttons, and her hair curled beneath
dainty blue hat. EVERY liked every
men OF the girl, ana II was then lIldI
he decided not to give back the lost
property-at least she should be made
to see and long for it before getting
it, But how? Every racked his
brain and followed the girl into the
train No longer did he look at gen.
eral feminine attire. His attention
was entirely claimed by the girl who
always glanced down as if seeking in
vain for something.
It irritated Everly to note how sell
dom her eyelashes unveiled the deep
blue of her eyes. When he had found
a seat opposite her it seemed as if she
never would glance over at him. If
that was to be the case he realized
that his scheme would sink to failure.
He examined her suit carefully
and, yes-there was a deficiency in
buttons. EVERY discovered that one
sleeve contained three and the other
but two buttons.
He smiled his slow amused smile
and gave her credit for doing the best
maneuvering possible. She had rea-
soned that she could not be seen on
both sides at once by the same per-
son.
While he smiled the girl looked up
and across at him. From his face her |
eyes travelled down and opened wide |
as they rested upon the lapel of his
coat. She gave an almost impercepti- |
BILE start.
Her lovely imported button was
adjoining a strange mans coat.
EVERY watched while seeming not
to do so. She bit her lip in indie |
cision, made an involuntary move !,
ment as if she would speak to him, !
then sank back in her seat a mu-
tinous expression dawned in her eyes.
Evidently she felt powerless to claim |
her own property.
And because he could not refrain |
from gazing at her EVERY opened his
paper wide and tried to read Always
in his mind rang the words, Button,
button, I've got the button" He real
lied that his act was not particularly
worthy, yet he also felt that if he re-
turned the property there would be
an end to the affair.
With lingering look at Everlys
determined face the girl got off the
train at Fifty-third street. He watch
ed her go and the world became a
blank Evidently sch was a student of
music and went daily to Carnegie, be-
cause her great music holder swung
at her side.
EVERY breathed more freely. There
was every chance that with a little
vigilance each morning on the ele
waited station he could see her fire.
quently. After all, the world was a
glorious place to live in
and trains passed and always EVERY
to see the girl in the blue
suit 1t was not a difficult maneuver,
when, as EVERY began to
feel, the girl herself was a party to it.
Lately he had watched her eyes dart
swiftly along the platform and meet
ing his own cease to roam. A smile
had found its way into the depths of
her eyes and her lips were wont to re-
strain themselves at the corners when
EVERY sank into the seat beside or
across from her in the train. His I'M :