The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-04
7M EVENING sr0RY
MISS RIair,s Assistant.
(By Lawrenee Alfred CLAY

II al at NoryV1lle from O'CLOCK in
the afternoon till midnight, and Miss
F'ayne was the daughter of a widow.
There were few calls between the hours
of 10 and IL. and the girl had time
for reading or sewing
The telephone office was on the Sec
ond story and reached by a flight of
outside stairs 1t was rare that a I
stranger to the town climbed up to
send a message, as there were plenty
of phones in the town.
1t was IL o'clock on a summer night
with doors and windows open and the
girl almost browsing, when she heard
step on the stairs. She had often in
duiged in guesswork as to her late
callers. She would say to herself, af-
i ter the fourth or fifth step:
That is Mr.. Barnes. coming to ask
if there is any late news from Chi
cago;'' or, that is Mr.. Smith, who
wants to tall TO some one over at
Bay HILL
In time the girl got to be a very good
guesser, but on this night she was
puzzled. Whoever was coming up had
the step of woman. but was not a
woman. There was a halt at every
step and yet it was not the halt of a
lame person Tt was as If he were say
ing to himself:
Shall I go up? Yes. No"
1t took the unknown two minutes to
accomplish what others did IN thirty
nervous when he stood in the open
door. She sat opposite, and for long
minutes they looked at each other.
Then he removed a battered derby and
smiled and said:
Pardon the mistake, please
What mistaken"
II thought I'd find man UP
here
Il am in charge. Do you want to
telephone?"
So far as his clothes went he was
a hobo. AS to his face, it was almost
handsome. There was an unkemptness
about. but it did not degrade him.
You came up expecting to find
man in charger
WELL yes"
"And as man isn't in CHARGE"
why, I will go down again.
This was said with a smile that
brought smile from the girl. She
was in the habit of bringing sand
witch or so for a night lunch, and it
was there untouched on this occasion
She motioned the young man to
chair. handed him the parcel and took
UP her book and pretended to read for
the next ten minutes.
What fool a young man can make
of himself!'' said the caller.
You mean" replied the girl |
THAT I am it, and it's all my fault
that you see me playing the hobo. 1T
1 had the price, and didn't know that
my governor was in bed, might tele-
phone him to kill the fatted calf"
Miss Blair did not ask for his
story, but she looked interested
Got in with the fast set at college,
YOU know, and went the pace. Fool
number one.
my governor tried to show me, but
I wouldn't be shown. Obstinate and !;
conceited Fool number two
"Got drunk and told a professor to
go to, and was expelled. Fool num-
Der three.
called me a worthless scamp and 1
got on my high horse and left the
house. Fool number four.
Been a hobo for months and
months, and wouldn't answer the gov
ernor's advertisements. Fool number
five. a
s.C.ot down to hard-pan at last, and
came I'D hoping to find man mere
and strike him for quarter. fooi
number six. |
IN ber lunch. six times the fool, and
a hlackguard besides. Can you beat
it,'' o.,
But you are ready to go homer
said the girl 49,. ;.,s
MORE than can face. If I could strike
something and climb up to decency
AGAIN could face the governor ana
others. He said I'd become a loafer
and die in the gutter
Miss Blair's earnest blue eyes We're
looking fun into his black ones, and
h. read interest and appeal in her
Iooks She cared, but why? She ad-
n7itted to herself that she was inter-
ested in the stranger before her' ano
therefore admitted 1t to MN one
looked upon him more as q 10y nc Il
q man. In answer to her question as
70 when he was going to oegln ne
Thought for a moment and then re-
piled: I'll, ,,o,,, ~. {"
rba average man would have sneer-
"a ana laughed but this was one or
the other sex, and she did not hesi-
tate to reply: III, 1
you
IA thousand thanks"
.sYou don't look to be a desirable
puest. but there is hotel down the
street that will take you in You have
no money!
Not a penny, was repheo with
blush of shame.
"You must take this two dollars as
a loan It's business. After break
fast look for something to do. Come
back here at 8 O'Clock in the after
noon"
But I can't take your money an
swered the young man.
It's loan, and You'll repay It.
Remember at what hour to be here.
Brush up and look as well as you
can
The young man went slowly down.
stairs, and ten minutes later the Of
flee was closed and the girl on her
way home. SIZE said nothing to her
mother that night or next morning.
but under pretense of shopping went
out after breakfa It and visited the
grocery owned by cousin.
why, I don't want any hobo clerks
around me-" was the reply after her
story had been told