The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-03
THE EVENING STORY
Larry's Career.
(By Edmund Moberly.)

gard for the weighty affairs that
crowded the working hours of that
| eminent financier. He found the
I elder Deering about to leave.
| by Jove, father" was his greeting.
| Every time 1 succeed in threading
| my way through this labyrinth of plate
| glass and mahogany that doth hedge
about you, I cannot suppress a sense
| of triumph"
81 conceal myself in this labyrinth,
as you call it. for the express purpose
of protecting my precious time against
such idlers as you,' replied the father
with a grin in which there might have
been observed a slight trace of regret.
What may I ask, is the object of
your present visit ?"
"a small financial matter" con-
fessed Larry.
The elder Deering smiled.
'I am long overdue at an important
board meeting, Larry. Your small
financial matter will have to wait till
1 return"
Larry, left to cool his heels in soli-
tary grandeur. soon tired OF his pro-
sale surroundings. A typewriter rat
tied furiously on the other side of a
closed door.
He opened the door and found
that the operator of the machine
was a young woman. Her black
skirt was plain and so was her sim
pie white waist-but the plainness
ended with her attire.
do you wish to see Mr.. Philip
Deering?" she inquired.
''Why, yes. That is, T.
Hes out at present attending a
board meeting"
yes, I know. I met him going
out and he told me to wait. I'm
his son."
This piece of news did not make
any visible impression on the girl. She
Immediately returned to her work.
IT got tired of the unceasing chat
ter of that ticker in my fathers Of
ice,'' he ventured after a brief wait.
measurably greater clatter OF a type
writer" she replied with a slight
smile.
Larry laughed. ITO tell the truth.
Don't you ever get 1onesome?"
Not when I'm at work. Your
father usually keeps me stepping too
lively to get lonesome
At this palpable hint Larry gave up
any further thought at conversation.
"Jove! What a stunning beauty
was his inward comment after he had
returned to his fathers office. Men
tally he compared her with the girls
he knew. "She has them all faded off
the map" was his spoken thought. 1T
want to know her-I must know herr"
How to make the path of his existence
cross that of his fathers stenographer
was a problem over which he was still
bordering when the elder Deering re-
turned.
Now. my son." said Philip Deer
ing. what is this small financial mat
ter which brings you here?"
Larry thought a moment. Suddenly
his mind was made up.
Father, the truth of the matter is
that I'm tired of idleness," he said
finally. 81 want to ask if you'll allow
me to hang around the Office here and
try to learn something OF business and
finance
Old Philip Deering could not con-
ceal his surprise-nor his delight.
Are you in earnest about this,
SOM" he demanded.
Yes, father
Boy, I've been waiting a long time
to hear you say this. There has been
a place here by my side in this office
waiting for you ever since you left col
1ege."
The days that followed were full of
interest to Larry. At first the very
diversity of his fathers many inter-
ests appalled, him, and as he began to
grasp the simpler details, he could
not but marvel at his parents wonder
full ability. The delight of the elder
Deering at his sons decision to take
up business career was almost pa
thetic. Larry, noting this, felt that
he simply must make good.
With the girl, Miss Helen Aiken,
his progress was slow. He found her
pleasant and agreeable, but he also
found that in the office she chose to
remain severely impersonal. This,
be getting him anywhere. He deter
mined to change such a state of af
fairs.
Miss Aiken he said one after
noon as she was preparing to leave
the office, may I have the pleasure
of calling on you some time?"
Are you sure you would not re-
gard 1t as stunning expedition
chance to see how the other half
lives?" she asked, looking him straight
in the eye.
''I don't grasp your meaning" fall
tered Larry.
Mr.. Deering. you are a million
aires son. I am poor, and live in a
Miss Aiken, that is cruelty unjust
to me-" he replied.
Instantly she was contrite.
Pardon me, Mr.. Deering,' she
1T was frightfully rude of me to say
that. I am fiercely Independent
creature, and it gets me into no end
of trouble. If you still wish to call,
1 shall be happy to receive YOU"
Tonight ?'' he asked hopefully.
Yes
DO you know, Mr.. Deering," said
Miss Aiken in the living room of her
home that night, Il took it as 2 sort
of joke when you first made up your
mind to take up a business Career?"
lit was far from joke to me- said
Larry. Il took up business as d step
ping stone to matrimony.'
Indeed The girls voice was
strained. May I ask who the lady
is?"
You
Miss Aiken looked at him with
startled eyes.
YES. you, Helen" he declared. do |
you remember the first day 1 ever
saw you-the day I opened the door
and found you at your typewriter 80
She nodded.
I've loved you ever since. 1 de-