The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-14
The Euening Story
Nan and = Man.
(By Molly McMaSter.)

Nan and . Man.
(By Molly McMaster.)
But what would do with man ?"
There was vague questioning in Mans
troubled eyes.
The rising young lawyer who loved
Nan and wanted her for his own
smiled, though his heart was heavy.
WELL" he answered ghingly. "a
man is sometimes handy to catch q
stray burglar Or"
But 1 never have any burglars"
said Nan. with wide-open eyes.
Never"
''Then q man is often useful when
bonnet bills and the rent are to be
paid" suggested Muller.
II have paid my own bonnet bills
and my rent for five years." Nan told
him seriously, and shook her head.
| mo, John. wouldn't know what to
do with q man. and 1t would annoy
me dreadfully to have one pottering
about the house when I want to get
out a story
my dear Mani" expostulated John.
while he felt that he was losing. "A
man doesn't potter about at your
apron strings all day. He has an Of
| flee and business to attend to and il
| only home for a few hours out Of the
day."
Nan laughed in a troubled. helpless
way that hurt John Muller almost
had hurt. He realized that while Nan
was a woman in years and intelli-
gence. she was but q temperamental
! child In many ways and knew not how
deep-rooted was his love for her.
| She looked straight into his eyes
with a wistful, pleading expression.
\ Il suppose that Is so.'' she continued
to look troubled, ''but there would be
early breakfasts to upset my habits.
would have to consider a man, and
simply can't overcome my love for late
breakfasts and prowling about the
house until I am ready to eat. Oh
there are q thousand and ono reA-
sons" she ended lamely.
I'm sorry" said John. trying to
speak lightly. had hoped there
| might be some little niche in which
/ you could poke me, but since there is
not one vacant in your life then I
must forget you" He raised her
smooth little hand to his lfps and held
I 1t there for q moment, then left her
| When he had gone, Nan INDUCED in
a short but tempestuous cry. She vas
always rather helpless when 1t came
to enacting scenes, but an expert in
the writing of them. She disliked
1
best friend she had.
The storm cleared. however, and in its
| trail left a desire to leave New York for
a short trip. Nan decided to run out
to Chicago. She had many friends in
that city who would welcome her.
Nan felt that some hidden reason had
prompted her sudden trip, but she was
Tor the time being unaware OF any mo-
| tive other than q restless desire to be
on the move.
Nan had not been in the Windy City
two days when the reason for her trip
was made clear to her. She had gone
| to the theater because the drama was
stand before the curtain successful
playwright. Her experience had been
anything but pleasant. since Nan was
not made of the fiber that copes favor
ably with the managerial personalities.
Her sketches had been kept in theatre
cal offices and returned to her without
comment after months had passed.
So while Nan sat scanning the pro-
gram it did not occur to her that one
Of the greatest moments Of her life was
about to transpire.
| When the curtain went up Mans
breath seemed to be flung back into her
lungs an in a great flame. The scene
before her was ct her own creation.
6ho had dreamed 1t in a moment Of in
| spiration. and had put 1t into the sketch
| that managers had returned to her.
Nan felt that she would die as she sat
there in the theater with the knowledge
| that her wonderful plot had been stolen
and turned into q strong three-act play.
She was dizzy, i'll. and for the first time
| in her life longed for violence with
which q man would attack the person
who had robbed him.
The play war supposed to be q trans
| lation from the German, and the two
men whose names appeared as the
| translators were even then involved In
. lawsuit for plagiarism.
| Nan arose from her seat because she
could not sit longer and retain her
! control. She wanted to scream out at
| those puppets who were speaking her
very lines unmindful OF her emotions.
/ Not conscious Of where she was go
ing. Nan found herself seeking the
/ manager Luckily he was in the thea
/ ter and she stormed at him in 20 vol
canic and incnherent manner that
he only laughed at her.
my dear child" he said finally. II
| your play This play has been rum
i ming for six months, and you can sue
4 as much as you like I think you'll
find it losing game. Good after
4 noon.'
knew that had she poegessed mascu-
| line strength she would have closed
her fingers about the throat OF that
/ manager. She went out OF the theateI
! and walked blindly down the street
\ with each step she seemed to feel her.
1 self stamping and crushing everything
i counected with the world OF theaters
! She could not stay In Chicago lon-
Il ger. With her own play running to
hacked houses and making . fortune
Tor those who had stolen ft from her,
4 Nan dashed back to New. York, hurled
4 there by that unseen 1orco which had
ee9s 49, ~ Snsc1y 81 g :. -. <.