The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-21
The Euening Story
Ticket Number IS, 4S2.

peered up into the storm-swept
streets.
now, papa she said over her Shout
The little man huddled over a
greasy ledger at desk near the win
dow looked up with hawk eyes.
You shouldn't be cutting off all
proved his wife. when L make a
footing OF this here yesterdays page,
then. maybe, we shall light lamps"
| Rosa moved her bulky form so
that it no longer ,obscured the via
dow. From the basement doorway
she could look up and see many feet
passing along the sidewalk, the feet
of men, women and little children,
and if it had been light enough in
the basement Papa Hornitz might
have seen his wife's face wet with
tears.
! Suddenly a pair of large, maScu-
line feet, shod in well-worn goloshes,
hesitated at the top of the flight of
stone steps and then passed on.
Rosa turned toward her husband.
Cousin Lensky lust went by; L could
tell his goioshes."
THE feet of a meddler,' snarled
Jacob Hornitz. He dare not show
his face to me-
Papa, papa" soothed Rosa, laying
her hand on her husbands trembling
Did he not steal my boy-ny
Joey?"
"Ah, papa" walled Rosa. 'it was
not Lensky who stole our son. 1t was
his niece, that good for nothing Ray
Nemuss, with her fancy ways
1T was Lensky who told Joey if he
broke his engagement to Ray her
heart would break. And even though
our hearts break from his disobedi-
ence our son marries her. and we
never see him." Jacobs voice cracked
drearily.
You told him never to show face
here again. And her; we hated her
for her silly ways and because we
were jealous. Now they have moved
to Chicago-so far away" reminded
Rosa.
The door opened suddenly to ad-
NIT customer. Jacob retired to
light a lamp over a distant counter
and prepared to haggle over a gold
watch.
Mrs Hornitz stood before the door
Suddenly bulky object blotted out
the view; there was a conmotion on
the stone steps and something bump
ed against the door.
Out of the storm and wet there was
propelled into the shop a baby car
riage pushed by shawl-shrou6ed
woman.
For what Rosa was angrily
beginning when the woman interrupt
ed.
"Please-please do let me have
dollar on it. It's fine carriage. al
most new and@'
wait" Rosa interrupted in her
turn and lighted a bracket lamp. She
it's empty depths and then nodded
assent. While she fumbled in the
cash drawer the woman pushed the
carriage into a dusky corner out of
the way of a passing customer.
The transaction concluded, the
woman clutched the dollar bill and
the pawn ticket and vanished into the
night.
Jacob was lighting the remaining
lamps that shone like dim yellow
GASES in the desert gloom of the shop.
Times is hard. papa" observed
Rosa.
Times is always hard for some
folks" retorted Jacob as he returned
to his desk.
Times is very bad when lady
pawns her baby carriage. Look, papa
a fine handsome carriage, and only
dollar asked
Jacob glanced toward the corner
and nodded. Rosa usually made a
good bargain. He sighed sharply.
Rosa Hornitz knew that he was
thinking of their son Joey, gone al
most a year. They had not seen Joey
since his marriage. Now he was in
atives, but he had never written. Per-
haps Jacobs denunciations still rang
in his ears.
At IL o'clock Rosa. nodding over
her knitting, lifted her head sharply.
Jacob looking up his books, stared
at her curiously.
what is il? ?" he asked.
Il thought you made a cry, papa"
she said meekly.
You would always hear things.
Rosa he reproved
A queer little sound came from the
darkest corner of the shop, a feeble
half strangled cry.
Rosa and Jacob rushed from their
place and met in the middle of the
shop.
Their eyes questioned each other.
Jacob spoke first. Precipitation
beaded his forehead; he essayed q
careless laugh. 81 am like a child-a
crazy one" he confessed. 'I thought
twas little Joey crying! And him
God knows where!"
"Ah papai" walled Rosa. 'I heard
It, too. 1t is a bad sign and She
stopped and listened with tense look
on her round face.
The cry again-Ionder-a distinct
wall.
"A-a-baby.' Jacob stamped his
foot angrily. Rosa, fool that you
are, There is a baby in the carriage"
''Ah, no! The lady had no baby.
The carriage it was empty felt in
1T protested Rosa, waddling toward
the corner. Jacob carried a lamp and
flashed it toward the carriage.
THE carriage was empty" repeated
Rosa, bending over it. Jacob, it is
baby-poor, forgotten onel" Her
arms plunged into the carriage and
die wrapped in an old shawl The
bundle wriggIed and walled Justify