The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-15
RED TOP
BY KEITH KENYON.

| that the nrSt udy SIG t"h' :,
the St Dimitri switchboard ne UGH.
hons and their captain looked her over
cautiously. She was not city sHi'
ANDY. bravest of all, strolled over
about nine. and leaned tentatively on
the top of the desk with his most
friendly smile.
How does the scenery strike you'
Red Top" he asked.
Not half as strongly as something
will strike you if you call me Red Top
again. she retorted calmly. just
stroll along there, child. I'm not d
hit lonely and if am I'll call my own
numbers, thank you
She tucked a couple of large sneil
J pins into her side braids and looKeu
past Andy's head absently.
The colonel expressed himself as
delighted over her aloofness. Even
to the colonel she was aloof, ana ne
was owner Of the St. Dimitri. She
gazed past his handsome head quite
as nonchalantly as she had past
Andy's.
Cad, SIR" said the colonel hap
PLY as he fingered over the after
dinner cigar with the proprietor, Has
well. Cad, sir, rather think she IL
stay. Fine girl. Haswell, too good Tor
the position Beautiful hair. Perfect
profile. Wonder she isn't mobbed,
but it's the manner that holds them
off. She squelches man with one
lock. What's her name?'
Ruth Hollister, sir"
"Hollister, HOLSTER? Massachu-
setts? Used to be Senator Ben Hol-
lister at Washington from Massachu'
sets when | was in the house Fine
chap. Cad sir, | remember when
that navy appropriation bill came up
after the Japanese trouble"
[ The colonel rambled off luxurious
ly. leaning far back in his deep leath-
er chair and rocking one foot. But
! when his cigar burned out he saun-
tered down the 'oH- marble corridor
to the telephone /, Ak anu began With
his very best Georgia manner
II beg pardon I'm sure, Miss Hollis
/ tor I'm Colonel Congreve. I'm won
dering if you could possibly be of the
same family as my old friend Senator
Hcllister of Massachusetts.
81 don't think so, Colonel Con
greve," came back clearly, even crisp
| ly II am from out West, near
Omaha. We have no senators in our
family yet We're just first settlers
Omaha? God bless my heart
murmured the colonel How did you
ever get so far from home?'
Il was one of ten hundred thousand
girls who imagine they can sing for
grand opera in New York. | got tired
living on hopes and air; SO | learned
this
That night the colonel sat up on
the roof garden, quite alone, long aft
er the crowd had gone. Just why one
girls face should suddenly fill his
world, he could not see Yet all he
had to do was to close his eyes and
there rose before him the face of
Ruth HOLSTER. Red Top, Haswell
had said the boys called her. Glorious
hair she had, rich in tone as a ripe
| chestnut. He wondered how he could
help her. And the next day Haswell
was told to promote Miss Ilollister
to the business department,
You see, Miss HOLSTER" he told
her. Il want to get up winter book
; let that will not only attract the very
| best advertisers. but the best patron
| age, too. Nothing fiamboyant, but
neat and correct, you get me? Just
work along with Allan here. and
think between you you can turn out
mighty fine thing"
Allan smiled. He was the colonel's
| private secretary, and the two got to
work over the new booklet. Ruth
grew to love the work. And the colo.
mel bided his own time, satisfied to
know she was drawing s35 a week in
| stead OF SIP, with a tidy little suite
at the hotel thrown in for good meas.
ure, Around Christmas would be time
enough, he thought, and he strolled
over to the avenue one day and en-
joyed himself supremely selecting a
diamond ring for her
The day before Christmas he came
into the inner private office unexpect-
eddy and found Ruth standing by the
window gazing down at the park
! while Allan talked to her They did
not notice the colonels entrance. and
he stood in silence listening. AS he
listened to the unreasoning. impetu.
GUS flood of speech the boy was pour.
ing out to her-nothing but love love,
love no mention of money or position.
nothing but love-he knew all at once
that here was what she needed and
he could not give il to her-young
love in all its splendor and divinity
He went GU noiselessly.
Later. Allan came to him his clean.
shaver young face radiant with a new
confidence
Il want you TO be the first to know.
sir he said Miss HOLSTER has
promised TO ce my wife.
You don't tell NO, Allan. we'll
well. said the coione, nus.us'y. FUN
bling in his vest pocket So size
marries according to tradition hare
eh but choose one OF the .or,s I
wonder il You Erl 80 very npsb
il supplied thu r..-. Il would give
me III greatest plea, ~e-' h. drew
eN' LII morocco case ana o--aed il
No don't thank ME- mr hov
After III hoy haa stepped ONT a..
TIE room. ". colonial .-.. -. -.