The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-19
The EUening Story
The Pearls.

st am not a baby" protested Phyllis
holly.
Perhaps not in years, but you are
in things pertaining to this wicked old
world sagely remarked her brother
Frederick, two years her senior.
But if 1 cannot be trusted with
jewels, why did dad give them to meE
I guess after a girls out she is sup
of herself and her belongings. / am
tired of being treated like baby. Why
at school we"
''At school you hadn't jewels. Be-
sides dad didn't expect you to be
trotting them all over creation to all
your house parties and things. where
you have to make trips alone on the
train
'.All right, Methusaleh, or is it Sol
ONION? I'll ask mother. Unless you
have already assured her that it isn't
safe for your kid sister to go out
without a nurse"
Frederick was right. And, consulted
in turn, Mr.. Price decided so, too. 1t
ended in a family council of war, with
Sylvester Smith present.
Sylvester Smith was college friend
of Frederick, a senior in the latter'S
freshman year and much older. But
they had had a life-saving seance one
time-either Frederick had saved
Sylvester or the other way round
but it had cemented the friendship, so
it doesn't matter.
Since then Sylvester Smith had
been a frequent visitor at the Prices
and Phyllis was afraid of him, al
though he was big and handsome and
very nice, indeed. He had sent candy
to Phyllis at school until the string
of little brass spoons that came in
each box reached from the chandelier
to the floor and Phyllis was con-
fronted by dyspepsia. But she knew
that he thought of her only as Fred's
little sister, and it ranked. The
4
long dresses and just lately her COM
ing out party had not made bit of
difference to him. He seemed to think
her as much of q child as ever, and
it was humiliating, to say the least,
to have him happen in just now.
Phyllis sat belligerently silent while
the others related narrowing incidents
of train robberies and hapless maidens
who lost things.
But men can be robbed as easily
as girls she cut in finally, land they
are, too. They are dreadfully careless
about things, and lose tons of stuff
that they do not tell about, so that
nobody knows the difference. Girls
are honest and tell everything"
Sylvester came to the rescue-that
is, Phyllis thought he was going to
when he began. He looked SO big and
capable standing with his back to the
blazing logs, his hands behind him.
"I do not believe you need to be
alarmed about Phyllis taking her jew
elry. But, after all, Mr.. Price. as you
would be the real loser if anything
should happen to your ten or fifteen
thousand dollars worth of things, reg
istered mail and express are both safe,
of course But 1 have a better plan.
am going to Providence myself on
Friday on some insurance business and
shall be delighted to play messenger. 1
will take Phyllis pearls if you like"
1.-The very thing" nodded Mrs. Price
approvingly.
Gully" commended Frederick.
THAT is a fine idea,' assented Mr..
Price.
Phyllis flung out of the room. She
had been betrayed.
Phyllis preferred a daylight ride, so
she took the Friday morning train.
The Pullman was fairly well filled, but
there was no one whom she knew.
Frederick said "Goodby'' as the train
pulled out of the station. At the same
moment, a man catapulted on to the
platform at the opposite end of the
car. Still painting from his exertion,
he glanced at the section numbers and
himself into the seat directly
in front of Phyllis, without noticing
her. But Phyllis had a distinct shock
when she recognized Sylvester Smith.
1.-The pearls have evidently done
some sprinting," she thought. 'I won