The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-01
The Euening Story

The Euer1ing Story
Wrathful Robert.
(By Michael ]. POTTERY
Robert Constable ran nervous fin
gers through a shock OF golden hair
that strongly suggested the Latin
Quarter, poets and temperament. The
scribe in him was joyfully at work.
The story. providing there were no in
terruptions, would be : finished and
ready for the typist before another
sun had set over the roofs of Gram
Grey Park.
Constable's pen scratched across the
paper madly, making the only sound
in the room save the gentle bubble of
the percolator that was filling the air
with the odor Of aromatic coffee.
Yes-the story was progressing.
A slim wedge Of sunlight flung its
slanting beam down through the win
dow and shamelessly revealed the
condition of Constable's abode. An
eiderdown Of gray dust lay lightly
over all things, including the very
manuscript on which Constable Ia
bored. Coffee stains. cigarette ashes
and crumpled papers added to the
general atmosphere Of Bohemia that
enveloped the young writer.
In his story the heroine was using
her last gasping breath to implore for
mercy when a bell. hitherto unknown
to Constable, pealed forth in deafen-
ing persistency. 1t continued to ring
until in a frenzy Of rage Constable
dashed .wn the stairs to find out
who the villain was who dared to ring
the bell leading to his attic room.
After arriving GREATNESS and wrath
full down the four flights Of stairs he
opened the street door with a bang
only to lind that the culprit had van
ished. He slammed the door shut
and returned skyward to find upon
reaching his own landing that the bell
was still ringing.
He clutched his hair in desperation
and sped down those four flights Of
stairs. There was no one at the door.
1t then sifted through Constable's fer
tile brain bra s that some one in t house
For a second he pondered as to
which was the course to pursue in
tracking the cu1prit. 1t did not for a
moment occur to him that some one
in the house was trying to attract
attention. Constable only thought OF
his own annoyance and the story that
must be completed before nightfall.
The old house in Gramercy Park
that had been converted into flats
might Oe HetWOTk Oh elctCIlC DellS
for all he knew, and his own room
was no doubt one that had been used
for servants. In that case his room
might be electrically connected with
every other one in the h 1usc. How
ever, he reckoned that the drawing
room floor was the most likely and
thfther he went to express his wrath
and demand an explanation.
He knocked loudly on the door. The
natter nf ffnV feet Pdad
periOus summons and a second later
he stood looking down At most an
gelic blue-eyed baby boy.
"Oh-I thought you were mamma, -
the childish voice cried with unfiatter-
ing regret, and Constable found his
wrath suddenly vanished before the
searching blue eyes Of the three-year-
old culprit. A quick glance into the
open room showed him an electric
button beside the great fireplace.
"a. .OAmerNmcb eta shrdlu mhmm
Are you all alone?" Constable asked
quickly. because he realized that he
was about to have the door shut with
out ceremony in his face.
Yeth-and I've been playing hotel"
the boy informed him with a flashing
smile. and Robert Constable smiled in
return. Most assuredly the small boy
had .rupg the bell to some purpose.
He supposed he must have seen his
elders pressing button in some hotel
and the act had left an impression
on the youthful mind. In any case, the
only thing to do now was to ask him
to cease playing hotel.
Constable would have put his
thoughts into words suitable for child
ish understanding had the boy not
made a dash toward some one who
had come softly up the stairs. That
some one was evidently his mother,
for she ola eno6 the little hr,rr cIo
in her arms.
Il hope my boy has not been both
ering any one
"Only playing hotel with an electric
bell that found its destined ringing
place in my ROOM" laughed Consta-
into his eyes. The boys mother was
carrying a small folding typewriter.
Was she. too, perchance, one of the
scribblers Of fate?
Unconsciously Harriette Grace an
swered his mental inquiry. st am so
sorry il Beppo has interrupted you
while inspiration was working. do
betide any one who breaks the magic
spell. I am often fearful lest he de-
mand that my typewritef be stIenced
while am taking his dlictatiOn,.'
Robert Constable realized that the
scene was over and that he was due
in his attic with the poor. gasping
heroine. He had left her in the throes
of agonized pleading with a hardened
villain
DO you ever type at homer. he
asked quickly. scheming to see more
OF her. He watched her cheeks flush
an her eyes brighten before she an
swered.
II win be only too glad to get more
work" she said eagerly. My salary
Il small and my bow il growing nm
/ must try to make ends meet more
easily" s.>as,
Il could turn a lot of copying your
way-if you will let me have your
name" Constable told her.
When he had taken her name he
turned reEretfully up the stairs but