The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-26

hours away from the scene Of his days
work. He merely slept at Mrs.
Wicks's, all his belongings. save few
toilet necessities and some clothing,
were in his snug cabin aboard the
Pennyroyal. Now he changed into a
gray suit and went out to a restaurant
for his dinner. Afterward. went to the
theater and returned home at Ii
AS he lighted the gas in his room
he once more shifted the cir suspi-
ciously.
''Humph!" he frowned. looking
around. Smells like violets. I Won
der If any inquisitive housemaid has
been poking around among my poor
belongings-well. I'll be blessed!''
! He stared down at a pair of dimin-
with frivolous pink pompons on each
toe. They were under his bed-his
bed!
Tossing his hat and stick down on
the table, he gathered up the slippers
and put them into his pocket. Softly
he tfptoed downstairs to the basement,
where he knew he would find Mrs.
! Wicks wide awake absorbed in a nov
| el or weekly story paper; 1t was her
sole dissipation.
he met the pretty girl he had saved
from fall the previous day. She was
coming up and he hastily stood aside
to let her pass. There was a flash
she simply inclined her head and
passed on.
Slowly enough, Captain Drew went
down the remainder of the way. He
was thinking of the girl. She was un-
usually attractive. he thought He
really didn't care much for girls, but
this one He tapped at the door of
the basement sitting room.
Come in yawned Mrs. Wicks.
"Oh. it's you. Capt. Drew" she gasped
hone
right"
He took out the frivolous slippers
and held them for her inspection, but
sound at the door had sent her
scared glance over his shoulder.
IT found these slippers under my
bed" he doomed in his big voice.
What were they doing there, Mrs.
WickS 2"
Mrs. Wicks." followed crisp voice
at the door. II found mans coat and
stick in my room"
Timothy Drew whirled around at
the sound of the voice. 1t was the girl
he had met on the stairs. She was
looking puzzled now. Her glance
caught the slippers in his hands.
why, those are my slippers she
said in a surprised tone.
"And that's my hat and stick" he
retorted.
IT found them in my ROOM" said
the girl.
at found the slippers under my
bed" he declared. With one accord |
they faced the wretched Mrs. Wicks. |
She was bowed in despairing grief |
over the discovery of her double deal |
ing. She sobbed a sad story-a con- |
ventional sale of woe, interspersed |
with information concerning gas bills |
and coal bills and vacant large rooms
and overfull small rooms, and finally |
confessed she had yielded to the |
of renting the same room
to two 1odgers-one day ledger and
the other a night tenant. She de-
clared that she had wrecked her ner-
VOWS system trying 10 prevent q meet
ing between these two. She told how
she had bundled Capt. Drew's belong
ingS out in time to make place for
Miss Moore's pretty things when that
sleepy young woman should come up
the stairs at half past and vice.
versa.
she mourned at last
Timothy Drew's blue eyes twinkled
with mirth. Hester Moore's eyes
dubbed over with CLEO at the funny
situation
sort of a Box and Cox affair.""
grinned Capt. Drew at last.
"I never heard of them gentlemen"
averred Mrs. Wicks, dolefully.
well. Mrs. Wicl5s, I think you'll
have to put Miss Moore In your best
suite tonight, and tomorrow we'll talk
matters over" And to Mrs. Wicl5s
delight It was settled thus,
Ever afterward Mrs. Wtcks re-
ferred to 1t as a "jinuine' romance.
for It ended IN the wedding of the
bluff young captain and the pretty
telegraph operator Copyright,