The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-11
The Euenine Story
Red Top.
(By Keith Kenyon.


One of the beIlhops nicknamed her
that the first day she came on duty at
the st. Dimitri switchboard. The mere
occupancy of the seat at that switch
board had been tantamount to an en-
gagement. Four of the previous girls
had married inside of as many
months, and the hotter policy was to be
changed. The telephone operator was
not to be attractive. In fact, she must
maintain her stand vigilantly and ag-
gresSively against all corners.
Even the belIhops and their captain
looked her over cautiously She was
not a city girl. Andy. bravest of all,
stroIled over about nine, and leaned
tentatively on the top of the desk with
his most friendly smile.
How does the scenery strike you,
Bessie?" he asked.
mot half as strongly as something
will strike you If you call me Bessie
again." she retorted calmly. Just
lonely and if 1 am I'll call my own
numbers, thank you
She tucked a couple of large shell
pins into her side braids and looked
past Andy's head absently.
The Colonel expressed himself as
delighted over her a1oofness. Even
to the Colonel she was aloof, and he
was owner of the st. Dimitri. She
gazed past his handsome head quite as
nonchalantly as she had past Andy's.
Sn0 answered. Calls COuIlSOuS1y anu
promptly. but there were no admirers
around her desk, nor did they finger
near. Any inclination that way was
always Immediately crushed by her
manner.
Cad, SIR" said the Colonel happily,
as he fingered over mis- after-dinner
cigar with the proprietor, Haswell,
Cad, sir, / rather think she's stay.
Fine girl, Haswell, too good for the
position. Beautiful hair. Perfect pro-
Wander che isn't Tn0hhad hrlf it's
the manner that holds them off. She
squelches a man with one look. What's
her name?"
Ruth HOLSTER, SIR
HOLSTER, HOLSTER? Massa-
chusetts? Used to be Senator HOLSTER
at Washington from Massachusetts
when I was in the house. Fine chap.
Cad, sir, 1 remember when that navy
bill came up after the
Japanese trouble"
The Colonel ramb1ed off luxuriously,
leaning far back in his deep leather
chair and rocking one foot. But when
his cigar burned out he sauntered
down the long marble corridor to the
very best Georgia manner.
Il beg pardon, I'm sure, Miss Hol-
lister. I'm Colonel Congreve. I'm
wondering if you could possibly be of
the same family as my old friend, SEN
ator Hol1iSter of Massachusetts
81 don't think so, Colonel Congreve,"
came back clearly, even crisply. ct
am from out west, near Omaha. We
have no senators in our family yet.
We're just first settlers
"Omaha7 God bless my heart"
the colonel. How did you
ever get so far from homer
Something perhaps in his voice,
maybe in his face, made |
her look up at him with her big dark
eyes, and she answered deliberately: |
at was one of ten hundred thousand |
girls who imagine they can sing for !
grand opera in New York. I got tired |
living on hopes and air, so 1 learned |
his
That night the colonel sat up on the |
roof garden, quite alone, long after |
he crowd had gone. Just why one |
girls face should suddenly fill his |
world, he could not see. AT 55 one be-
comes self-analytical, almost mistrust-
ng any thrill of romance, and the col
0nel was wary. Yet all he had to do
vas to close his eyes and there rose
before him the face of Ruth Hollister.
Gray eyes full of truth and sanity, no
Irritation there, no invitation, just
ruth and sanity. And courage-that
vas what struck him in her face, the
'weet, fine, high courage of it, as of
one who leads a charge in a great
;ause- Redtop, HasweI had said the
boys called her. Glorious hair she
lad, rich in tone as a ripe chestnut
waving in loose, soft folds around her
mall head. Cad, she was plucky
wondered how he could help her. And
he next day Haswe1l was told to pro-
note Miss HOLSTER to the business