The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-12
The Evening Story
They Took the Cake.


(By Dorothy Blackmore)
| Hello, Is this. Mrs WAY? Mrs.
Way. of the Village Woman's Ex-
change?''
HortenSe Ingraham asked the oues-
ton over the telephone She had been
sent to the village to bring home a
cake that her mother had ordered
from the WOman'S Exchange and she
had reached the exchange too late to
get the cake. Therefore, she was try
ing to reach Mrs. Way, who had
charge of the selling that afternoon.
| Oh she went on, after some mo-
ments of conversation, land you think
1 can find it myself? Yes, L under
stand. I'll get the key next door. oh,
surely; goodbye" and Hortense hung
up the receiver.
| She ran to her mother. Mrs. Way
says l can get the key from the man
next door and go right in and get the
cake, which she left all wrapped up
for me. I'll jump in the car and
drive right down, mother. So long!"
But, after hanging up the receiver,
Mrs Way remembered that the man
next door had said something about
going to lodge and she became fearful
lest Hortense find it impossible to OBJ
tain the key in order to get into the
little house used as an exchange. She
called her nephew who was visiting
her and told him of her fears.
Suppose 1 go down and try to get
1t for the young woman" he said,
promptly. Truth to tell, he was glad
of an opportunity to find something to
liven his visit to his aunt.
That's good of you, Tom. Take my
key and go right in and turn on the
lights-the switch is in the kitchen
and this lights the whole house.
You'll be amused at the way in which
the electricity has been put in-its
all on this one switch. Then-when
Hortense comes she'll be able to find
you Mrs Way gave her nephew the
key and dismissed the worry about
the cake for Mrs. Ingraham from her
mind.
Meantime, HOrtenSe was on her way
to the house next door to get the key.
She found the neighbor in and he gave
her the key and even offered to go
to open the door.
ooh. 1 wouldn't hear of such a
thing. Mrs. Way told me just where
to look, so I won't bother you. Thank
you
The girl carefully fitted the key in
the lock of the door and entered the
dark place, not without some misgiv
ings. The light from the street lamp
gave her some idea of where she was
going.
who goes there? ' said mans
voice from within. 49,.
Hortense was petrified with fear
and the door banged behind her.
Who is it ?" repeated the voice.
Tits L." said Hortense il1uminat-
ingly. Il have come for my cake"
And I've come to light up the
place for you and can't find the
SWITCH" said the man.
'W-who are your" asked Hortense
still glued to the same spot and
trembling like a leaf.
I'm Tom Garfield, Mrs. Ways
nephew from Cincinnati. Wait-ah!
L have it. Presto!" He had found the
switch and the place had become sud-
denly lighted.
Hortense looked at Tom and Tom
looked at Hortense.
It's funny enough for movie
the man said.
yves laughed Hortense.
You're frightened poor girl - Tom
began. But you see my aunt became
worried about your not being able to
get the key from next door 50 she
come down here to have the place
open for you. And-there's your cake,
1 guess
Hortense was beginning to feel at
ease and she was also beginning to
realize that the man whose voice had
so frightened her in the dark was very
good looking in the light.
"Yes-that's it. And won't you let
the runabout and you came here on
my account, SO do let me take you.''
81 should say 1 would" acquesced
Tom.
And as he sat beside. the girl he
began to think that the visit to his
aunt was going to prove more inter-
esting than it had promised.
Il was frightened perfectly stiff
when you roared~ out, Who's there ?'-''
Hortense told him, as they sped over
the pavements.
II was a, brute,'' Tom admitted
+ Not at all. How could you know
it was I?' t5-
How indeed?'' And you were bully
not to faint. and give me fright in
turn, do you know that?'
'Hortense laughed merrily. Faint,
n !, Gil trio
life. Out here in this seaside village
as perhaps you know" she said.
And with that entering wedge of
banter, Tom Immediately became on
friendly terms with the girl and went
so far as to ask himself to cali on her
with his aunt on the following day to
help eat the cake, "Over which it was
all about" he said
'TH save you a piece, anyway"
Hortense said. And if Mrs. Way likes
she may bring you"
iii see that she does like" Tom re-
piled. And you, in turn, may ask
your mother to see, if she likes, what
you got at the Woman's Exchange be-
sides a cake? Will your
And even now Mrs. Ingraham tells
her friends that she got her son-in-
law from the Woman's Exchange. II
got him with chocolate cake, just as
they give trading stamps with GER
tain articles in department Shops"
she says.-(Copyright, 1915, by the |
Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.)
Perfumes Aid Travellers.