The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-23
The Euenine Story

(By Earl Reed silvers.)

older brother, who, in the manner
which older brothers have. nodded
briefly:
"wherere you going?
ITO Edythe's."
You're engaged, aren't your"
Yes. but it isn't announced
''Whatll she say about your trip
to Westfield? %
Nothing. What can she say?"
Lots. How long were you up
there?''
1.-TWO weeks"
''You lived in the same house with
Mildred Merritt, didn't your
Yes
And you saw her about IL hours
out of the "a, didn't your
Not IL. Fifteen"
And if 1 remember rightly, you
thought quite lot of her?''
Yes, once. But that was before I
met Edythe."
What does Edythe think about it %
''She gets sore whenever 1 mention
Mildred's name.
The older brother stretched Ian
guidly.
one who knows. Of course, you
went up to Westfield on a business
trip. but nevertheless, Edythe doesn't
! like the idea of your having been so
much with the other girl. She's go
| ing to ask you to give an account of
pany, and if you make one break
| you're a goner. And whatever you
do. don't forget where you are and
call Edythe Mildred. If you do you'll
have sulky girl on your hands for
the rest of the evening"
| ooh, that's all right. 1 believe in
| preparedness"
Whats that got to do with it?"
! Lots
jim patted his wallet and departed.
! IL tel L.
changing his Underneath the Stars
to a shrill imitation of a bugle call as
soon as he came within sight of
| Edythe's home.
The girl met him at the door.
| ''JimI" she said softly.
AS no>one was in sight, he awaited
himself of the usual prerogative of
engaged couples.
You lock great" he announced
enthusiastically. Where did you get
| that pink dress ?''
Il had it made when you were away.
Do you like it %
''Um-m. You look like a cream
puff
Il don't know whether that's a
compliment or not. Tell me again
what l look like
You look like the cutest girl in the
world"
She smiled and led him to the big
leather sofa.
Now, tell me about your trip"
What do you want to know"
Everything
well, 1 tried to get old Smith to
sell those B. and H bonds for ten
whole days, but he got stubborn and
wouldn't do a thing. What do you
think made him surrender" ~
| Il don't know. What?" 9s
II told him that 1 was terribly in
love with a girl down here in Glen
| wood and that If he didn't sell out and
let me get back to her I'd die of loneli-
ness, and then he wouldn't ever be
| able to sell the blamed things
| You didn't. Now tell me the truth. :"
L got permission on the phone to
raise the price two thousand dollars,
and he grabbed it before 1 had the
chance to tell him why he shouldn't
Then the trip was a success ?"
Sure. / made three hundred dol
lars on it. That means a new dining
room suite"
Foolish. But what did you do all
the rest of the time? '
"Oh, just hung around"
.How?''
We'll. went skating quite lot"
who with ?''
You ought to say with whom"
oh 1 don't care. Who did you go
skating with %
''Why-er-there was quite a bunch
of young people around. We all went
together"
who did you skate with ?''
well, I'm not a very good skater
so just plowed along by myself and
thought about you"
You haven't answered my question
Did you skate with her?"
Who's her?"
stop fooling. You know"
How should I know? There were
lots. of girls up there"
Did you skate with Mildred Mer.
ritz
Let me see. think perhaps did
How many times?"
'Oh. don't know. Once or twice ;
only once or twice."
81 didn't count. OF course, 1 had tt
skate with her sometimes. We lived
in the same house"
Yes, and you saw her every night
didn't you ?''
Not every night
How many?'
'Edythe, dear, let's don't talk abou
that. I'd rather hear what you were
doing"
, She stamped her foot.
Tell me-
, Every night but one"
"Oh!' She became trifle formal
How did you happen to miss tina
night ?''
y was up at old man Smiths
81 couldn't help it, Edythe. Their
wasn't anything else to do. We wer,
right there in the same house."
$ But did you tell her you are en-
2 gagged to me?''
, NO. we agreed not to tell anyone
didn't we ?''
IT think in this case we might hay
stretched a point I suppose you toll
her she was cute, too?''
Jim's answer was mistake.
= 81 don't think I told her. But sh
was cute, though"
Edythe arose.
obi Do you want to go to tn
!, movies?'' she asked.
a What? And this the first time I'v
|. seen you in two weeks
8 You don't seem to care much. Eve
: since you've been here, you've beef
> talking about another girl
= We'll, what do you know abou
t. that? You asked me about her?"
Yes, but you didn't need to sa.