The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-06

fresh from the printers, and two new
steamer rugs-in short, his entire out
fit outside of provisions and arms. He
though perhaps he had left them in
the station taxi, but trip of his man
to the station and his own recollection
of having lifted the bundle from the
taxi convinced him this was not the
case. Perhaps his man had taken the
things indoors for safekeeping; but on
inquiry and patient searching he
found this was not so.
After passing a half hour in doubt,
he suddenly recalled Molly Bergen
taking a package left on the veranda.
That cleared the matter. He would
telephone to the Bergens at once OF
course they would have seen the mis-
take. 1t would be easy to explain
But no one was home but the cook. +
Sure huff Miss Bergen and Miss
Molly done gone to the scrubbage
sale. Yassar, been gone all afternoon
No, sir, there's no telephone there.
It's at the old hay barn on the Smith
place and the Smith place done
burned down, so there's no telephone
there neither"
getting ready to start out in person to
the hay barn of the Smith farm.
wherever that might be, when the
phone rang at his side. 1t was Mrs.
Bergen's sweetest voice.
ct Just took a chance at finding you
home I thought maybe it would be
cold for you to start out this after
noon. 1 must thank you. Such beaut1-
full things 1 never saw. Why, it was
only about ten minutes before they
were all sold And such high prices.
too! We actually got twenty dollars
for that coat" Tom had paid eighty
for it a week before land the books
my daughter was glad to buy. One
would hardly know they had been
read" AS a matter of fact the leaves
had not even been cut. "And the rugs
and the blankets and everything were
simply splendid. 1 never can thank
you enough for being so interested in
our old peoples home. They really
made my little offerings look quite
shabby. 1 had managed to get to-
gether some interesting antiques my
self that sold pretty well, but not so
well your things And, Mr.. Stan
ley, if you care to we should be de-
lighted to have you come to call. You
are all alone. Perhaps you would
share our simple family dinner with
US.
'Tn send down the car for you at
once. No, 1 promise 1 won't have
thing done for you except to have an
extra place laid. And I'll tell you that
our waitress has gone and we have
only a cook, so you know how simply
we shall dine" She didn't add that
there had never been a waitress in
the Bergen household and probably
newer WOu1Q Oc
No sooner had she put down the
telephone receiver than she rushed to
the kitchen, her excited daughter who
had been listening to the conversation
following her. "Olive, for pity sake,
she said, addressing the cook, "open a
large can of bouillon and some olives.
And if you have time make the butter
into balls and get out that bottle of
port that the grocer sent by accident
with the last order. And, Molly, hurry
and get out the best china and lay an
extra place at the table and get down
the candlesticks and-and when your
father comes in whisper to him that
he is to make no comments. Tell him
not to put his foot in it the way he
did the last time we used the candles
by asking if the electricity had been
wear that cap I bought for you the
time the minister dined with US.
Molly, you'll have to take the car
around for Mr.. Stanley. You might
make some remark about the cnauf-
feur being in or his day off or some
thing if you think it would look bet
ter. Slip into your little blue null
before you go III wear my black
DIRE. Really, those Stan1eys must
have a great deal of money to be able
to discard such perfectly splendid
things. And he seemed so delighted
when I told him that they had sold
well. I am sure he has a very kind
heart Molly. he is really interested
in you already, for he seemed fairly
to jump at the invitation to dinner I
wonder why he didn't go hunting. 1t
right, 1916, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
Editor.-This is a splendid piece of work