The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-01
The EDening Story
A Fool and an Angel.
(By Izola Forester. }


main point was that he swallowed it,
hook and line.
Eaton. have you seen IT," Billie
called at his door about 9.
seen what" He raised his head
from the engineering plans on the
table under the leaky student lamp.
''Airship. Seems to be making for
the Long Island shore, crossing from
Jersey. If you hurry you can get
look"
Eaton hurried. He was in the sec
ond floor back room. 1t took about
minute and a half for him to reach
the roof, and then as he stood alone.
gazing hopefully up at the star dotted
heavens, he heard the sliding of the
roof door ever its ladder, the locking
and Billies cheerful challenge:
Happy dreams. April fool!
Even then there was nothing tragic
ridiculous, and no one cares to be
made ridiculous even in ones own
eyes. Eaton walked about the roof
rather philosophically before the nov
city of roofs began to interest him.
Their house was one of a long row
of tall brownstone dwellings in the
West Fifties, near Sixth avenue, New
York city. They were old fashioned
enough. Hence the ladder cnd trap
door entrance. They all appeared 10
stood on the third from the end OF the
row, after which came space ne
could not tell how wide, and higher
roof on the corner building ana
even as he watched he saw a nan
emerge from the small cabin-like ex't,
run to the edge of the roof and take
the jump to the next one.
Almost Immediately there followed
a shot and Eaton stepped, with naturdl
caution, behind a group OF tail cnim-
ney-pots The man had hidden behind
a neighboring group, and as a ponce
man came in sight on the first roof
he shot at him, turned ana ran 81
rectly toward Eatons shelter: AS ne
dropped behind IL, ne sdlo huShAiS WV
his shoulder: 11o,o >,
Beat it, kid, can hold MIN. here
He handed over something wrapped
clurnsily in a handkerchief, Didch
silk one. And even as he did SO, there
came another shot, and he rolled over
on the graveled roof and lay quite SIN
The policeman was calling out some
thing to him, Eaton knew. He seeIleu
to want him to come nearer 11ali Iss'
voung. thoroughly confident he step
ned over the brick dividing sections
and came to the space between. II
was too wide to leap unless one We're
running for life like the man VINO lay
behind the red chimney-pots-
u live in 1907 said Eaton Ihey We
locked me out for joke
And then the most peculiar thlng
banDened. Out of the trapdoor from
No 1854 there eXuded men, another po-
Hceman and some PLAIN CLONES men
and they seized Thomas W. EATON
without anv warning or apology, TOOK
the untidy handkerchief bundle out OIL
his grasp and hustled him doWhStairS
past shrinking, shadowy forms ano
down into the street he hearu one VI
them say disgustedly that his pal hao
heen taking When they went after mas
body it had gone from behind the req
chimnevpots Vaguely sensing a grow
ing personal Indignation, Eaton was
glad he had made getaway he Kept
repeating firmly:
can ask any one living there who L
am
you're Slimsy Louis all right the
man who held his arm retorted so
positively that Eaton felt that until ne
had confederation, it was useless TO
argue the point. Then he found him
self being pushed up the steps at the
corner house, up the elevator TO the
fourth floor and then into splendldly
furnished apartment, racing the po-
Hceman who had fired the two shots
and the loveliest girl Eaton had ever
laid eyes on. All in pink negligee she
was with her long, dark hair I'M
bound, and her eyes wide with horror
at her experience With her hands
pressed to her face she looked at
Eaton, but shook her head:
He wasn't here. 1t was short,
dark man with mustach
This one had the jewels in his
hand when we got him. they told her.
Eaton saw the handkerchief opened
and inside was a glittering handful of
diamonds and other GINS, set in rings
and trinkets. One necklace, he noticed
was of pearls. The girl glanced at
them and nodded her head.
They're all there, but this is not
the other man.
Then there were three of them"
began a policeman.
81 am Thomas w. Eaton" began the
prisoner again, with a certain quiet
dignity and firmness he always used in
emergencies Il live at 100"
What were you doing on that roof,
then?"
Il went up to look at an airship"
He paused at the laugh of de-
rision from the men, and only looked
at the girl herself, explaining to her
lust how it was. "And it was just an
April fool joke. The boys over at 160
slammed the trapdoor shut and locked
me out. 1 heard a shot, and stepped
behind the chimney. A man leaped
from this roof to the row, and made
for my shelter. He evidently mistook
me for his confederate, and handed
me the bundle
The nearest policeman patted his
shoulder.
Louis. you're improving" he said
pleasantly. You can tell that all to
the Judge. Come on"
ooh wait, please, just a minute"
the girl. Il really do think 1 have
seen him around here quite often. I'm
going to telephone 1907
So she remembered him. Eaton
felt a curious thrill of keen interest
He had seen her at different times in
the neighborhood, in the drug store at
the corner of Sixth avenue, at the ele-
waited station three blocks down. in the
florists where the art students bought
spring blossoms for their window stills
He had seen her, and had connected
her in his mind with wealth and the
magic circle of social security.
She was telephoning to $50. He
could imagine the f1ustered state of
Mrs. Rawlinson. his 1andlady, when
she heard her most exemplary board
er stood in danger of prison cell
But, no, the girl was only asking if