The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-28
EVENING STORY
When the Elevator Stuck.
(By J. K. Ward.)

Mr.. Frank E. Clark was introduced
to Miss May Orr at a gathering at the
house of mutual friends, and so the
introduction was eminently proper.
Mr.. Clark was 20 years old and
held an official position in the electric
light company of the town. Miss May
was two years younger, and was a
daughter of a well-to-do contractor.
The two young people appeared to
take a liking to each other at first
sight, and, when the evening was over,
Mr.. Clark was made happy by receiv-
ing permission TO call at her fathers
house. He availed himself of the
privilege and in the course of the
next three months he had become a
steady caller. There was no engage
ment yet, but the father and mother
like him and showed their liking, and
he considered the battle as won.
How little we know what the flu
ture has in store for usi One morn
ing Mr.. Clark woke up, whistling
tune and feeling happy, but as he
glanced at the morning paper, before
going down to his office, he felt his
hair trying to climb on end. There
Frank E. Clark, the gist of which
read:
"a young man named Frank Z.
Clark got drunk and terrorized part or
the Fourth ward last night, and was
not arrested until the police had made
free use of their clubs. He first APP
peared at the corner of Welcome and
Duane streets, and there he smashed
in a pane of plate glass and began
whooping and yelling like Sioux In
dian. Among the other things he did,
was to pick up an old woman and
throw her into an auto. Then ne
rolled several barrels of kerosene INTO
the middle of the street He smashed
into other windows, caused horse 10
run away and was carrying under ms
arm an automaton, which he had
picked up in front of a dressmakers
show, when the police descended upon
him. Being crazy drunk, ne was az
for fighting and crowd OF at IeaSe
1 900 persons collected.
About the time Mr.. Clark was read
ing this and gasping for breath, MI
Orr the contractor was also reaulns
ifeand feeling various feelings. When
he had finished his reading he called
to his daughter May and put the paper
into her hands. When she had also
read the article he sneeringly ex-
claimed:
Mice sort of a young man to come
into our family"
at can't be true.' gasped Miss May.
''why is it in the paper, them" was
demanded mo newspaper would
dare to publish anything like that un-
less it was true. Your Mr.. Clark is
likely what We call a periodical drunk
ard. He goes just so long and then
breaks out 1 want no more of him
around this houset"
mo one wants any more of him
around!' was the indignant reply. lie
may call and try to explain. but no
! explanations will be accepted. 1 am
glad I found him out before it wa< too
late''
Young Mr.. Clark was sure that the
newspaper would fall into the hands
of the girl he loved, and it was a long
day for him. He meant to call that
oyrn nd
been done and make full explanations.
There might be some little trouble at
| the outset but he could smooth it all
| away in five minutes and all would be
merry again. He was at the contrac-
! tors house half an hour before the
usual time, and his ring at the door
was answered by Miss Mays father
| himself. The old man was looking very
grim, and was all prepared to say:
What the devil brings you here,
young man? 1 should think you would
be ashamed to show your face among
| decent peoplel You will never enter
this house again.
you saw-saw the article"
Eyes, we all saw the article in the
paper. and were sorry the police didn't
were about it. Get right off these
J steps before 1 apply the boot to youi"
Mr.. Clark not only got off the steps,
but off the entire premises He could
|
there, but he rather lost his presence
of mind with the shadow of the con-
tractors number ten shoe hanging
over him. He went away to write IL
letter to Miss May, which he sent by a.
messenger boy; but it was returned
unopened. He lost considerable time
seeking to meet the girl in the street
but they did not meet He wrote
more notes but, like a lost cat, they
came back home. Two weeks passed
weeks of almost mortal agony to
the young man. Then Providence
gave him his chance. He had bug
mess on one of the floors of a sky
scraper. Miss May Orr had business
on one of the floors of that same
building. He followed her into an
! elevator. waiting to ascend, and Meth
| er recognized the other until the cage
had traversed a distance of three
floors AID a half. There it suddenly
| stopped. The boy who was running,
it called out: Gosh, hang it all, we
are stucki"
There was no disputing the fact. He
pulled on the rope and the cage did
! not move. He sighed and looked
helpless, but that did not mend mat
tiers. 1t was then that Miss May and
| Mr.. Clark recognized each other They
| both gave a sudden start and the girl
turned her back on the young man.
He was young man to seize golden
opportunities This was one and he
seized it.
Miss Orr, you are doing me a great
injustice" he began, and it did NOT
encourage him when she replied:
Il will not hear a single word from
your
MY name" he continued, SIS Frank
E. Clark There happens to be no less
than five Frank E Clarks in the city
directory. l have had the thing looked
lup and it was Frank E. Clark, the
blacksmith, who raised that disgrace
full row. The paper that published
the affair is to make an apology to-
morrow 1 was never drunk in my