The Topeka state journal., 1916-11-07
EVENING STORY

(By Louise O,iver.)


(By Louise Oliver.)
The club gave its annual Halloween |
party in the form of a black and white |
carnival. It was lucky for Jim Cool |
idge that this was SO far as it happen |
ed he was just in style.
Gladys Harkaway had dreadful |
time making up her mind what to
wear. changing from Pierette to a |
Columbine. to a witch, to a waiting
maid. to a Tangiers dancer, to a tob.
oggan girl, and winding up by decid-
ing on Night.
Nat Dilworth and Darwin Bent went
as King Coal and King Cotton. Tom
Morehead was the Black Hand, EN-
cry Hughes was the King Pluto, and
Jim himself was in the broad black
and white stripes of convict.
Nobody knew it was JIM But over
across the river the guards were pa
trolling the banks for Number 5911
had escaped and so far no trace of him
had been found. When Jim had
turned the boat adrift and run under
cover of the darkness up the bank
and across the tracks into the open
country, the unusual number of auto
mobiles on the road attracted him.
Then he remembered it was the night
of the club party. Why not join the
| revelers? He was en- costume and he
could easily improvise a SIX out of
| his handkerchief.
Things were ridiculously easy and
| he found himself in the center of the
old crowd he had known so well in
the past. OF course, he was not able
to distinguish his old friends. Friends?
/ How many had believed him when he
had protested his innocence: Evidence
was against him and Billings, the dis
trict attorney, had a way of making
| people believe black was white but
still he had grown up with them ALL
and he had rather expected sympathy
| Two IDEAS obsessed him; one was
Gladys Harkaway, because he loved
/ her, the other Emery Hughes, be-
cause on thinking things over, he de-
cfded that Hughes knew what had be-
| come of the missing securities and as
Hughes. too, was in love with Gladys
it had been an easy way to get him
, out of the way
He looked intently into each pair of
eyes peering thru their masks. Which
one of the hundred girls was Gladys?
Perhaps-he grew weak for a minute
/ perhaps she was married.
| I'D like to know what Gladys is
wearing" he said to a saucy little
black and white checkerboard girl i'll
the middle of waltz.
/ "Gladysl Gladys Harkawayi" she
exclaimed. Don't let on 1 told you,
but there she is with the wand and
star. She's Night"
| He breathed again. Then she was
MT married Thank heavensl
us Emery here do you suppose? ?"
he ventrred further
Emery? Oh. you mean Mr..
Hughes? Yes, he's dancing with
Night They say it's an awful case.
but do you know I don't think she
cares snap for him. But since he's
made so much money everybody says
she's an awful fool to let him Slip"
1t was nearly midnight and almost
time for unmasking. Jim watched his
chance to get Out tha
race he looked around uneasily. Per-
haps he had been traced If only they
would give him few more hoursi
Two people passed him and a page
opened the door of a cabriolet at the
steps. Jim gasped as he saw Pluto
hand Night into the car The door
slammed and the starter purred The
car was sliding away into the shadows
when Jim jumped and ran taking a
short cut across the grass and hurting
himself on the step as it passed
Jims hand was on the old pipe in
his pocket. He whipped it out In
the darkness it answered for his pur-
pose. Drive the car where 1 tell you
and keep your mouth shut" he COM
manded. Take the river road and
turn to the right at the forks"
Pluto swore, but did as he was told.
Once down the beech-lined drive he
swung into the river road. Night was
Z covering in a corner. Jim stood i'm
movable except for the 1urching of the
car, never changing the direction of
his weapon.
Now, Emery Hughes, get out and
show Miss Harkaway where you put
those securities. It's all as clear as day
to me now; pretended you were study
ing geology, didn't you, and showed
me specimens of rock when you
: thought I'd found you out. What a
Ounce I was until it was too late"
The other drew back. Jim gave him
a shove with his foot. Hurry up,"
: "Jim!" same Gladys voice family
"Jim Coolidge!' She had slipped off
her mask but the low moon scarcely
gave enough light for him to distin-
guish her features.
II want you too. Gladys. I'll need
z a witness No one takes my word any
more. 1 want you to see where this
robber has hidden his loot
There's nothing there" protested
: the other man.
How do you know"
"Be-because I sold them"
The pipe that looked so much like
a gun in the darkness had done its
work well.
2 -Ffnel" cried jim THE truth a,
last. Well just drive into town now
:. and tell that to Billings. I'm tired oi
! this uniforml"
Jim opened his eyes and sat up. The
= | warm October afternoon was waning
:. and a chill had come into the air He
, shivered as he picked up the pipe thai
+ had gone out and fallen from the
q swing.
4 '.Beastly dreami And yet I'm sorry
+ it's not true in a way, with the rnys
i. terry of the securities not cleared VI
2 yet and Gladys undecided whether she
will marry me-.
d The phone rang. It was Gladys.
: 'Jim. what have you been doins
|. this lovely Sunday afternoon. VIII,
: didn't you come over? Everybody.
been here discussing the party and