The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-20
EVENING STORY
AIS We'll That Ends Well.
(By Holiday Gray.)


| self into a chair.
Hello, grandded,"
"Good morning. quavered a high, |
thin old voice from window whore
the 1aorning sun was streaming in.
.sHow are you this morning, sir?''
Rotten answered Denny
promptly.
What time was it,, or 4
Io'clock-when you went to bed?'
asked the old man with fine sarcasm.
Five said Denny, going him one
better.
THAT is precisely the hour I turned
out. at your age. May l ask what you
were doing?'
Usual thing-show, cabaret and
club
HIM! What do you see in it,"
Not thing
why don't you get married.
Denny spread his hands. What on
haven't ? cents
Why don't you go to work, then,
pick out a nice girl and settle down.
Denny, springing up and pacing the
floor, hands in pockets. And that
is just what 1 came to talk to you
about. 1 want to work, but the edu-
cation you have given me doesn't
seem to count much. You won't be-
lieve it, but I've been trying different
places for month and when they ask
What can you do?' 1 answer. Any
thing Then you're too competent
they say. What we want is a man
who can do one thing and do it
right
II believe you're right, boy The
old man closed his book and tapped
it thoughtfully I've been thinking
lately that it was time we were doing
something about your future. OF
course you know that some day you'll
have all I've got. But 1 hope to be
here for some time to come and in
the meantime-show, cabaret. club
I'll see how much you mean what you
say You see that set of Shakespeare
bought last year? Well, I've decid-
ed that it's older and more valuable
than l at first supposed. There's no
record of it that 1 can find, but if
you can find out the date and history
of the edition I'll give you the start in
life you need.
Its a go, sir.
That night he went to see Mary
Page
MARY, I've never before been in a
position to tell you, but L believe see
daylight ahead 1 love you, dear lit
tie. girl. If 1 succeed will you marry
me?"
only waiting to be asked, Denny"
she replied promptly.
After a season of rapturous silence,
Denny explained. Grandfather has
dyed-in-the-wool bibliomaniac. Last
year. he bought rare old edition of
Shakespeare. but there was no record
of it to be had. RosencranZ, the man
he got it from. is dead, and no one
knows where Rosencranz got it. I'm to
hunt up the history of the thing and
after that granddad will start me in
business. That means you. Mary. It's
worth working for. isn't it dear?"
Mary was thoughtful. Haven't you
anything to go by?"
NO. 1t may mean a trip to England,
but I'll do what I can here first. Ros
encranz's successor has an idea the
set may have come from Massachu-
sets. If 1 can trace the former owner
1 may be able to get a record of the
books"
Il wish 1 could help you.'
You are helping me by just being
your sweet little SELF
Then started a period of study and
investigation for Denny which meant
more application, hard work and self
denial than he had ever before under
taken in his gay young life. He haunt
ed book shops and collections libraries
and publishers to get some clue that
would lead to the discovery of the his
tory of the books. He studied bind
ing and processes. modern illustrating
and old Examinations. But this side
of the Atlantic yielded no Informal
mined to cross the water in spite of
German submarines. to pursue his in
designations in England.
Then Mary. who had taken a keen
interest in his efforts and had fol-
lowed every move he had made, de-
cided to do something. There was
something she had known about the
books all along that she had not told
Denny; And; going to her trunk one
day she took out a paper, yellow,
creased and brittle with age.
That night, knowing Denny was
away, she went to the great house
facing the park. There were lights
in the lower windows and she knew
the old man had not yet gone to bed.
But instead of ringing the bell she
tried the front door softly. 1t gave
to her touch and opened without
sound. She slipped through the soft
carpeted, high-ceiled hall into the
library, keeping close, to the velvet
curtain. As she had hoped. the old
man was asleep by the fire. Tiptoe-
ing to the case that held the precious
old books she searched until she found
one volume with a much-wcrn back |
Under the discolored calfskin she
Slapped the paper she had taken from |
her trunk and then. replacing the
book on the shelf. she quietly closed |
the door
when old Rosencranz would give
me only two hundred dollars for the !
set. l am glad now 1 didn't find the /
pa per until after he sold them. |
Father always said they were worth /
ten thousand dollars. they were in /
the collection Of Queen Elizabeth But |
they have served their purpose and !
am satisfied
The next morning, Mary asked in
.locently: Denny. why don't you
search the books thoroughly? Some /
tires old books have things slowed I
away in them We never dream Of"
Il have looked.'' declared Denny /
] '.but before go abroad I'll make sure i
You may be right. Mary
And then came the wonderful dis |
| covery. DenEy called her on the |
| phone. Mary. I've found the paper |
You were right. 1t was under the !