The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-14
EVENING STORY



which they came in contact. gave 1t
a jerk off the rack that very nearly |
loosened the thing, but as it Travelled |
from its resting place on the smooth |
glass bar toward Jimmy's newly laun- |
dered head. the towel caught on a |
faucet of the bath tub and that, had |
Jimmy known it, settled his fate for |
ever for his Aunt Brewster had given !
him the towel and Aunt Brewster
was his chief hope for the future.
Damn iti" said Jimmy, giving it |
jerk, but the thing chung to the spigot |
with fiendish tenacity and all of Jim |
myS swear words could not loosen 1t.
Then he pulled with both hands and
a desperation born of smarting eyes
calculated to pull out the plumbing.
Suddenly the towel, or rather the lace
on the towel, let go and Jimmy didn't.
Out he went over the end of the tub
a clean smooth shot like a golf ball
spooned out of a bunker, and he lit
on the hard tiled floor.
Things were quiet enough for
minute but when the fi1sworks il
Jimmy's head had subsidized and he
had cautiously tested every bone for
breaks he swore again. You blank
ETY. blank fool thing, you, with your
silly blue roses and lace. Get out of
herei" And without any apologies to
the donor he hurled the cause of his
troubles thru the window and reached
for another towel of sober white that
lacked even an initial to adorn its SAN
itary ends.
Wen leave Jimmy to dry and dress
and rub his bruises, and follow the
towel out of the bath room window
on the sixth floor of the apartment
hotel. It floated Internationally
floated, either, for it was as wide and
heavy as rug-but it arrived at any
rate at a certain point in the street
over which a roadster was passing at
the instant, and having a penchant for
catching on things it caught on but
ton of the cars top, and spread itself
out luxuriously for a ride thru the
! city.
All unconsciously beneath her gay
| canopy of lace and blue roses sat
| Eileen Brannon turning the wheel this
way and that among the crowding
vehicles of Fifth avenue. She saw
| people stare, laugh and point, but
there was nothing wrong that she
could see. But in front of anna
| Katherine's Shop" she stopped to in
lvestigate. What was attracting such
| attention? And then she saw the tow
ell spread shamelessly over her natty
little car. For goodness sake, where
did that old thing come from?" she
cried, and as if to echo her words a
voice behind her inquired: =
Where did you get that towel so blue?
| Out of the sky as you came thru
She turned quickly "Oh, Charley,
isn't it the limit! Where do you sup
\ pose it came from? Get it down, will
you, and I'll take it into Anna Kath-
arine. These things are in her line
and maybe she'll know something
about it"
But Anna Katharine didn't except
that there were weeks of work on the
lace. THE towel is new" she de-
clared, never been used"
Then keep it, offered Eileen.
| Maybe some nice old lady will buy it
| for her college grandson
| In the meantime more things were
| happening to Jimmy.
Evidently he had got out of the
wrong side of the bed. The postman
| brought some letters and there was
one from Aunt Brewster I'm start
ing for Florida she wrote, land I'm
| stopping to see you for a day en- route.
I forgot to take off the pattern of the
lace on that towel 1 gave you for your
4 birthday. The Duchess of Roxshire
started it for me when 1 was in Eng
land four years ago and 1 want to
4 make some more. Besides there's
something else I want TO see you about
that | can't explain here Until Fri
/ day then. Affectionately, Aunt B."
/ For the love of Peter Jones!"
groaned Jimmy. Can you beat it
Where in this nickel-plated town do
you suppose that towel is? Watkins,
i spread around three or four of Aunt
| Brewster's photographs, and dig up
that balsam pillow and those bedroom
slippers she made me. Then go down
to the street and see if you can see
anything of a towel-the fool thing
you hung in the bathroom this morn
ing with roses and lace on it. 1t
dropped out and I'd hate to have the
old lady miss it. She's coming to see
US, Watkins. Well have to sit tight"
Yes, sir. Thank you, sir" and
Watkins departed.
Then some one rang the bell. 1t
was Charley Blogett, he of the titulAt-
ing rhyme.
Hello. Charley. come in. I just
need tonic like you after a bally hoo
day. Aunt BrewSter'S coming and as
she carries my prospects around in
her bank book we'll have to concoct
some way to amuse her. Proceed,
Charlesi'
} Charles gave up his hat and stick
and lit a cigarette. Poor Jimmy!
Well, I've got story saved up for
her that ought to help some" And he
told of Eileen and the towel.
Did it have lace on each end and
blue roses" shouted Jimmy.
J TT had" acknowledged Charley
Mine. by Jingoes, Where did you
say it is?"
AT a fancy-work shop on Fifth
avenue Come along and I'll show you
: the place. If you get your towel back
safe and sound I think it's up to you
to divvy when Aunt Brewster cashes
: in
: ''Tn do the proper thing. old boy,
) don't you worry about that
But when they reached the shop
: and inquired for the bath towel with
; blue roses they were told that it
had just been sold,
Z Heavens" cried Jimmy in dismay.
who bought it?''
But the girl didn't remember. A
lady. she thought.
} We'll get Eileen suggest ed
Charlie Maybe she can do some
thing. Women can always think of
, a way"
So they took a taxi and went to her
, house. She had just come in and was
= still dressed for the street. Charley
! started an introduction, but to his sur
prise the two were shaking hands.
5 You're Jimmy Young, aren't you %