The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-23
EVENING STORY
First Assignments
(BY Jane Osborn.


First Assignments.
(By Jane Osborn.)
4. If librarians of the central public
library ever have time to wonder at
the choice of the books made by the
men and women who haunt the read
ing rooms they might have well done
SO the day that Cecile Dayton called
for at least a dozen reference books
on football. For there Was nothing
about Cecile, from the tip OF her high
heeled pump to the feather that
dropped caressingly at one side OF nee
hat, to indicate that she ever could
master the rules of that game. But
she actually had stood before the
drawer of the card catalogue marked
Food to Forceps" for minutes at
time searching out such books as
How to Train for Football" and
numerous special articles that deal
with the technicalities of the great
college game.
But even more would a librarian in
an inQuiring frame of mind-did Ii
brarians ever amuse themselves with
such diversions-wonder at the selec-
ton of books chosen by the six-foot-
two of stalwart humanity who later
CHANGED to sit opposite Cecile in the
main reading room, for delivered to
him and carefully concealed as soon
as delivered was volume on How
to Be Beautiful at Forty" and an
other entitled "Miladys Dressing Ia
BILE" Tom saw the extremely fem
mime little woman opposite him with
her fair brow puckered in a dozen
frowns over the task she was attempt
ing. He looked at her in wide-eyed
amazement. At the second look he
remembered that somewhere he had
met her-a sister of one of his col
lege friends. to be sure. He couldn't
remember whether he had ever been
really introduced to her or not, but
at least he would give himself tho
benefit of the doubt. So forgetting
the formulate for rosewater and van
ishing cream before him, he waited
for the next raising of the little wo-
mans eyes, when he offered a very
grave and dignified smile of recogni-
ton. From the girls perplexed eyes
came back an answering smile and
then look Of self pity. Then those
eyes wandered down to the title of
| the book that was open before the
man and smile that was disconcert-
| ing reminded hinl>>that he had not
carefully covered the title.
In spite of the sign in the reading
room that warned readers not to talk
and in spite of the vigilance of the
attendants that made infringement of
| that rule perilous, Tom rose and
walked around to Ceciles chair. In
his mind his object was to express
some sort of excuse for the book
he was reading. 1t seemed all at
| once as if the most calamitous thing
that could happen was to have that
blue-eyed little woman there with the
dropping feather on her hat ina CINE
that he was the sort of a man who
would read How to Be Beautiful at
Forty" for his own amusement. 1t
was quite imperative that he tell her
on the spot why-altho half an hour
before he had promised himself new
err to privilege the secret to any one.
Il didn't know you at first he be-
gan awkwardly. You were hidden
behind all those books. Did you see
the book I was reading? I know you
Tom made his explanation. well,
! ii scawfuliy funny how 1 happened to
be reading it. I'd like to tell you the
joke, only those guards there might
shoot if 1 talked. Seems funny to
have those fellows watching all the
time. BUT I suppose we mustn't talk
here if it is a rule not to-
Cecile did not conceal the fact that
she was glad the man had come to
her rescue. She whispered that she
hated to read the book she was read
ing, but there was a funny story con-
nected with that, too, and then-it
was after Tom had brought his de-
testable volumes over to Cecile's side
| of the table; he said the light was
poor on his side-she put a little note
! main hail." said this note. Lets go
out and meet for little chat"
So Cecile and Tom met and COM
pared their troubles.
You know 1 wanted to break into
newspaper work when I left college
That was two years ago. and so I got
job in the home town on the local
paper-reporting first and then city
editor. Then I decided to come to
the big city. So I got an introduction
| to old man Jameson, editor, of the
| Star, brilliant man, l suppose, but a
dreadful bear. Treated me like a
schoolboy, and just because I happen
| to be life sized-he's a shriveled little
| fellow with a monkey face-he told
me looked more like a prize fighter
/ than a newspaper man. But he
couldn't refuse to honor the letter of
introduction-had to give me an as
| signment. And what do you think it
was? Told me to get up some stories
i for the Sunday woman's page on How
/ to be beautiful And just to show
that I can't DO bluffed, I am going to
do them, too
Cecile had listened with amusement
and interest That bear you spoke
| of is my uncle, Uncle Ben. Oh, you
didn't offend me in the least" she
| assured Tom when he apologized.
He is bear, but not such a bad bear
when you know him. If you stick to
| it he will like you. You see, 1 got so
| tired of playing bridge and going to
| parties and winding Red Cross band
| ages that 1 asked him for a job. He
hasn't any use for girl reporters, I
4 suppose. Anyway, he was almost
rude. But 1 insisted and he gave me
my first assignment. 1t is to cover
! the big game on Saturday. 1t will be
first page stuff, he says, if nothing
| like cyclone or kings abdication
| crowds it out And 1 don't know the
| first thing about football. OF course
| 1 used to go to the games when you
and brother were at college, but l
never knew what it was all about.
| And now, in day, I shall have to
1 understand the whole thing 1t is