The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-11
EVENING STORY
Cinderella,s Rubber.

For the twentieth time that morn |
ing Eric Spencer looked up expect !
antly as someone entered his private |
office, and for the twentieth time he |
sank back in his chair with sigh. |
All morning he had been expecting |
someone, but as the hour reached
noon he almost gave up in despair |
With each new arrival at his office
came disappointment There seemed
to be more coming in than usual. ana
their business was SO trivial it irritat-
ed him. He would have gone to the
club to get away from 1t all II 1t hadn
been for the chance of missing her. IL
would never do for him not to be
there when she arrived.
For the fiftieth time he pulled open
the top drawer of his desk and took
out rubber for a woman's left shoe
What a very small rubber it was, he
thought as he placed it beside his own
big foot Carefully he placed the rub
Der back in the drawer and took out
a folded. mud-besmirched paper,
opened it and read the typewriter
words on it, his face lighting up with
pleasure as he read and re-read it.
IF l could only find her." he ejac-
ulated, as he put the paper back in the
drawer with the rubber.
A newspaper was the next to take
| his attention. He pulled it from his
pocket, opened it at the classified col
umns and found the advertisement hs
was looking for under Lost and
| Found" There was no mistake in the
| insertion. 1t was printed just as h
had given it to them. for a wonder.
| He read it aloud to make sure.
''Found-A lady's rubber. for a left
! high-heeled shoe. Picked up just as
owner can have same by making per-
! sonal application to Eric Spencer.
| Spencer's Limited"
The office door opened again. 1t was
just "Geordie" Grant Geordie was
| bubb1ing over with a Joke, as usual
but for once Eric wasn't in the humor
to hear it. His welcome was curt and
! business like, but that didn't dampen
| Geordie's ardor
Well, have you found her?"
Geordie asked, as he sat on a corner
of Eric's desk.
"Whom?" asked Eric, assuming in
nocence and hiding his annoyance.
why. Miss Cinderella, the lady who
lost her slipper-or, pardon me-rub-
Der. It's rubber this time, isn't it?''
Geordie's laugh was altogether too
loud, but Eric would not let him see
he was angry.
Don't be an ass, I don't see the
joke. Can't 1 advertise the thing 1
find ?"
Sure thing; but people don't usu-
ally spend more money advertising in
every paper in the city than the arti-
on. now, loosen up on the romance.
Did Miss Cinderella leave her rubber
in your car, or did she throw it at
you, or what? The. boys all want to
hear about it. It's the joke of the
club, and yoL'n have to offer some ex-
plantation"
Eric's anger had about reached the
boiling point, but he was sensible
enough to know it would be wasted on
Geordie Grant. He thought it over
for minute. There was nothing in
it but to explain to Grant. That was
the best way to get the talk stopped
at the club.
IF you'll sit down like a sensible
creature, III explain to you. Geordie, -
he began. You know what terribly
wet day yesterday was. Well, my
chauffer skid1ed my car and broke
an axle, and I had to walk. 1 was
crossing the road in front of WilIer's
when a young lady ran out in front
: of me to catch a Belt line car The
car had commenced to move, but she
risked catching it. She struck a slip
perry mud spot in the road and fell
backward. But / was just behind her
and managed to catch her and keen
her from falling into the mud. The
conductor had seen her and stopped
the car, and 1 helped her on. AS the
door closed after her l noticed she
had only one rubber on. / looked
pack where she had slipped, and there
sticking in the mud was her rubber
, L stopped to pick it up, and beside II
; was a folded piece of writing paper
that she must have dropped. I picked
them both up. and here they are
Eric pulled out the drawer of his
desk and brought out the rubber and
, paper for inspection
Yes. but what was written on the
paperY Grant asked, still on the scent
of a romance.
I'm coming to that" Eric con.
tinued Il opened the paper to see II
II was valuable, and. say, there is
some of the most brilliant little adver-
Using writing on that paper that you
ever read. If that girl wrote them she
is just the woman we want for ad.
writer for our speciality department
I've been looking for competent per-
son ever since we opened it-one who
can write a little different from the
average-and in this person L think
I've found one"
you haven't found her YET
Geordie muttered thoughtfully.
81 know 1 haven't, but I'm going TO
keep advertising until 1 do, and
you can tell that to the boys of the
club, tool" Eric emphasized the fact
: by bringing his feet down on his desk
with bang.
: Grant tried to talk a little longer
but he saw that Eric wanted to get
: rid of him.
I'll bet you marry her if you dc
find her, Eric. old boyt" he remarked
as he was leaving. But Eric pre-
tended not to have heard
Just after five that evening after
5 the last of the office staff had gone
S Eric heard a tinid knock on his door
1t sounded as If it m .ght be the girl he
was waiting for, and he opened the
door eagerly. Sure enough, the young
woman Of the day before was before
him.
You are Mr.. Spencer. are you not -
. she asked somewhat shyly.
yes; and you are the young woman
who lost your rubber he answered
= with smile. Il have been expecting
q you.
! After the rubber had been restored