The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-31
EVENING STORY
Won by the Clock.
(By c. B. Lewis.)

/ Sl1p"SllQt--I
That was May Palmer and she had
fallen on the icy pavement on hands
and knees.
-Heigho. Got a fall. have ycu!
That was Joseph Frarlow, o partner
in wooden house downtown
Yes, I've had fan, replied MISS
May as she looked up
Did you ever fall on hands and
knees on a hard stone sidewalk How
| it hurts. Your hands are numb in a
minute, and for a time it seems as If
you had broken five kneecaps. You
have simply got to have help tc get
/ to your feet again, no matter i you
] are a man or a woman. The victim
lad been to a house of an acquaint-
ance only four doors from her home.
! When she left her house the side
walks had been dry. Then there came
a cold, drizzly rain and put thin
sheet of ice over everything. She left
! the neighbours steps with the utmost
! confidence, and had made progress
for about ten feet when the fall came
And Joseph Farlow was ..cIning
along right behind her. He didn't
/ Rave any rubbers en- his shoes. but
was stepping along as briskly as a
horse newly shod. He wasn't a man
| to let little ice interfere with him.
I Come. now, but I shall help you
| up he said. as he extended his arm.
| There you are. but you can't take a
step alone. Do you live anywhere
about here?"
| Plight there /" said Miss May as she
| pointed at the steps.
.'Oh, that is easy 1 shall put an
arm around your shoulder and you
lean on me. and we go up the steps
as safely as we walk hall floor. Here
we are, and I'll ring the bell for you.
| Good evening, madam. I've got to
run for it or 1 shall be two minutes
late at the store. See you again some
time. perhaps"
Miss May entered the house to play
baby for a while, and when she came
TO explain the accident to her father
and mother the father replied with a
laugh:
Say. I'll bet you any money that
man was Joe Farlow. He passes
along the street twice every day ex-
cept Sunday. He is in business down
town, and probably this is the first
time in his career that he has let any
thing detain him for one minute.
They call him the Human Clock be-
cause he is always on time. If he is
; one minute late at the store there is
almost panic. Yes. it must have
been Joe who helped you up, and you
had better look out a little. Joe is
nice looking fellow, and he is max
: ing more money than any young mar
can mention. l shouldn't object tc
having him for a son-in-law."
We'll, he didn't laugh at me, ant
that was good of him." replied Mis-:
, May as she went to the medicine ches
! to find the bottle of arnica-
Out of curiosity, of course, she post
ed herself at a window about the time
she figured Mr.. Joseph Farlow woult
be due to come along next evening
How would she know him? Why, dc
you suppose a strange man can lift g
| NJ a m foxr n IL hi,
, arm around her. and act as a pos
, for her to lean against, and lift hel
up seven or eight icy steps, and Eol6
, her upright while he reaches out and
pulls the door bell, without her being
able to identify him If she ever see
him again? OF course she woult
, know him, and, if he looked up a
the window. she would dodge back.
, Mr. Farlow came along. He wa
! on time to the second. There was
! smile OH his face, as he passed tn
house, but he didn't turn his hea,
to see if anybody was at II window
! He knew there was. and that he di,
not ever give glance was a mari
in favor of Mr.. Joseph Farlow.
Some days passed and Miss Ma.
started in her. car one day to go t
her dressmaker's. When the vehicl
had traversed several blocks, SOM
heavy trucks got the chauffeur in
, pocket and he lost his head for mo
1
grocery wagon standing at the curb
and there was a crash and scream
: Joseph Farlow was passing at the
! moment. He had gone to the gro
Gerry store on a business errand, ant
he had given himself Just so man,
: seconds to get back to his woolens
, 1t is doubtful if the trumpet of al
elephant or the roar, of 20 woul,
have made him halt, but the scream
! Miss May gave stopped him dead IL
! his tracks He saw her trying to opel
the door of the auto, and in thre
jumps he had the door open and wa
n helping her out and saying:
It's you again. is it? Well, you
chauffeur is not up to the mark. Yol
! will have to walk the rest of the way
? a TALL By-by I'm due at the store
And off went Mr.. Joseph Farlow
> and more than one pedestrian got
q dig from his elbows to make up 70
later when Mr.. Palmer, father o
: May. sat in his office one afternoon
t and young Mr.. FarIow burst in an
!, explained:
SAY. Mr.. Palmer, I know you b!
e sight and by name. tho we neve
i shook hands. You can ask any bust
e ness man about me. ! just called L
: say that I want the privilege of call
$ | ing on your daughter. 1t has hap
t pened that / met her on two occa
il sions but we have not exchange,
names. / am a very busy man, but
;, will try and spare ten or fifteen min
a utes some evening to call and max
n her acquaintance.
IA 1t was serious matter, but MI
s Palmer could not help smiling over II
= He replied that Mr.. Farlow Nigh
o call any evening and remain fifteel
I minutes or three hours IL he would
= If Miss May happened not to be a
: home they could talk over the stat
of the market and smoke a good ciga
= together. Mr.. Farlow thanked hin
4 | and rushed out so impetuous1y tina
he upset an empioye who was com
II ing in
II In about week MI. Farlow called