The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-22
EVENING STORY
A Young Fellow.
(By H. H. Duncan.


A young fellow started out in real
young and lust beginning, is almost as
barren of business as the first years
practice of a lawyer. But the young
man had an office, with his name In
gold leaf on the glass in~the door.
As he sat in his swivel chair before
the empty roll top desk and eyed the
sign, he became dissatisfied. The let
tiers seemed to mock, to tantalize, to
tease him. He determined to lock up
the office and go see Florence. Just
as he was about to put ms ldea INTO
execution, visitor crossed his thresh-
old. 1t was Mr.. Thomas Henry, father
of Florence, and one of his fathers
most intimate friends.
Mr.. Henry, 1 am glad to see YOU
stated the young man cordially, as he
rose to greet the older man. 1T was
good of you to look in on me-"
'I was just passing" said the elder
man, land 1 thought l would drop IN
for a moments rest. How's business,
, Frank %
Neither good nor bad replied the
young man cheerfully. There isn't
any.
ugh, That's rather fierce"
.tOh, don't take it seriously, Mr.
Henry demonstrated the young man,
stunning pity. It'll pick up some day
I'm not bit discouraged"
That's the way, Frank, approved
You're proying-or rather promising to
| prove worthy of your friends. One OF
| them said to me today, He'll make
good, I'll guarantee that he Will.
| That's what one person thought about
| your future in real estate.
who said that?" asked Frank Gag
! erly. Il don't know any business
man here in town held that opinion.
They all said the field was overcrowd-
ed and that 1 was fool for Launching
out in it. Who was he?"
1t was rather awkward for MIR
Henry. He hesitated. 1T wasn't ex-
actly a business man, it was Flor
ence.' He looked keenly at the young
man as he mentioned his daughter s
name and smiled. The young man
was not at all disconnected On the
1 contrary, he seemed as much elateo
| as if Thomas A. Edison had been his
indorser. OF course, poor reader, you
can't understand this, as you don
happen to know Florence.
She's a mighty dear girl" the
young man declared. do you know
Mr.. Henry. she's all right, even if she
is your daughter
Mr.. Henry looked at the young
man for a cue. and found him grin
ming. Frank" declared Mr.. Henry
his brow wrink1ing, I'm up agains
it. l wish you could help me out OF
a little deal-a big deal, rather. Blu
it's hopeless. The most experienced
men in the business have fallen dow
on it."
What's the deal, Mr.. Henry
asked the young man. Give me ;
chance"
You couldn't do anything" re
piled Mr.. Henry rather sharply, 'un
less it would be to drug the old man
It's that Jackson block business
Frank. You know Mr.. Jackson,
| I,a- he
half block for an office building site
He's bought every foot of land from
Walnut street clear thru to the alley
a solid half block, all except that lit
+. tie lot on which old man Boyd ha
his shack of an office. That littl
oue-story shed is all that stands il
the way of a new building. For m
client, I've offered him four times a
much as the ground is worth or vii
ever be worth, but still he holds out
He's jealous of Jackson. that's al
1 can't get him to give in. I've trie
every way thru all kinds of people.
MIR. Henry stopped and scowled. H
glanced around the room, scowled a
the empty wastepaper basket, at tn
book shelves, at the filing cabinet an
even out the window, where a 10
year-old girl, who was passing, Yer
good girl, probably. who douh
helps wipe the dishes at home an
takes good care of her little brother
was badly frightened because sh
thought Mr.. Henry was scowling a
her.
Boyd lives just the other side of tn
half block, doesn't he?" asked tn
young man.
Yes, he does" growled Mr.. Henri.
What has that to do with it?"
Everything, if it's worked right,
declared Frank. do you want me t
buy that twenty feet for you?"
You get a check for a thousan
dollars if you do" promised hi
friend, land well allow you fifteen 70
, the lot
''Will you give me a week, Mr.. Hen
, ry?' The young man was excited
Il WILL" replied Mr.. Henry, look
ing at him in wonderment.
And take the deal out of the hand
of the agents?"
To this Mr.. Henry was willing.
"All right" answered the youn
man, Its your lot
II don't know"
, II do" declared Frank. TN stan
the ball rolling right away. Kindl
remember me to Florence. will yoI
: Mr.. Henry? Tell her I'll call just a
soon as ] bring about this deal L
have something important to tell hel
Spring the lock as you go out, wi
you?" Frank bolted into his coat
: grabbed his hat and leaving Mr.. Hen
. ry glued to one of the instalment-pla
I chairs, darted down the street.
Hello, Sam" called the young ma
after he had travelled several blocks
II was looking for you" A large ne
gro, carrying a basket of ashes towar
an old horse and wagon, wiped hi
hand on an overall leg and greete
s the young man
81 Use powerful glad to see you"
: Tow ATt-e no