The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-11
EVENING STORY
Jacks Awakening.

|
prosperous looking occupants they
were. too. DR.. Landrith was certain
| ly busy and supremely successful.
/ The door marked private, opened
quietly, and a small, unobtrusive
i young lady stepped out and closed it
again. Margaret Crofton was a mod
ell of neatness from the top of her
| golden crowned head to the tips of
her small shoes. She had that cheer
full air that Immediately made every
body feel at home. Yet any one who
| looked into the depths of her blue
eyes could see a personality and
soul.
With half bow she motioned to
a gentleman ON the opposite side of
the room. Mr.. Cornelius, the doctor
is ready for you now
But before he had risen, a richly
i dressed young lady swept haught1ly
across the room and paused before
the closed door. Unconcealed disdain
/ reflected from her cold, black eyes as
she condescendingly spoke to the girl
| Tell DR. Landrith that Miss Harcourt
will see him immediately
A strange light, that seemed to mar
her whole face, shone for a moment
in Margaret's eyes, then was replaced
| by an inscrutable smile. She bowed
and entered the room, a moment la
| ter re-opening the door for Miss Har-
| court to enter.
| "A
/ bent from close study of bacteria,
| got up from his chair. He moved
quickly toward the window with the
| energy characteristic of him. No one
! could look at this young physician S
| powerful frame and well chiseled fea-
j lures without a feeling of admiration
| When he spoke he shot the words
from his square jaws with the rapidity
| of a machine gun. The doctor hated
| idleness or inaction. But now some
| thing special seemed to trouble his
| mind I He walked several times across
| the room, then pressed button on his
desk. Immediately the door was
| opened and Margaret came in. In her
| capacity as secretary she was ready
for service at any moment. While
| waiting for him the girl deftly
Strengthened the papers on his desk.
Miss Crofton,' he said, Il am nerv-
Gus. 1 can't con ,entrate on my work
| She slipped out of the room and re-
| turned in few minutes with a cool
| ing drink.
IF you drink this I think it will
| quiet your nerves. 1 believe that you
are worrying about something. Per-
haps / can help YOU
| Having drunk the beverage and re-
seated himself in his chair the doc
tor seemed little less restless. He
| turned toward Margaret in a rather
businesslike way.
| Miss Crofton, I am going to make
an unusual request of you. l am in
love. 1 wish to marry Eleanor Har-
| court. Also, l am a very busy man.
1 feel that 1 cannot devote the time
| that Miss Harcourt would desire for a
proposal You perhaps know that she
is very proud as well as a very rich
young lady. She would make fitting
wife for a man of my position
| "Yes?" her cheeks paled slightly.
| 7 rich fr,
play. have found you very thought
tfuh and devoted to my service. be-
| lieve you are capable for this greatest
service l have ever asked of you. Miss
Crofton, wish you to go to the home
of Miss Harcourt and request her to
! become my wife,
| why, DR.. Landrith, I-of course,
| l.
''Oh, know it's queer, but I'm not
| original. Capt. Miles Standish did his
/ proposing by proxy 400 years ago, but
I will profit by the old warriors mis-
take. He failed because he sent a
man. I will send a woman, and 1
know you won't fall in love with
you do this for me?"
She smiled inscrutably at him Il
will. When shall 1 go?"
Now. 1t is late afternoon and she
will surely be at home. I will have
the car at the door for you in a few
minutes
! The doctor rang for the chauffeur
and made the necessary preparations
for the girls departure. With a
cheerful step and the inscrutable smile
still on her lips Margaret entered the
car.
| When the man returned to his of
flee he breathed a sigh of relief. as if
a great labor were finished. And yet,
| he did not have the happy look of a
man who was about to win in love-
AS the minutes licked slowly by the
clouds on his brow gathered. He rose
and nervously began to pace the
floor. But finding no relief he sat
down and attempted to work. Sud
| denly he dropped his microscope on
the floor with crash of splintering
glass.
We'll, I'll be-" he gasped.
| For one moment he hesitated, then
tore the telephone receiver from its
hook.
Give me the Universal Taxi COM
pany-quick." he commanded. Hell
10. Is this the Universal? Send car
to DR.. Landrith's, double quick Extra
| pay for speed
l. Dropping the phone he seized his
hat and ran down the steps. Almost
| Immediately a car sped up and the
doctor sprang in.
| Go on Drive up Kensington ave-
enue. If you get to- the Harcourt
home in five minutes I'll give you
/ twenty-five dollars
The chauffeur knew his business At
breakneck speed they dashed up the
crowded thoroughfare. Traffic Off
GERS shouted at them in vain. Lam
| drith continually urged the driver to
greater endeavors. At last they stop
ped suddenly before a large residence
| The doctor jumped out and ran up
the shaded walk. He pealed the bell
violently, then pushed open the door
| in the face of the astonished butler.
| Showing that worthy aside with more
force than politeness, the intruder
strobe down the hall. He opened n
door on the right and looked in. Seat
ed on a sofa was Margaret alone.
Thank Cod" he cried hoarselys
| Then you've not seen herr"
| A slight noise made the doctor look
up and he saw Eleanor standing in
the doorway opposite. But he paid no
attention to her He stepped toward