The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-05
EVENING STORY
The Fog.

SLOWLY she walked up anu QOWH Tie
length of the railway station waiting
room, scrutiniZing the face of each
newcomer. Surely he had received the
telegram advising him of her intended
arrival, but for the twentieth time
she glanced at the clock. which now
audibly bore witness to the fact that
she had waited half an hour, and
still there was no sign of Robert. The
| day had been dreary and misty and
night was now adding its black shroud
| to the gloom. Growing uneasy, the
| girl FASTENED to the nearest telephone
booth, but after an interminable click
ing Of the hook, she finally elected the
| information that the line was out of
order HailinE a taxi, Elsa ordered
the driver to take her to her brothers
address.
The fog was momentarily becoming
| heavier and was hanging like pail
over the entire city. Vague. shadowy
forms moved on the sidewalks to dis
solve, upon near approach, into men
and women. The gongs of the trolley
cars changed necessarily and every
now and then the misty air was rent
with the raucous voice of a fog horn
and the shrill shrek of an automobile
siren. Phantom lights cleaned fitfully
! on the street corners, like glowing eyes
striving to pierce the wall of fog The
taxi was creeping along at a snalis
pace. Once twice the chauffeur,
with a muttered imprecation, got off
to see the name of the street At last
he halted before house. made sure of
the number and held the taxi door
open.
Here YOU are, lady-number 49,"
and moment later he was sirening
his way through the enveloping for,
while Elsa mounted the steps and
pressed firm finger on the bell. A
middle-aged woman. evidently the
housekeeper. answered the summons.
rs Mr.. Wilson IN" Elsa inquired.
''Mr. Wilson" the woman echoed,
and then after slight pause, hardly
perceptible to the waiting girl, mo
ma'am, he is out of town.
"Out of town? When did he go?
Didn't he get my telegram? I'm his
sister"
II don't know anything about a
telegram, ma am. He went last night
and won't be home before tomorrow
evening. l think he said he would be
home in time for dinner. But come
right in, ma'am. The master often
speaks of his sister,"
Elsa was made comfortable for the
night. and the next morning a peep
out of the window showed the heavy
a big, red sun clambered above the
horizon.
After breakfast she inspected the
house. The library, which the house
keeper told her served as a living
room, caused Ella to throw UP her
were arranged in stiff methodical or
der; the table was bare, save for a
book laid at a precise angle, and the
shades were closely drawn giving the
room an air of chilliness and disuse.
Elsa hastily raised the shades and the
kindly sun instantly threw two wide
ribbons of gold across the floor. With
def hands she pulled out a chair here
and there and heaped the settee with
big, plump cushions. She unearthed
a leather cover for the table and con-
fiscated reading lamp from another
room. humidor, with cigars, was
placed in inviting proximity to a big,
roomy armchair.
Now, Mrs. Clark, 1 want flowers;
lots of them. Red carnations, please;
they are my brothers favorites Then
We'll plan tonight's dinner L want
you to have all my brothers favorite
dishes, Mrs Clark. And OH Mrs
Clark I have an idea, AS long as INV
brother doesn't know I'm here, let us
make surprise out of it. Yes? Don't
say a word about me when he comes
IN, but the minute he sits down to the
table extinguish the lights and relight
them the minute you hear my voice. -
Late that afternoon Elsa turned her
attention to her brothers room. A
little grimace greeted the opening of
the bureau drawers, and she hmm di-
ateiy pulled them out, sat down on the
floor with the drawers before her. and
soon order reigned in place of chaos
Dressing herself carefully, she came
downstairs just in time to hide he
, nlnd the draperies as a key turned in
the lock- Firm steps paused for a
moment, then were heard going nm
stairs When they came down again
Mrs. Clark hurried forward 10 Gree,
: her master
Don't forget the lights" a voice
whispered to her as she passed.
AS the man sat down. the dining
room was suddenly plunged into dark.
ness, put before he could utter an ex-
2 clamat1on there vas the light swish
ing of feminine wear and a whiff of
' carnation scent greeted his nostrils
: just as little soft hand was pressed
flrmly over his eyes and a pair of
: exquisite lips met his in a hearty kiss.
E Ihen a disguised voice called out
Now, sir. guess who 1 am 2"
At that moment the lights were
switched on and fell full on the de-
cidedly blonde head of the man. In
stantly the girls hand dropped to her
side and she started back in astonish-
ment- This man wasn't her brother
E her brother had black hair,
7 thought you were my brother
E Elsa stammered, as soon as she found
her voice. The man had risen to his
D feet and tried to hide his amazement
A as he gazed at the fair vision confront
4 ing him.
Il am Wilson Fairbanks. I am
afraid there is some mistake Won't
e you sit down, please, and Wen surely
e straighten it out
The girls face blanched and she
. interlocked her hands until the
knuckles showed white. Il am Elsa
e Wilson. I came here last night from
j Detroit 1 expected my brother, Rob-
i ert Wilson. to meet me at the station
t but evidently the telegram was mis-
carried and nobody was there. called
a taxi and the man brought me here
e This is 459 Waterloo street, inst it %
/ The mans face cleared. waterloo
|. street. That accounts for it. This is
I Cambridge street Waterloo is the
next street below. If you will allow
! me I'll take you there after dinner"