The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-23
EVENING STORY
Hunting for Peggy!
(By Oliver Gray-)

fine edge of his spirit had been wear
ing dull of late at all affairs OF the
sort. He had wearied of cajoltng and
flattery, artful mothers and fond
daughters, for, having made up his
mind at twenty that he was going to
be rich, and deciding never to marry
until he was, he had spent almost half
of his life in peaceful solitude. And
having made good his decision OF get
ting rich to the amount of seven fig
ures, one can easily understand his
popularity now.
This particular evening however,
was different. He was playing new
game. and the game was this: He had
decided to marry at last. 1t seemed
that the office was running without
him these days; he had become sort
of fifth wheel-not even of the sort to
be tied on behind in case of emer
gency, for he had organized his bust
ness so we'll that there was never an
| emergency. He felt keenly his use
lessness in his own office.
And so in his loneliness it occurred to
him to travel. And the thought of
travel suggested a companion, and
companionShip suggested marriage,
and marriage of course demanded a
woman. That was The new game
to find the person he would choose for
his wife.
II all sounds much more simple than
it was, for John had an ideal. Not an
airy-fairy fade as-youtouch ideal,
as nearly as possible like Peggy Nc
Clure, the merry, teasing little COM
panion of his bOyhood. He would new
err acknowledge even to himself that
he regretted having let Peggy slip out
of his life, but in the last few years
there had been many moments-well.
anyway, photographs of Peggy had
suddenly bloomed upon mantel, dress
er and table, and Della had particular
orders to care for them in dusting
first Ia v
to notice women. There was no hope
of searching for Peggy herself. The
family had moved years ago to Eng
land-he knew not where Besides
more than likely she had been mar
ried. So he contented himself with
studying the women he met and
hoping that there would be some ore
like her soon.
He rang for Clemens to come an /
lay out his things, equalize the shower
to 20 and arrange articles for. shaving.
The real ceremony of barbefing and
dressing he attended to himself.
Clemens came in. I'm just won
dering, sir he said, appearing with
a box under his arm, IF there hasn't
been mistake, sir. These things
came from the tailor's hour ago
and there's nothing but those two
oNercoats you discarded a while ago."
The dickensi"
That's what l think, sir. l remem-
Der you laid out three of your bes-
suits to be pressed. L put them in n
box and told Della to give them to the
tailor's boy. This is what came back,
sir
Two Overcoats. you say. Why, 1
know now, l promised Mrs. Wilson
to send some warm things to the dis
pensary, and on your day off 1 gave
them to Della and told her to give
them to the boy who would call. Evil
IDENTIFY they got mixed. My three new
new perfectly good spring suits are
probably making some poor fellow
miserable in the fresh air camp, while
my tailor is evidently in despair at
having a customer who wears over
coats a year out of date. What shall
do. Clemens %
Cant you call the lady. sir?''
Eyes, I can do that. But / think I'll
go instead. They're open all evening,
aren't they?''
Z should say all the time. sir, for
work like that
so should I. Clemens. It's funny,
isn't it. that the suits | ordered for
travelling should go travelling without
me. / wonder where they are. I'd
like to find them, It's such a nuisance
to be fitted for others"
The dinner, as far as the game was
concerned, was a failure There were
many women, beautiful ones, witty
ones, and all fashionable ones But
no one had anything like the features
of Peggy, nor the sweetness, nor the
alluring smile One thing he remem-
bered about the girl of his youth. An
attack of fever had left her hair over
the left temple a soft, silvery gray. 1t
was odd 70 girl of seventeen, and
he had leased her and called her old
lady. But he remembers now how
pretty it was. He was disappointed in
not being able to find any one with
even this attractive little blemish.
The lights of the dispensary were
still showing brightly as his limousine
drew up to the curb on his way home.
Inside in the waiting room a woman
was taking down names and addresses
of people on cards. 1t was to her that
John made his appeal.
IF you wait I'll get the nurse who
takes charge. She's likely to know
about your box And going into an
other room she returned with per-
son whose features were completely
hidden by an antiseptic mask, white
| like her cap, apron and the rest of
her immaculate uniform.
. Il remember the Clothes she said
| instantly. Il was sure of a mistake,
! they appeared to be so new. They
haven't been sent out yet. They are
up in the supply room. But if you
have the overcoats with you, l know
where one is needed right away. 1
cannot tell you the number. but l can
| take you there if you have time to
wait. I'm off duty in ten minutes. The
man goes away early IN the morning.
So john sat down and waited and
then went out to ask the chauffeur
| something about the new car. Then
the nurse came out dressed for the
street and John held the door open
] for her to get in.
It's West Fortieth street, near
Tenth avenue she said, settling back
| into the seat.
And John. repeating the address,
got in also and shut the door. Then
suddenly the street light caught the
| CLINT of a strand of hair, silver white
waving softly over the little nurses
ear, and John, STOPPING, looked for
the first time fully into her face.
| Peggy" he cried. L might know
| I'D find you on an errand of mercy
i Tka nix hasa I've found Nnll