The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-22
EVENING STORY
Sister Bell Fixes Up.
(By Jane OSBORNE


Sister Bell knew when she started
out to the city to fix things up" in
Brother Benson's apartment that she
would get in in some way, but it was
really an easier matter than she had
hoped.
I'm Mr. Bridges sister, and 1 want
keys for his apartment" she told the
woman who came up from the base
ment in answer to the ringing Of the
bell marked "JanitOr." I've come in
his absence to fix his place up. He
forgot to send me the keys"
OF course Benson had never had
any intention Of sending the KEYS, not
remotely dreaming that any of the
folks from home" would make him
visit in his new city abode. He had
gone away on an extended business
trip-his first trip on the road for the
concern for which he worked-and
Sister Bell had chosen the time as
opportune for her fixing up process.
Fortunately the janitor's wife was
new and green and unSuSpiCiOuS- Its
the third floor front" Sister Bell told
her, and that was enough. She got
the keys and mounted the stairs to the
wee three room and kitchenette
apartment Having let herself in she
laid down her wicker suitcase and
gasped. Being unfamiliar with the
ways of city "walk-ups' she had TAX
en- the two long flights at one lap and
even her deep lungs felt the strain.
The place was small-disappoint
ingly so-she felt at first. but at least
it was full of cOnVenienceS. There
was one bedroom just large enough
for a three quarter bed, a chair and
a bureau. No curtains hung at the
window-how Sister Bell rejoiced at
her scheme when she saw all these
omissions,-and there was no white
spread on the bed, just an army blan
ket over the sheets The only pictures
to be seen were two that stood on the
bureau-her own and another. Ben
sons latest girl, of course" OWNED
Bell. She raised her own to look at
it, and tears filled her blue eyes. Tho
but eight years older than her TWEEN
ty-two-year-old brother, she felt and
acted the mother to him. She looked
approvingly at the face, tho it never
occurred to her to think the eyes
were pretty or the face well modelled.
He's had my picture always before
him, was all she thought, land if
he wasn't the same dear old Benson
he never could have dared to do that"
/ The living room contained a cot
couch. few highly vanished oak
pieces and an unshaded electric drop.
A bookcase filled to OVERLOOKING with
Well-bound volumes was the only
touch of individuality Law books in
dlcated that Benson had not abandon
ed his original ambition, and several
/ DOCKS OF contemporary history and q
/ set OF Spanish textbooks showed a
more serious turn in his mental habits
than even Sister Bell had hoped for.
A third ROOM apparently a dining
! room, contained nothing but a table
On which stood few milk bottles and
a glass. Then there was a kitchen
cite. She felt impatient to try the
complete little gas stove, and she was
already planning to stay and keep
house for her brother for week
after his return. She was sure she
could bunk on the living room lounge,
and the home cooking would do him
good.
Sister Bell had arrived at 10 in the
morning and by dirt of hard work a
revolution had been worked by that
afternoon. Golden brown silk cur
TOMS hung at the living room windows
and piece of yellower Chinese silk
was thrown over the electric drop
light under which she expected 20
spend the evening shirring a shade
into shape over a large wire frame
she had bought A cover of monk s
pieces of interesting silk which the
following day she planned to make
into covers for n set of lounge cush-
ions lay on char. She had brought
with her rather worn but delight
fully toned old rug, and this was
spread on and softened the garnish-
ness of the too highly vanished floor
At 1 she left her task thus mapped
out and went in search of meat and
drink for her solitary supper With
arms full of bread and butter and let
tuce and eggs and milk bottles she
''7""A her way back up the two Ions