The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-24
EVENING STORY


Teddy Brent wasn't used to being
snubbed-before all the boys of the
staff, too; that was the rub. In the
city his breezy, sunshiny air had won
him many friends and his ready wit
kept them around him in droves.
There wasn't a girl in the office who
wouldn't jump at the chance of going
out to lunch with him-that was be-
fore this little girl from his home town
came to push in the plugs on the
switchboard.
He recognized her the first, day
little Madge Murray, whom he had
taught in the village school the first
year after he left normal, the year
he found out he wasn't cut out for a
teacher and left for the city to try his
hand in the newspaper game. She
had written him such nice school
grille letters that first year in the
city, and when he went home for the
first well-earned vacation he spent
most. of it boating with her. Then
after that he forgot all about her, or
thought he did IN the whirl of grow
ing popularity and gay times in the
city. She had written him once or
twice. but he didn't find time to an
sWer with more than a picture post
card now and>then. Then the letters
ceased and so did the cards. He was
too busy to notice that. There were
,
nearby beach was too lively and at
tractive for such a thing. But when
he saw Madge at the switchboard he
realized he hadn't forgotten her and
fastened to- renew old acquaintance.
"Icebergsi PheWl' Even the red
headed, dreamy-eyed stenographer no
tieed she didn't take his proffered
hand. To his See who's herel I'm
awfully glad to see you, Madge!" she
puckered her pretty lips into stiff
and formal. acknowledgements" and
turned to her switchboard. 1t was just
Teddy's luck that it was noon hour
and the fellows from up stairs who
were passing thru the business office
on the way to lunch couldn't help see
ing his reception The way they jol-
lied him about it afterward assured
him of that.
She had improved, he noticed, as
he passed through the office on the
way back from the lunch he hadn't
touched-improved not in her attitude
toward him but in appearances. In
the old days she had been a very
pretty little country girl, but she
had developed into a belle that made
the city girls look faded and washed
out She was a deep contrast to the
red-headed stenographer; her bright
and sparkling eyes made the dreamy
ones appear insignificant; her fresh,
peachlike natural bloom made the cos
metie- coated complexion of the other
girls look like the morning after the
night before;" and clothes-well, she
always had good taste in dress and,
afforded the opportunity of city buy
ing, she made the best of it.
Mad ges answered the buzz of Teddy's
Telephone, When he asked for an eX-
plantation of her GOODNESS the only an
swer he got was: What number did
you want ?" He hung. up his receiver
with disgust and DIDN'T try again for
days
The other men on the staff were not
so coollY treated by the new girl on
the switchboard. Teddy noted with
alarm her preference for Billy Gibbs.
Billy and bis wife were not on speak
ing terms and Billy was trying to get
divorce. Teddy knew and he won
dered if Madge did. OF course it was
none of his business, he though but
then he was her ex-teacher and owed
her his protection. But that wouldn't
be fair to Billy. Perhaps Billy had
secured his divorce and hadn't said
anything about it He was a good
sort and his friendship wasn't tie be
tr1fled with. Teddy resolved to talk
to Madge, but when she answered his
telephone call, she wouldn't listen to
him. He wasn't going to suffer the
humiliation of a personal interview
He tried to talk to her over the phone
time and again, so to get rid of him
Madge switched him on the central
line. The girl at central heard all
that was intended for Madge and
made an appointment with Teddy. He
thought it was Madge and spent so
much time in jubilant meditation that
he was late with his society notes
While Madge was trying to get
central for the manager, she heard
over the wire the telephone opera
tor there talking to. one of the ether
girls. Yes, l just made a date
with one of those reporters at the
Times. He was the cutest thing" the
girl was saying
Hello, Times, give me the fore
man of the composing room," the
operator broke in on Madge. Real
izing the mistake she had been the
cause of Madge couldn't help list
ening to the next conversation.
Hello, Dick, Flora speaking.
! Dreadful headache! Tomorrow night
good bye"
| Madge worried about it all after
noon She had been very foolish in
! her treatment of Teddy, she thought
But she couldn't blame herself for
! treating him so coolly. She had cared
/ so much for him that summer and
| thought he cared, too, but he had
/ spoiled it all by sending her postca I'd s
| as he would to his little sister. She
/ had shown him now that she was
| grown up and attractive to other men,
| if not to him; there was some gratifi-
7 cation in that He would hate her
after this, but she couldn't Stoop to
| tell him of the mistake he had made.
/ That would be too terrible
/ Late that afternoon Madge got a
| call in a feminine voice for the fore
man of the composing room. Proba bly,
/ he was as tickle as the girl at cen
trail. she thought. 1t would ease her
conscience a little if he was, so she
! listened to find out
This is Peg speaking, Dick.
Thought I'd let you know Flora has
made a date with one of those fresh
reporters for tonight, at WHY'S, I
| think"
/ 'Tl1 get him. Madge heard Dick
mutter as he put up the receiver.
Then she was in a panic. She
couldn't let Teddy go to that place,
perhaps to be murdered. She muster
| ed She mustered I'D cnirra sra to ca II