The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-05
EVENING STORY
Putting One Over on Mary.
(By Rachel Cain.)

Jimmy Carter looked thru the wire
lattice with its stingy little archway
intended for the traI- saction of bust
ress. What he saw caused him to
slide down quickly off his stool,
straighten out his tie automatically
with one hand and slick back his shin
| ing roll of front hair with the other
Mary noticed that his hand was also
embeliished by a stone of near lazuli
| to match the pin.
certainly" said Jim aloud, reach
ing for a pen. To himself, Not so
bad for a jay town. Life is looking up
bit. Sumner, she is And he en-
dured Mary's close scrutiny with sat
lisfaction known only to the conceited
male who, being product OF me
tropolis and coming to small town.
thinks the entire population a consoll-
dated admiration society organized Tor
| his special benefit.
what is the name, please?' askeu
Jim, wondering if auntie and niece
might be called alike
Miss Myra Grant" said Mary.
| The ornate hand slid up one page
and down another in vain attempt 1T
finding the name. 70,
Nothing doing" said Jimmy. Il
don't seem to be able to find It. Ho"
do you spell it?"
| Jimmy flushed. Maybe Uncle Les
forgot to put 1t in.
"Oh, 1 don't think so,'' said Mary.
us Mr.. Curtis sick?
.'No-gone away for three weeks
rest. I'm holding down the 1op I'LL ne
comes home"
> IF you'd please give me a receipt
for it I'll not wait. 1 know the amount
its four dollars and thirty cents
I'm in a good bit of a hurry.
All right" said Jimmy obligirgly,
wondering what he might do to retain
such an attractive patron moment
| longer. Mary in her dark blue serge
suit, white collar and black hat, was
as Jimmy said, very stunning to look
at.
But try as he would he could thinl;
of nothing, which showed that he was
very much disturbed. There was some
thing unusually wrong when Jimmy
could think of nothing to say.
Mary folded the receipt and pat ii
door to go out, but before she closed
it she said sweetly, IF you LOOK in
the large ledger with the notified
cover I think you'll find it. You were
looking il the school directory, you
see"
She was gone! And Jimmy, with 4
kcurious mixture of shame and rage
fumbled awkwardly for n cigar cite
to relieve his narrowed feelings
'Smarty," he said two or three times.
don't you?" And then finding the
'-mottled cover he credited Aunt
Myra's money and took the rest of
the morning for reflection.
He reflected that he was much too
important a person to be made a fool
of by a green little village maiden
and that he wouldn't stand for it.
I know her kind" he declared
Small town belle. Got all the fell
lows here queered. Thinks I'm an
other simp crazy to fall in line. I'll
| show her that she can't fool with a
real man of the world" And he stuck
out his chest importantly "Humph!
1 s'pose all these folks here think
I'm crazy to break in. Can you beat
it, They DON'T need to think that
want to 90 to their spoony old dances
an6 eat raspberry water ice and CO.
coa''
Considering that Jimmys DISPOSE
ton was thought to be good and that
he was not usually sardonic, one may
readily understand that Mary's little
joke had cut much more deeply thar
it was intended to do. For Jimmy
really had planned campaign of con-
quest among the charmers of Glencoe
To this end had been purchased the
checks and effects in blue.
However, Jimmy changed his mind
| that is, about everybody except Mary
For he went to parties and dances and
had generally pretty good time. Il
| was balm to his hurt soul to discover
that his being from New York did cut
some ice" with the others. But Mary
refused to be impressed and Jimmy
consoled himself that she was furiou.
| because he wouldn't dance with her
He was right about her being the towr
| belle" She seemed to have every one
in line except him.
In vain he racked his brain for some
way to make her sit up and take no.
tice." as he put it. What kind o.
| grandstand play would bring her to p
Iii Ad
Then he found it. Five towns were
getting together to have a concert-a
real one, with opera singers in it
Glencoe, being. the center, was chosen
as the place d'affair
So Jimmy decided that to be or
i terms of sociability with some of these
bright lights would establish him for.
ever in the eyes of Mary.
He decided on Gerrone. He ha6
heard that this famous soprano wa:
young, pretty and therefore mos
probably approachable. Besides, hi
had friend who had a friend who
knew her and he wrote for a letter o.
introduction.
The day of the concert arrived
warm and beautiful. 1t was late sprine
and the air was heavy with roses
Jimmy, despising the garden varieties
sent weeks board to New York TO,
! bunch of dollhouse ones, and arm et
with these and his card he started fol
the hotel. He told every one where
he was going and whom he was to see
Really, Jimmy" they would excIaino
| 'Gerronei You don't mean it, We'll
that's what it is to be from New Yorl
and TO know all the celebritiesIr
Jimmy kept on his way. and his wa,
led past Mary's. Mary was in tbt
garden clipping roses She called him
Hello, Jimmy"
He was so dumfounded at the svvea
isociableness of her tone that he aInos
, dropped the box he carried. Then h,
recovered The grand opera bushes.
was doing its work. His fame hal
spread.
Good morning, Miss Nary" Hi;
tone was the least bit patronizing
| u. ~.