The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-05
EVENING STORY
The Gold Girl Hunt

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However, he was confident the two
hundred dollars nesting in hip
pocket ready for the investment would
yield dividends, before the vacation
ended-a million dollars dividend at
least, he figured. Then would begin
a real vacation, with comfort and lux
ury, and no more Shaving for unap-
preciative city editors-a vacation
which death alone could terminate.
1t was not oil, railroads. wheat or
patent razor sharpeners he was con-
Joe had repeated to himself every
day. and with greater conviction each
time, since he heard of Ben For
rester's taking up residence on
Easy Street two months before.
Mere matter Of business. getting
married these days. It's just as easy
to, grab off a gold girl as a poor one.
All you need is a little cash to put on
| the right kind of front, and you'll win.
Look at Forester. he's done it. Why
can't 70"
Joe jerked the finished story from
| the machine, kicked shut the bottom
drawer of his desk and studied the
| back Of yellow-haired Susie Jacobs,
| the society editor. busy at a typewriter
at the other end OF the editorial room.
| He stuck the business end OF a PEN
ell in his mouth and tapped his teeth.
Miss Jacobs finished a sentence and
captured stray wisp of hair, tucking
it into the fluffy knob of her, head.
Mice GIRL" Joe confided to himself.
IT believe I'd rather marry her than
| anybody: only she hasn't any money
and heaven knows 1 don't make
enough to support two. Anyhow, she
wouldn't have me-"
He reached under the desk and
| showed back his chair with unneces-
sary noise and rose to his feet.
Miss Jacobs was making her ma
chine hum, apparently having forgot
ten the fact that Joe was in exist
ence. He crossed to her desk, and
when he coughed significantly she
leaned back in her chair and greet
ed him with a tired little smile on
her all but freckled face.
"on on the big vacation, Ell. Joe ?"
she said. BE sure to come back; be-
cause you're the life of this office, you
know. Whatever you do, don't get
kidnapped by any of those rich sum-
mer girls at Harbor Beach,
Joe stammered guiltily, told her he
had to hurry to catch his train, gave
| her hand squeeze and walked 1eis-
| urely to the station. Her unfinished
copy protruding from the, typewriter,
Miss Jacobs aazed glumly at a grease
| spot on the wall.
Dressed in a jaunty blue suit. which
some other time, Joe landed in Har-
| Dor Beach late that night and put up
| at the best hotel. In the morning he
went on a prospecting expedition,
which carried him to the tennis court,
| where twenty fair young maidens and
4 two unnecessary looking male per-
/ sons were congregated.
A giggling girl in flimsy yellow in
vited him to play tennis and he ac-
] quiesced. 1t was his first experience
with that kind of court, but he bIuffed
his way thru the set, lost it, was ac-
cused of doing it on purpose just to
be gallant, and didn't deny it.
That same night found him attend
ing a lawn party with five other
young men and ten of the more dead
ly sex. And somehow, the giggling
one, now in lacy pink, got him off at
the end OF a tanbark path near a bub-
bling fountain and waved SO sentiment
barrassment. confusion and amaze
ment.
That's a new one" he told himself
when he retired. II thought the fell
lows always did the love making. II
appears different at summer resorts
Wonder II Susie's ON an assignment
tonight"
The next day his sentimental COM
panion of the previous evening tripped
gracefully on the scene at the tennis
| court to discover her new find" &C.
cepting an invitation to canoe party
on Mirror Lake with diminutive
dreamy-eyed. dark-haired damsel
, The sentimental one got hold Of him
in the afternoon for stroll among the
bfrches and proceeded to tell him how
hurt she. was because he was going
canoeing with that black little Miss
Johnson, whose father packs pork
but Joe refused to alter his plans fol
the evening. He had already decided
, he liked Miss johnson the better OF
the two.
party-Miss johnson and Joe. She in.
sisted that he recline on some cush.
ions and smoke while she manipulated
: The moon wal shining, a band wa.
playing somewhere out over tn.
= water. the waves were tapping agains
/, the sides of the canoe. Joe looked
. thru the darkness at the indfstinc
outline of Miss johnson and came t.
the conclusion that she was just abou
all right. He wondered how he shoult
steer the conversation to land" her
She solved the problem for him
Laying aside the paddle, she let thu
craft drift aimlessly.
Wouldn't 1t be terrible If we shoult
, upset?" she observed. II can't swim
, stroke; but I suppose you would
leap In and rescue me, and then wee
.. have a real romance. wouldn't we p
Yep" gulped Joe. "I guess So,
wouldn't it be fun" she said soft
ly. IF that would happen and ther
we'd fall in love?"
Joe swallowed hard and hoped sh,
wouldn't experiment. Miss johnson
sighed.
What would you do if I got Jus
wild about you and you did abou
me ?" she wanted to know,
, Joe fidgeted
II don't know" he admitted. sc
suppose Il"
Yes, yes, go on" breathed the girl
-What would you do?"
II Well" said Joe, weakly, 81 think
don't you think we'd better 20 bacl
= to shore? I believe a storm is com
: ing
The next morning, as Joe emerse,
from the hotel after eating a lat
, breakfast, he was approached by
corpuient red-faced man atfirAd ii