The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-15
BY INES MACDONALD.

lived, already there-and still MOTH
ing had happened-and then the tele-
phone rang and indifferently Summer
leaned toward it from where she sat
on the couch.
us this Miss Lane. Miss Summer
Lane?" asked mans strange but
very nice voice.
yes" said Summer. this is Sum-
mer Lane" And her eyes opened
very wide.
II am Lawrence Gardner from Chi->
cago, an old friend of Elsie Turner's
who was a school friend of yours, I
believe. She told me to be sure to
look you up while was in town and
so 1 am doing it,
Summer swallowed three distinct
but very rapid separate times before
she could reply. And now that you've
'phoned-are you coming up to see
me?" she invited.
..Pd love to- he said, genially. but
what about the theater or somewhere
tonight. Is there any particular show
you'd like to see? They're all new to
me, you know"
1--WE been wanting to go to The
Eyes of YOUTH" said Summer,
breathlessIy.
The Eyes of Youth it is then" he
| laughed, land il call about 1880 will
that be all right?"
'Splendid-and I'll be ready" sang
Summer joyously,. land I'm just so
glad you called. Mr.. Gardner. you
| don't know how glad. 1t was terribly
| nice of Elsie to send YOU
| 1t happened to be AIices night for
doing the dishes, and when she came
| into their bedroom after her task was
done she gasped in establishment.
My goodness, Summer! You're all
| dressed up like horse. I never Jaw
you look SO ravishing and-so-so
reckless, you bright-eyed thing! Who
is this Gardner person, anyway"
| But Summer only laughed gayly
and twirled about on her toes. Just
| toward the electric button to let the
ringer in and then skipped to the
| door to admit Lawrence Gardner.
| For a moment Adventure clasped
the hand of Romance. and each
looked into the eyes of the other.
Romance so shyly eager and radiant
| 1y lovely-and Adventure SO well
groomed and stalwart with smiling,
quizzical eyes and genial. friendly
| manner.
And a few moments later they de-
seended the stairs and were whirled
| away in a taxi. and when they had
I returned after the show he left her,
| at the door regretfully.
| 1T has been Il perfectly wonderful
! evening", said Summer. and it was
very dear of Elsie to tell you about
me-"
| Shall I see you again tomorrow ?"
he asked eagerly.
'You-you never can TELL" she an
swered demurely, and vanished within.
! A short time later she related to
Alice the events of the evening". And
he is so attentive and thoughtful and
jolly in quiet sort of way! I just
had a beautiful time" she chartered.
And Alice sat up in her bed and
eyed Summer suspiciously. Summer
| f,n
with that Gardner person?" she de-
manded sternly.
With brilliant eyes and flushing
! cheeks Summer reached up to turn
out the light, then turned and CROPPED
to her bed, and she pulled the COW
ers up to her chin she chuckled a lit
tie In the darkness there. You never
can tell, Alice, old dear-you never
can tell
A week passed-two weeks+aad
each day Lawrence Gardner either
made it point to see Summer Lane
orr to telephone her-usually he saw
her. Three weeks passed-and a
rnonth-and still he fingered in New
York. Until one morning at his hotel
he received a night letter from his
rather that made him grin just a Dit,
but as usual that afternoon he hap
pened to meet Summer at the library
and strolled home with her
: Lets have a nice little home party
with Alice tonight" Suggested sum
mer. And so they did. He Helped set
the table and ran out at the last min
ute to get Zee cream for the dessert.
And after the dishes were done he and
Summer sat side by side on the couch
while Gardner smoked his pipe in
| contented silence.
= summer he said after a long in
terval, I've got a confession to make
he reached over and drew the tele-
phone book toward him, opening it al
/ the Lanes" She sat on one foot and
leaned close to him watching curiously
as his finger slid down the column OF
names. Finally he pointed out the
name OF firm-'Lane, Summers &
, Griggs. Importers" You see," he ex.
planned, "the day I called you up ]
had occasion to call up these people
. The name just above theirs is'-and
he pointed out her own" Lane, Mis-:
Summer. librarian Now" he wen1
on, that name of yours interested me
l SO that I got curious to hear you1
voice, and when 1 had heard youl
voice was determined to see you. O.
course I didn't know any such person
as Elsie Turner in Chicago, but I soor
realized that by some strange coinci
! dence you did-because you're Away.
ringing her into the conversation ant
making it uncomfortable for me.
y just-didn't want to go on any longe1
under false colors, so to speak, SO
had to tell you.''
Summer pulled the telephone bool
e ont of his hand and Rugged it up t.
her breast. at the same time roIlin,
e him an accusing look ont OF the cor
: ner of her dancing eye. Then sh
hunched up her shoulders and Iaughe,
= merrily.
t SILLY" she gigg1ed. Don't yol
suppose I knew you didn't know m
" from Adam. nor any Elsie Turne
y person, either? Why. 1 never evel
heard of her myself"
''What?" Lawrence Gardeners pip
y fell out Of his mouth and he sat vi
ID eagerly. you were pretending, too :?
But Summer would not look at hir
= and only nodded with downcast eyes
49,. 4 Ii 4