The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-24
EVENING STORY
disappearing.
BY VINCENT c. PERI Y

Copyright, 1918. b. Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
Chester Hall carefully arranged his
skirts as he settled in the big comfort
able chair among the palms, took a
powder puff and mirror from his vani-
ty bag and cody powdered his nose.
After making quite sure that his hair
was on straight and his earrings were /
not coming off, he put his neatly slip
pered feet out, displaying more than
foot of silk hose and sat back fan
ming himself contentedly. Altho from |
all appearances he was the personifi- |
cation of serenity, a fire OF resentment
burned within him. He was an idiot to
have allowed the boys to persuade
that costume, he thought. Masquer-
aiding as a female in college theat-
ricals was all right, but it was dl1-
ferent thing at d dance. For the 1lrst
time in his career he was experience |
ing what it was to be walIilo"er'
and it more than CALLED him.
If only he were not such GOOD
impersonator and had rot a reputa-
ton as such to keep up. If he haont
deceived every girl in the place 1t !
would not have been so awkward,
but things had gone so far that ne
wouldn't unmaSk under clrcumstanc-
es. Believing he was a girl, none OF
the girls would dance with him, and |
wouldn't waste dance on him. Be
sides. he didn't care for a dance with |
boy; what pleasure would there De
in that?
But the most CALLING part of 1t all
was the presence. or the expected !
presence of the girl he had been wait |
ing months to meet. When he thought |
of that the tanning stopped II ne
had known she was going to be there |
a million dollars would not shave |
hi RI
tune He had wanted to make a |
good impression the first time they |
met and if he was introduced to her
a he was she would think at once that !
he was an idiot and would nave noun
ing further to do with him. Her let
tiers would stop, and everything would !
be over Even her brother Bob, his |
chum and roommate, would not be
able to fix it up, he was sure what
kind of friend was Bob, anyway, to let |
him come dressed as a girl, and not
tell him Mural was going to be there |
until they arrived and. it was too late |
to back out? But he couldn't feel
bitter toward Bob, for it was thru |
him he had got into correspondence
with Mural, and her letters had been |
the most interesting part of his college !
life. If he could get away without
revealing who he was it would be all
right, but he was ANXIOUS to nave
look at Bcb's sister before he left. If
she was anything ike her picture she
was a beauty. Apparently she wasn't
on the floor, for the position he had
taken gave him a full view of the ball
room, and he was sure he would rec
ognize her the minute MS eyes Ill
upon her.
The music was wonderful and CheS-
ter could hardly keep his feet still.
oh. what would he have given to
have had that two-step with Mural.
If that air kept up he couldn't keep
off the floor much longer. he thought.
There was no partner about, but If
someone didn't come and ask MIN TO
dance he would get out and do solo.
A, faint cough beside him caused
him to look up. A very slender young
man dropped into the seat next to
him. AS their eyes met Chester
dropped his: he had to remember his
role But the one glance had been
sufficient to size up the young man
He was a gawk and it was his first
time out Chester could see. The
dress suit looked out of place on him.
and he felt out of place in it. He
was too shy to ask any of the girls |
to dance-but how could he stay out
of it with music like that Chester |
couldn't see. Here was his oppor-
same time help the gawk get over
his shyneSs.
He rose, smiled in the boys face, |
and said, as coyly as he could:
please be my partner for the next
dance"
1t wasn't the proper thing for a |
young lady to do, but Chester was |
sure the gawk wouldn't know that |
He had seen shy boys in his life, but |
this one was shyer than he had ever |
imagined a boy could be. Altho |
Chester put out his arm inviting1y |
the fellow stood in embarrassed be- |
wildeTment. The music was as en- |
trancing as ever. and Chester couldn't |
stay off the floor any longer. Before |
the young man could stammer refusal i
he was whirled onto the floor. and he |
had to dance to save his feet from |
being tramp1ed. After Chester had |
stepped on his toes number of times |
the gawk seemed to realize what was |
expected of him. and before the sec |
ond time around he was dancing very |
well.
So far so good, Chester thought But |
it was his duty to break this young |
fellow into thu methods to employ |
with the fair sex. With this in view |
he started to chatter gaily in the |
sweetest effeminate tone he could as
Chester was exaSperated. The music |
stopped and Chester applauded loudly i
for an encore. His partner stood like |
the gawk Chester thought he was, and
he felt like kicking him. When they
started out on the encore he thought |
of another course of action. 1t would /
be a shame to let such a good dancer /
become a fixture. |
You chump! Why don't you talk p
he said in his natura- voice. IF you
expect to get in soft with the girls |
you'll have to talk a little. Girls hate
to dance with a block of wood, even |
tho they can dance as well as you
can. You are a splendid dancer, and
if you could only talk the girls would
take you up in no time
The look of horror on his partners
face made Chester feel like stopping
for a good laugh, but instead he ex-
planned: 81 am boy dressed up a
Uir md Tn, having the time of nv