The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-07
EVENING STORY
A Flipped Coin.

Hilton's one apartment hotel"
He was wondering II 1t would be
better to ask the girl who appealed
most to him as a possible vile TO
marry him and break it to her that
she was also expected to be q stenog-
rapher, or whether 1t would be better
to look up a good stenographer and
having selected her for ner merits in
this capacity take a chance on the
proposition Of making her his wife.
There were two ways of approaching
the situation.
were that in his work in one Of Hill
toms recently created war Industries
his efficiency was decidedly curtailed
because he had no stenographer, and
that after having used every means
he could think Of he had not been
able to find a young woman in town
capable of taking the job who was
not already employed. or any conceiv-
able room where a. girl from out Of
town might be housed. Bradley had
gone over possible rooms with fine
tooth comb. There were simply none
to be had.
Bradley had come six months before
when the boom in Hilton was Just
starting, and he had been fortunate
enough to get what at other times
would have been regarded as a rather
bad buy in the way of an apart
ment.
1t had two rooms, and much as
Bradley disliked the idea of sharing
his sanctum with a male stenographer,
he had considered the proposition OF
getting a young man to take the Job
and allowing him to live on a cot in
his living room. But male stenogra-
pliers were simply not to be had.
There was still the idea of sharing
the apartment left, and simply be-
cause it was the only possible solution,
Bradley decided he would have to
marry his stenographer and share his
quarters with her or make a stenog-
rapher of wife. He had come home
to decide the best method of proce-
dure. He drew a coin from his pocket
and then tipped it and leaned over
to see how fate had decided for him.
He had settled that If it came up
heads he would ask Molly Drew in his
home town to consider the proposition.
She wasn't a stenographer, but she
had learned to type in school and she
could take care Of his correspondence.
He flattered himself that the idea of
becoming Mrs. Blake might not be
entirely distasteful to her. The coin
came up tails. That meant that he
should make his selection according
to the ability Of the young woman as
a secretary, and then, somehow. throw
in the marrying idea. Yes, the coin
had come up tails; but after Bradford
had pocketed it again he decided to
ask Molly Drew. anyway.
That is why he took the IL o'clock
o'clock the next morning had tele-
phoned to Molly to tell her that he
had something important to say to her.
By 10 he was at the Drew house. Then
he and Molly started walking in the
autumn air.
1t was very difficult to say what he
had to say In a tactful way, and per-
haps he bungled it. At any rate, ten
minutes after-he had begun with
Molly, have something important to
ask you," he realized tht he was walk
ing beside rather irate young wom-
an. who kept her face turned from
him and he was making silent vows to
himself that after that he would obey
the dictates of a flipped coin.
You never thought of asking me
before" he remembered that she had
said. Now that I can be of use to
you, now that can earn my own liv-
ing and help you besides, you ask me- =
Bradford took the afternoon train
back to Hilton, and, on the train, at
first tried to dodge and then rather
welcomed the society of Maud Gas
ton, an old schoo1mate of his She
was going to Hilton. She had heard
that there were all sorts OF rare op-
portunities there for stenographers,
and she was tired to death Of earning
her paltry fifteen a week in her uncle s
law Office So she had packed her
belongings and was running off to Hill
ton and would let the people back
home know as soon as she reached
there. Bradford listened attentively,
and from time to time looked with
considerable steadiness at Maud's we'll
formed features. She wasn't at all
bad looking, and he had heard that
she was rafting good stenographer
Then she asked him if he could help
her get a job. It was apparently his
cue. The fates had sent 1t.
Il know there are Jobs enough" he
| said. I'm fact. 1 have a job in mind
It pays pretty well. but-well. that u.s.
the pay wouldn't be of the slightest
Importance. OF course, you under
stand that-and, and you would know
that had long been. been-you
good pals in school. didn't we?"
The car was rumbling noisily, and
perhaps Maud did not hear all OF
Bradford's incoherent remarks. AT
any rate, she evinced no concern for
his sanity, but when they. left she
told him cheerfully that when he goi
| ready to- explain she would be glad
to hear.
She was staying in the room of q
| friend who had gone away for the
weekend and would want to see him
sometime the next day. Monday, and
would also be glad to have him find a
room for her.
Yes, indeed" stammered Brad
ford.
| Bradford stopped for dinner on his
way to his apartment and at O'Clock
| when he arrived there he found a very
weary Molly Drew waiting for him
in the small reception room down
stairs.
I've COME" she said with finality
1T thought it over and over and when
it occurred to me that probably II
you didn't persuade me to be your
secretary, you'd persuade some good
stenographer to be your wife. I :us,
| couldn't endure the idea
$50 decided to take the next trair
and tell you before it was too late
told mamma all about it and she