The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-15
EVENING STORY
"Mains-Made. -
BY IMBS MACDoNALD.

ner on Fifth avenue and turned
Washington squareward. His punctu-
atty was so noticeable that the little
maid in the kitchen of the great
house 1T the corner involuntarily
glanced over to see if her clock was
right, and quite often the people of
the great house lunched and dined ac-
cording to the time set for them by
the modest Mr.. Mains.
Mains believed in sunlight and air
as a brain stimulant, and he sched-
uled his day so as to cater to that
belief. At IL every morning he stop
ped his work. and at he was usually
before his desk or at his drawing
room table, ready to begin his after
Moons labor.
To look at Mr.. Mains one might
think he was a rather well set up
stenographer or Shoe clerk, or posi-
AS a matter of fact, he was none OF
those. Not a single man you might
meet ROW Washington square to Co
lumbus circle would be likely 10
know who you meant If you mentioh,
ed Westly Mains-yet if you asked
any reputable architect in New York,
he could tell you in a minute But
Mains wasn't an architect, either.
In a few of the houses on upper
Fifth avenue and the Drive might pc
found a room, or an alcove. that con-
tanned some such furniture as coulo
only be produced by an artist with
constructive genius for the application
of art to utility. And underneath
somewhere on each table OF CHAIR,
you might find burned with a close
end: mains Made"
MANY an INSCRIPTIONS imitator mas
branded his own things in the same
manner, but all to no purpose, 1or IN
each one of the Mains designs there is
an Identification key, some trick IN
the design OF some piece inlaid in the
making, known only<o Mains ana re-
corded in the little book that lies In
certain safety deposit vault. so the
Mains Made things are made on the
Integrity of Mains, and are, anu VIII
be for long time to come the hlgnest
achievement of art An furniture.
AT IL o'clock on a certain morning
the young mistress of the great mouse
at the corner banged up the receiver
of her telephone on its hook ana
just been in conversation with her ar
chitect, and, as consequence, she was
Disguised and disappointed beyond
measure. It seemed that altho her
new. summer home out on Long Is
land would be completed within the
which the architect had been unable
to do. She had set her heart on
Mains Made music room-and Mains
had refused to take the job. He had
informed the architect that the limit
ed capacity of his shop would prevent
his taking any more work for the next
two years.
"Then why doesn't he enlarge the
of his shop" demanded
Irene Wedgewood, savagely.
Simply because he doesn't want
to- said her architect. 49,.
"Offer him double money" she
urged.
II did" said the architect. crisp1y,
but money means nothing to Mains"
Perhaps if I see him." she sug-
gested, with visions of her past sue
cess as a persuader of men.
You might succeed conceded
the architect YEARLY, but I doubt it,
So few moments later the imperi-
Gus Miss Wedgewood sailed down the
steps of the great house. At this mo-
ment, however, the mind of Mr.: Mains
was on other things. and his belated
effort to dodge the young woman who
came charging out of the gate with
head down, was a trifle too late.
I-I-beg your pardon" Irene
Wedgewood had the grace to say. Il
I wasn't looking where 1 was go
ing"
I'm entirely uninjured," smiled
Mains amusedly, looking down into
her ahger-clouded eyes. Somebody's
going to catch it," he grinned to him
self humorously, as he passed on.
rich"
And Miss Wedgewood's temper was
not soothed by the little Jap servant
who informed her that Mains would
not be in until two o'clock 1t was an
1t was his business to be in. |
However, she was determined to see
him. and she went back promptly at
two O'Clock.
1t was said of Mains that nothing
could surprise him, but he was sur
ushered into his studio that after
noon.
"why-why." she caught herself
saying. you're the man I ran down
this morning"
And you were terribly angry when |
you did it," laughed Mains.
Irene Wedgewood smiled up into
Mainss eyes, engagingly. I've come |
to-to persuade you. Mr.. Mains, to |
persuade you too reconsider. and
room. I'm Irene Wedgewood. and
Mr.. Howard Colby is my architect"
Yes. Colby spoke of that yester- |
day." said Mains. "Awfully sorry, you |
know. but 1 don't operate a furniture
factory, Miss Wedgewood-just a lit
tie shop down below Eighth avenue. !
only employ twenty men, altho |
they're the highest paid artisans in |
the world. I'm sure you understand |
that if l do not restrict my output, its |
value will deteriorate. 1 really can
not undertake any more work for a |
long time"
But she was paying little attention |,
to what he was saying as she moved |
about the room eagerly touching this
piece and that wondering and ex-
over the loneliness of his |
: And you made them all?" she |
asked
Yes, most of these are originals;
made by my own hands" he smiled |
Il have other things here. Would you
like to see them?'' |
I'D love to- said the once naughty |
Miss Wedgewood.
And he led her dnuun tho ho Ii ~ o,-o