The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-18
EVENING STORY
A Mans Man.
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.

l
famed himself mechanically. Never
before had he been under such a nerve
strain. His cheeks were burning
scarlet and his tongue seemed to
cleave to the roof of his mouth. He
had Just finished his first speech in
public, and he could not remember a |
word that he had said.
He must have said something pleas !
ing to the audience, tho, for the ap- |
Dlause had not yet died out. Never |
before had he realized how gawky he |
was. His red hands appeared more |
offensive than ever and he was sure
he looked as foolish as he felt in his
dress suit.
why hadn't he had sense enough to
wear q collar that did not choke him.
he wondered wildly. He was making
himself more than uncomfortable. but
the next speaker made him forget
himself for the time.
Clarence Allison, manager OF the
towns only bank, stepped to the plat
form and eyed the audience in pat
ronizing way. He was the one mani
Brian envied, with his suave, clean
cut fashion-sheet style. As he started
to speak Brian took a deep breath Of
admiration.
What would he have given to be
able to wear dress suit as well as
hands big and red? Why weren't they
white and small like those Of the
banker? Why did his hair refuse to
stay plastered down, and why did
develop into bristly brush instead Of a
silky ornament like the one that
adorned Allison's upper lip?
When the speech was ended Brian
was almost ready to run from the
building Allison must have shown
Boone was. The comparison would
make a laughing stock of him.
Beulah Ashley, the young princi-
| pal Of the high school, stepped on the
her. Quietly she commenced to speak,
| outlining her plans for the new high
school that she hoped the meeting
would decide to build. Simply she
| chose her words, and beautifully ex-
pressed her thoughts, Brian's face
glowed with pleasure.
To him she was the cleverest
| woman in the world-the woman he
| loved. But even as she spoke he real
! lied that his love was in vain. Clar-
ence Allison was sitting back smiling
| at her and Brian could see her smile
| back.
Just as the applause broke, shrek
came from the back Of the hall.
''FIrei"
The place was packed to suffocation.
Brian felt the people sweeping past
him as he cried out for order. The
fighting. whirling crowd pushed its
way to the door, and then sprang back
as clouds of smoke swept in.
| z "Sit DOWN." Brian yelled, but the
smoke seemed to choke him and he
realized that he could not be heard
above the din. The crowd seemed to
realize all at once that their outlet was
barred by the fire below. and as one
man turned to dash over the platform
to the small door at the rear, Brian
turned to see Beulah standing as if
glued to the floor.
| He caught a glance of her just be-
fore the crowd closed in on her. That
1 was enough. Like mailman he
| fought his way thru them all and
reached her. The smoke was binding
them, but once his arms were about
her she seemed to lose all sense of
danger.
The quickest escape was by the fan
light in the roof, he knew. There was
only one way up and he took it. Cling
ing to her with one arm and using the
other to pull them up the seemingly
| imRregnable wall he started the
climE His muscles responded admir-
ably. He was steadying her on the
roof almost before she had time to
realize what it was all about
\ THE big elm is the only way down.
he announced. land there is quite a
jump to reach its branches Will you
trust me to take it with you in my
arms?"
MY safety is in your hands," she
said sweetly, as she frightened her grip
4 upon him. You have the strength
of Hercules
That was enc Ugh. With the same
arm about her he took the jump,
reached out and grasped the limb, his
muscles cracking under the test.
From one limb to another he swung
until they reached the ground. Brian
was loath to take his arm from about
Beufah, but the pain in his wrist made
1t necessary to do so.
He looked at the other bleeding
hand, and smiled at it for the first
time in his life with admiration. 1t
had saved Beulah-the girl. But had
!, 1t? There was laugh from the
crowd that startled him. Everybody
seemed to be enjoying the sight of the
smoke and he looked at them in
wonder.
: 1T wasn't a fire at ALL one said.
1T was just smoke from the furnace.
The panic was without foundation
Brian's cheeks had regained their
blush of shame. He turned to make
an apology to Benlah, but she had
/, disappeared. She had realized what
an idiot he had been, he supposed, SO
had got out of the way. He had mad
a show of her as well as himself why
couldn't he die right theie, he asked
himself. Would he ever be done max
ing a foor of himself?
Here, Brian. here is some water
LIE: me battle your wrist" It was
: Beulah- He turned to her quickly
but the smile of her face was not one
of pity.
Il have been an idiot. It is not q
fire at ALL he said hoarsely. "You
must have thought I was crazy"
| I thought nothing of the kind, 81
. she answered. II thought it was a
, fire, too Every one did. If you had
, not rescued me 1 would have died ri
fright. No other man in the world
could have done it as you did"
, Il was carried away >by the panic
/, of it. too" he answered. st am sure
,, Mr.. Allison did not lose his head
,, That was another chance he had to
| show his sunerinritx over mo