The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-15
EVENING STORY
The Thoroughbred.
BY VINCENT G. ERRY.

~One of the most annoying things in
the world is a necktie that refuses to
slip and it is doubly annoying when
the collar comes undone at each tug
of the tie. Lee williams watched with
interest the patient struggles of his
roommate, Maurice Turner, with such
tie and such a collar.
Why don't you wear another tie"
Lee suggested at length.
Because L am going out with Violet
and she likes this tie. She gave it to
me, in fact, last Christmas.
OH" There was silence for some
minutes.
You don't need to worry about it.
You were out with her yesterday
place at last.
zen, haven't 1 right o?''
of course; so have T.
AS Maurice hurried to keep his ap-
pointment he thought of the conversa-
ton he had just had with his room
mate. Was their mutual liking for
Violet Fitzgerald going to cause a
breach to come between them? Things
could not go on as they had been go
ing for the past two years. Violet
would have to make a choice between
them sooner or later. WhRt if she
chooses Lee? 1t was most likely she
would, for Lee was talented, heir to a
large fortune and a scion of an old
ariStocratic southern family, while he
was working his way thru college and
had nothing before him but an oppor-
tunity to work hard to attain big
things in the world. 1t would be a
long time before he could reach
wealth. But Violet wasn't the sort of
girl that wealth counted with, he told
himself-the character and worth of a
man would be what would impress her
more. Even there, Lee did not fall
II tr11 fri nd
est as the day was long. The pros
poets Of winning Violet did not look
very bright, Maurice felt, but still he
was not going to give her up until he
was sure Lee was the man of her
choice.
There is dog show today" Violet
announced after the first greeting,
and you know how I love dogs
$50 do I; that IS where we will go"
he answered gaily-that was one ad-
vantage he had over Lee, 70" Lee was
not fond of dogs and both he and
Violet were enthusiastic over them.
1t was a big exhibition and the
noise that assailed the couple as they
entered deafened them for a moment
but their ears became accustomed to
it and they were able to discourse on
the merits and dement's of the various
specimens of the different bre eds.
ooh, look at the chops on this bull
dogi" Violet cried as she threw her
arms around n ferocious looking ami
mai isn't he the beauty? Wouldn't
Lee be frightened of him? He just
hates bulldogs, but this old fellow
wouldn't hurt anything"
HE is a dandy" Maurice agreed.
But look at this puppy over here. 1t
is actually weeping with homesick-
ness
80 it isl" Violet exclaimed as she
fastened to~cuddle the pup. The lit
tie fellow licked her fingers by way of
thanks and looked into her face with
big appealing eyes that seemed to say.
Please take me home
The judging took their attention
next Violet could spot the winner
nearly every time.
II just knew that darkest Boston
terrier would win," she said enthusi-
astically after a decision had been
fellow here. Family counts with dogs
as well as men. Give me thoro-
bred, L can pick MIN every time
That started Maurice thinking. So
after all Lee was the man for Violet.
Perhaps that was her way of telling
him. Lee was a thorobred, here was
no doubt about IT and if those were
Violet's views about men as we'll as
dogs, there was no hope Cor him.
Violet did not understand why Maui
rice avoided her after that afternoon.
He had always seemed so anxious to
hold her friendship, but apparently he
had tired of her. There was Lee of
course but just the same she missed
Maurice. That some day she would
have to make a choice between them
had never entered her head, or if it
had, had not dwelt there for any sec
ond thought Down in her heart,
however there was a feeling that she
was just beginning to recognize. and
now that the possibility of having to
make a choice appeared to her she
felt that it would not take her long to
make it, But as the days went by
to pick up the friendship where they
had left off, a feeling of indignation
cropped in, and she wondered if after
all Lee was not the better man.
Commencement day come Then
followed the final baseball match with
the team that had been the rival for
years. 1; was a. GLORIOUS game and the
way both Lee and Maurice played
gladdcned the heart of Violet and
caused her to cheer frantically from
her place among the fans. Oh, what
glorious boys they both were, she
as the game neared an end and things
looked black for the home team. When
it ended in favor of the visitors she
was one of the first to congratulate
her friends among them: ut was
grand" she told them, land I was
She knew where to find Lee and
Maurice and hurried to the place. Per-
haps Maurice had been studying hard
to graduate and that was why he had
neglected her, she thought. OF course
that was it, Why hadn't she thought
of that before?
She paused as she reached within
hearing distance of the members of
the team. 1t was Lees voice raised in
angry protest. AS she listened her
cheeks burned. What a poor loser he
was, she thought, so unlike true
sportsman. Maurice spied her first
and hurried to greet her Lee stopped
his flow of angry denunciation of
everybody and everything in general
and looked around shamefully-
I'VE had better get away from
here" Maurice said, trying to cover up
Lees mistake.
st am sorry for Lee" Violet said.
II hadn't idea he such a door