The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-18
EVENING STORY
The Game of Living.
BY S. B. HACKLEY.

| ing stone steps OIL the church On 'he
corner
I've got forrest a minute he said,
half aloud, tanning himself slowly
with his straw hat. 1T doesn't take
much exertion to use a fellow up
when he's only three days out of the
hospital-but it's glorious to be cut
again, John says it's pretty quiet on
my beat-me for duty in a couple or
so days new!''
A pretty young girl came out of the
church and paused half moment I'M
certainly on the upper step. The
young man, in his swift, involuntary
glance, felt his heart leap. He rose
hastily and stepped aside. She start
ed down the steps, but her eyes were
misty from crying. She stumbled,
missing a step. Buckley caught her
full in his arms as she fell.
Thank you-oh, thank you"' she
faltered as she stood erect, Il was
very AWKWARD"
She passed on down the street, but
he had seen despair in the eyes she
raised to him. He looked after her
with a strange construction of the
heart.
That was my girl!' he said to him
self as he walked slowly back the
other way, land 1 don't even know
her name or where she is going! And
oh, good Lord, she looked like she
wanted to die."
A month before, the old insurance
man for whom Hester Moran worked
had died-the city was overcrowded
with workers-the girl had not found
another job. On this Sunday she had
shrank from going to the little church
she regularly attended, and SO had
gone to big, strange one; but in this
great church it seemed to the little
stenographer every one was rich in
10 nd nd ,e7-o hI1f W.
pennies left in her purse, and, after
Tuesday night, ner rent would be up.
No money, no work. and nowhere to
go.
With despairing bitterness in her
soul, Hester had risen and slipped out
of the church.
I'll try again tomorrow and Tues
day. she said to herself-''perhaps
dnesday-then-"
Monday and Tuesday were one con-
tinuous tramp. She had asked for
work at everything she could do, only
to be turned down everywhere. In the
dusk of Wednesday she stood in the
solved to make one last try. "Stenog-
rapher wanted" the slip of paper she
held in her hand read, Room 609."
The stylish, elderly man into whose
office she was admitted gave one look
at the newcomer, and turned to the
SIX girls waiting TO talk with MIN
about the job,
mo use waiting" he flung at them,
ST can see none of you will dor
With gallant air he set a chair
for Hester in his inner office and drew
his own big chair close up beside it.
you'll suit me to a IT, duckie," he
1--WE been looking for
slick like you. and can see
with one eye you're live wire
Sickened, Hester edged her chair
away.
How much does the place pay?"
she asked.
''Five dollars at first.'
But Ia girl can't live on that"
''Who expects you to, sweetness? A
Joker like you doesn't have to live
on So. Why, you might get as much |
as twenty a week if we hit it off to-
gether. That's what my last stenog- |
rapher got.''
He reached over and squeezed her |
hand. Hester rose, her cheeks aflame |
with helpless wrath.
That's the last insult I'll ever re- |
ceive,' she assured herself when she i
was in the street again, "the very
last"
The smell of the bakeshop's fresh
rolls sickened her hungry stomach, |
empty since her breakfast of crackers. |
AT the foot of the stairs that led to |
her room she paused, tempted to bor-
row slice of bread from her landlady,
but she clinched her hands and |
climbed the steps.
Il won't be hungry very long," she
thought
1t was close on midnight when she i
srept out to the park, where the strong
ide beat against the sea wall. The
night was warm and sultry, but the
girl shivered as she crouched on a
park bench.
~, -
self to conscience; nobody to care"
But as she spoke, there f1oated be-
ore her excited brain the face of the
1oung man who had saved her from
alllng at the church steps.
He'd never hurt woman she
he looked good. 1 could
nave loved him. 1 wish 1 had known
him and he had wanted mel"
A clock not far from the park
truck twelve. The young fellow in
'ollceman,s uniform. standing on the
ea-Wall, heard a light step behind
lin. Then a small white figure
Tipped past him like bird and flung
tself into the water. He let himself
Witty into the washing tide and
truck out for the sinking white
t the base of the wall, and John
'weedie, another officer. whom his
ries had brought, was helping him.
Let me. Bob, you're not fit to ,
III ner again. Tweedie demonstrated !
s, with prayer in his heart, Bick-
ey bent over the girl.
Her eyes were closed but he knew
er for the girl who had passed him
n the church steps on Sunday. He
ad found her again. and like this,
Late in the afternoon Hester awoke
0 clear consciousness in the hospital
ed.
She raised herself.
Why didn't they let me drown?
wouldn't have hurt anybody"
The nurse shook her head in re-
roach TT did hurt some one. The
Dung man who saved you is just up
rom a fever-he went back on duty
My last night-he wasn't fit to jump
ito the river. but he risked his life | 4
ecause he wanted you to live, He's =
good boy. too-Fve known him all
is lifei'
Testers white face turned winter !,