The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-20
EVENING STORY
The Laughter Maker.

the ScOurSe that mad swept thru the
city during the past months and had
made of her belated victim. Her
sickness had cost her her position, and
as she thumbed the little remaining
change in her pocketbook she found it
had left her with a worldly wealth OF
$1.65.
AS she stood in the midst ofsthe busy
street it dawned upon her with over
Whelming force how little, helpless and
insignificant she was. Her heart sank
beneath the waters of despair as she
thought, and only the desperate rally
ing of her courageous soul saved her
from sinking from sight.
What to do next? That was the
question. A sudden wave of weakness
that went over her warned her that
the next thing would be fainting in
public if she were not careful. Then
she noticed across the street before a
theater the advertisement of must
! cal show based upon the adventures of
character we'll known in the funny
papers. The lad" assured the reader
that the play was one long scream.
Now if 1 can get up spunk to laugh
perhaps I'll feel better" Aline said to
herself and wavering in her weakness
she crossed the street, entered the
lobby and laid down a precious So
cent piece at the window.
The theater was comfortable; the
opening music light and cheerful. She
settled herself in her chair, determined
to enjoy herself for two hours anyway;
but few curious glances her way de-
look the limit" she 'muttered to her
self; for she knew how thin and
starved and forlorn she must appear.
But don't care" she added, bravely
choking back her tears. I'm just go
ing to forget for a little while-after-
ward Her throat choked~ on the
"afterward."
The music broke into lively over
ture, and the curtain went up. Slowly
at first, then swiftly, the play unfold
ed the adventures of the Irish hero.
Aline forced herself to attention and
to mirth; but the fun of the play was
limited, and she soon found herself
sliding back into her old misery. The
| audience giggled and laughed a bit,
| but no whole-hearted merriment was
present. The actors worked hard for
| 1.-The laughs" but with little success.
Aline was down in the depths of her
dark Questioning of the future, when
suddenly in the shadows of the theater
low, joyous chuckle broke out at
some witticism on the stage. There
! was something so infectious in the
| chuckle that A1ine smiled herself, and
an amused murmur went over the
audience. The chuckle came again,
land broke into laugh, a deep-throat-
ed, jolly laugh, and the audience re-
| sponded. The players seemed to gath
er courage; the audience under the
| guidance of that happy laughter woke
| up, and Aline herself came under its
| spell.
| Only when in the company assem-
| bled for the last chorus did she real
| ize that her respite from her worries
was over; and that thought was fol-
| lowed by quick decision to see who
| the owner of the joyous laugh was.
He must be big and fat-a drummer,
perhaps she thought to herself
What a jolly friend he must make
! She had marked his position in the
hall, and drew toward it. She watch
ed his duslzy figure emerge from his
seat and start slowly for the lobby
She crossed his path, her eyes curious
She turned in the-+obby to find her.
self gazing into pair of grave, kindly
eyes set in a broad, jolly face. The
face wavered before. her eyes, and she
| trembled. -
| A strong arm caught her and drew
her aside. Thru the haze in her mind
she heard a kindly voice, There
there, little girl, buck up. This is nc
place to faint. Come with me-
She was led into an anteroom and
cold water given her to drink.
| Her mind cleared. She drew herself
to her feet with a faint word of thanks
and looked into the face of her bene-
factor. It was the laughter-fna be-
yond question.
look here you are all in. Let me help
you home
She laughed. Home! I haven't
any"
His deep. merry chuckle sounded
Neither have L: but 1 know q place
where we can hang our hats. Come
/ on"
Too weary to care, she went with
him, her hand drawn beneath his arm
Some feeling of being sheltered and
comforted went with her; and il
seemed so good that she made no eff.
fort to refuse.
She found herself guided to a quie
corner in restaurant, and facing g
broad. fat face from which the same
grave, kind eyes looked out.
She heard his whimsical voice say
What you need is a good feed. Go tt
it-only not too far, for I'm about
busted myself. Now, what's wrong
with you?"
The steaming soup was laid befor,
her. 1t drove away her first though
of refusing to accept his offer and con
tributing her own little sum. for she
remembered she must save that for
nights lodging somewhere.
She looked at him a moment
Something in the quiet friendliness o
his voice touched the door of he1
heart and it opened. She told him the
story.
1 He whistled when she was thru
Some punk luck, little girl VIII,
you beat me, and for rotten luck
am the original Jonah. A week age
had come to the point of eating sho,
leather l.
The appearance of the rest of tn,
order silenced him just as he seemed
TO be on the verge of explaining wha
circumstances had saved him Sh,
was tempted to ask him, but the gooC
things spread before her won her i'm
mediate attention.
Under the gay spell of his friendli
ness she, forgot what waited for he
outside in the night-loneliness wear ri
ness, perhaps hunger. Only when at las
they did stand outside did she realize
and the old horror came over her: blu
she put on a brave face, only to dis
cover that she could not fool him.
He did not ask her where she wa