The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-24
EVENING STORY
Outside the Game.
BY S. B. HACKLEY.

dry, and the big yellow chrysanthe-
NUNS Herman Seidler, Camden's flor
ist had brought to perfection in his
greenhouses near the football grounds,
quivered under the volume of yells of
the boosters of the rival teams
Camden and Warren colleges had
taken up athletics in general and foot
ball in particular a little late in life;
perhaps for this reason their enthu-
siasm was all the greater
And nearest the two warning teams
were the two most enthusiastic foot
ball men in Camden town-Branham
Riker, the young professor of Greek in
Camden college. and Clement Sea.
bookkeeper for Grimes & Quincy, the
Camden wholesale grocers.i
Seas enthusiasm was of the silent
variety Though his blue eye saw
every move, he stood as quiet as a
post But Riker's black eyes flashed;
his dark. Spanish-looking face glowed
or glowered as his team scored or lost.
Pretty Jane Fithian, the daughter
of the professor of mathematics,
watched the two enthusiasts rather
,, than the game, a worried expression
in her hazel eyes
Clement Sea loved her-that she
knew, and Riker was going to tell her
this evening that he loved her. Which
did she care for? Clement had never
asked her to marry him: he had not
even called on her since Prof. Riker
had been going out with her so much.
but it wasn't that he didn't wish to-
| but because he believed she loved
Riker That. too, Jane knew.
II she accepted Riker she would be
the envy of the other girls of the town.
Most any of them would think they
were lucky to marry a college pro-
lessor that looked like Branham
Riker.
Out driving the day before in Rik-
| er's new car, Jane saw Clement. re-
| leased from his afternoons work,
watching the team at practice.
Its bit queer to see a sissy inter-
ested in football" Riker remarked.
Indeed Clement Sea is no sissy"
Jane averred Indignantly.
| Riker laughed: "Well anyway. he's
the kind that gets henpecked after
marriage and tells everything he
knows to wifey.''
Jane laughed a bit unwillingly, but
under the spell of his fascination her
! resentment soon died.
| "Warreni Warrenl" The yell was
| louder. more exultant than ever. A
| crowd of visitors from Warren waved
Warrens colors, red and blue. The
white and yellow of Camden, too,
| waved defiantly, but it was evident
| that Camden was playing a losing
! game. Then the ugly thing hap
pened.
The spectators had crowded up
close. Jane and one other only saw
| a SuQQen 1ndQ act. Inc next
! the game was won by Warren. When
| the wounded" were helped off the
| field, it was found that the coach of
| the Warren team was suffering from
three fractured ribs. When the young
man was treated at the home of
President Sayre, black and blue spots
| were found on his side, inflicted by
i the hard heel of a shoe not in the
game and not by accident. Who did
it? ~
Jane F'ithian could have told. JaEe,
who. in the twinkling of an eye, had
had the cobwebs of fancy swept from
her brain and the illusions of attrac-
| tive personality unaccompapied by
decent self control, dispelled. .-,1 ~
The college president entertained
the winning team at dinner. and at a
| 2 O'Clock feast held at the home of
lex. Riker was one of the guests; Jane
| Fithian, an animated creature, with
brilliant flags of color in her cheeks,
| another.
Soon after the guests left the dining
room Jane sought her young hostess
in the dressing room.
you're not going, Jane?" she eX-
claimed in surprise. Are you forget
ting we're all going for moonlight
ride this evening-and-and-
Professor Riker taking your"
"I've got to go home, Elsie,'' Jane
answered. They're dining out-there's
nobody there. and I've just remem-
bered something. 4-perhaps I will
come back after a WHILE
Let Upton take you in the car
if you must go, Jane" her friend sug-
gested. Jane shook her brown head
NO. want to walk"
I'm behind on my work since I've
been losing sleep of night. I've got to
go to the office now and begin long
1 afternoons work." Jane had heard a
man say in refusing a dinner invita-
ton at the grounds that morning.
When Clement Sea took down the
telephone receiver the voice that came
over the wire set his heart sleaping.
viii you please come up 90 the
house-right now?' 1t said.
Il am very busy" he stammered
ooh, Clement" the voice was trem
ulous. Il will keep you but a few
minutes. II must see you"
Five minutes later Jane Answered
his ring at the F'ithian doorbell and
led him to the parlor
why haven't you been around tC
see US this long timer" she demanded
} lightly.
He tried to answer her as lightly
but ended in the stammered truth.
'I-I-Jane, do you think a fellow
: wants to hang around, the girl he's
loving until his heart aches for her
when he knows he's outside the
game?'
James breath came quick. then she
! smiled coQuetishly.
Clement" she asked irrelevantly
| "who was it hurt Mr.. Swift today
Who was it kicked him when he
slipped and fell?"
Clement Redeemed to the roots of his
; hair, then as quickly paled. He had
thought he alone saw that rash act
"Jane-I-nobody would believe me
if told what 1 saw. IL mustn't tel
; you.'
> II would believe you" she an.
: swered.
= That's all the more reason why
/. shouldn't tell you" he said soberly;
cit might make you unhappy. / CAM
tell you that Jane. don't ask mel"
James heart beat a rapturous tune
e 81 knew he wouldn't she exulted. ~
| knew all the time that he wouldn't
'T-Clem-'' she went on. eff I tel