The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-24

One was the strange absences of
Beethoven, and the other was how to
win Ned for the head of her family
II one of them had been able to look
into the others mind there would have
been no trouble about solving one of
the puzzles, and of course that was the
more important one of the two.
, Just. when it seemed that Ned and
Velma were beginning to understand
each other something happened that
made them both miserable. Ned had
arranged to take Velma to theatrical
performance. but she sent him a note
saying she would be b;sy that evening
and could not see him.
1t made him downcast for a while
but he recovered from the attack of
the blues and invited his roommate
to the show in Velma's stead. On the
way to the theater they met Velma
with a young SIAN.
Ned formed the same conclusion
that almost any other fellow would
have formed in similar circumstances.
He decided that he had been thrown
over" and, having a proud, sensitive
nature. he resolved to stay away from
| Velma.
He did not know that the head of
the music sales department of the en-
tire nationwide chain of emporium
stores was in the city that evening to
take an inventory of the two local es-
adjustments and that Velma and this
OFFICIAL were SIMPLY vi lhClE way
one of the stores to the other when
Ned saw them.
When Velma said she would be
busy that night she meant it in
literal sense, and she was not enter
tanning some other young man, not
withstanding appearances.
Velma felt as bad about it as Ned,
but she likewise possessed a consider
able amount of pride, and, knowing
she was in the right, altho realizing
the circumstantial evidence was
against her, she would not permit her
self to take the first step toward a
reconciliation.
One evening, shortly after the
busy" one. while she was trying to
read and failing because of thoughts
that intruded. she suddenly came to
a realization that Beethoven had dis
appeared. He had been in the room
only a moment previous and must
have slipped out when Velma went to
the ice box at the end of the hall. Here
was a chance to give her mind diver
sion and at the same time perhaps
fathom the mystery of the missing cat.
She stepped to the door and looked
out.
Yes, far down the hall was Bee
thoven, just starting down the stairs.
She followed him to the second and
then to the first floor. and finally into
the back part of the basement, which
was used as a storeroom and which
contained the furnace. From a dis
lance she saw the cat crawl thru
window of the basement, and she hur-
ried upstairs and darted outside.
Beethoven was walking close to the
building, peering into various windows
that came in his way. She saw him
stop before one near the front of the
house, and as she watched a hand
came out of the aperture and seized
the cat drawing him inside. Without
stopping to consider whose room Bee
thoven had entered, Velma hurried to
the window and stood looking down
at Ned holding the cat in his arms.
What are you doing with my cat ?"
she demanded, in what was int uded
to be stern tones.
Your cat?" Ned inquired, trying to
be somewhat cold. "'What do you
mean? This is my cat"
Hes mine and his name is Bee
thoven" she snapped.
Hes mine and his name is Beau
tyt" Ned insisted.
Each looked defiance at the other
for a moment. then smiles took the
place of scowls on both the faces
We both seem to own him. Velma
said, demurely, kicking a pebble with
her small boot. What can we do
to settle it 2"
A desperate thought entered Ned's
mind. Here was a chance to find out
his fate and all the uncertainty he
iidu DceH IdDOTlnS unOer IOF months.
Fearing he would be lost if he hest
tated. he gave voice to the big idea
without waiting for a chance to
change mind.
Standing there framed by the base
ment window, a cat crawling over his
shoulder, looking up eagerly and
somewhat timorously at girl outside
who was kicking a pebble around
foolishly to hide her confusion, he
said:
There's only one way 1 know. Let's
form a permanent partnership of our
selves, and that will make all three
of us happy. At least, am in hopes
that it will"
She gave the pebble a furious kick
that sent it spinning away.
1T sure will" was her reply.
Copyright, 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)