The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-06
EVENING STORY
The Girl in the Case.
BY A. w. PEACH

by the woaid-be humorist of the in
mates. He was so homely that man
could, in .he phrase of another hu-
morist look at him once and ever aft /
er feel satisfied with his own counte-
nance.
Ames took the joking good d-natured- |
Iy-in a way that seemed to hint that
he had something up his sleeve: but
that something never appeared. He |
was a drummer, travelling thru the |
southern states. and his visits to the |
apartment. where he retained a room. |
were always at the holiday season |
when social festivities were at their
height !
to sit around while the others dis |
cussed their plans and made their
preparations for dances and celebra- |
tions of a like nature. He was in
duced to go to few, but 1t was PLAIN
that he did not enjoy himself The
girls looking upon him were inclined
to let him decorate the chairs. He was
a poor conversationalist except with
men; so the other sex never learned
to know his sunshiny nature.
The conclusio.Nwas reached that he
was doomed to be a bachelor for life
Beattie put it thus to him: Jeff,
we've done the best for you we could,
but you're simply non gratis to the
me, for instance" And he went on
to laud himself.
1t was all done in fun, but keen eyes
saw Ames's face charge; and it was
wearied of the old joke. He drew
from his vest his watch and casually
snapped it open.
"Tm tired of hearing you fellows
shout about your girls and feel sorry
for me. Now, here's something for
you-rook over that picture, and if
you can match that face with a pref
tier one, I'll pay for TIE dinner, he
said quietly, but smilingly-
LaughteG greeted him. but the
watch was passed around; and each
face change as it came to look upon
the face. Starr, who was the last OF
the circle was startled as he saw the
fair girlish face appear to his gaze
He guessed that her eyes must be
dark-probabIy a brown; her lips had
the curve that is ever inviting; and her
hair was coiled in heavy masses.
He handed the watch to its smiling
! owner Jeff. you have one on us.
Now there's just one thing for you to
do; you must have her al the big
dance,'
| A chorus of. approval greeted him,
but Ames shook his head. Bring he-
here for you handsome chaps to run
away with-well, hardly"
J. Question 1fter question was asked
him. but to each he had a smiling re-
, ply; and with each answer he was
able to Settle up some old scores.
Finally he said: you've referred
before to the chap whose mustache
was so red that when he appeared on
| the street people thought his nose was
| bleeding; and you've put me in his
class Just mark it down that hand
some face Isn't all there is to it,
! There the matter rested for week.
Ames had a sweet revenge, for the
rest of the men were determined to
i see the One Girl. AT last. however,
Beattie. with his usual lack of tact, got
results.
Il don't believe there is any ~uch
| girl=she's a fake" he announced.
The others in the room saw Ames'
| face redden and then whiten. Tho
silence was a bit oppressive until Starr
said quietly. Bring her to the dance
| him stand the dinner if you dol"
Ames seemed to read in their faces
their doubt-the doubt that had risen
at this question in Beattie's thought
! less statement.
His home1y face broke into it's pleas
ant smile. ''She will be there; and,
Beattie, 1 want you to make good
| when L have shown you up" Then he
turned and left the room.
The rest felt sorry for Beattie. for
dinner to that hungry crowd was
usually a serious affair as far as a
mans pocketbook was concerned if
not in other ways.
AS to the question whether or not
.
Gus Girl, there was some doubt Those
| who knew him we'll realized that he
meant business: the others were con-
fident that he would fail to appear
During the next few days Ames was
| often asked about the girl; and his
answer was always easy and conf
dent.
The night of the dance come. The
orchestra played their preliminary
concert and then swung into the dance
| hut iT-I
| peared.
At o'clock Beattie smiled, at 10
o'clock he was grinning, at II he
was ready to laugh, when he turned
in time to see coming in the door the
tail figure of -AmeS and with a slight,
wrapped figure whose face, peering
smilingly over the collar of her cloa k
was the winsome face of the Girl in
| the watch.
There's where 1 lose two weeks
salary Beattie groaned to Starr.
You deserve to lose more" was the
answer as Starr fastened to Ames, in
tending to be at least second applicant
for a dance.
Ames' triumph was complete. When
he swung into the lifting music of the
next dance, the eyes of the hall were
upon him and her. She danced beau
tifully. so much so that she more than
made up for Ames' awkwardness; and
he seemed to be inspired to the ex-
tent that his large feet assumed a
rhythm unusual to them.
Her picture had perhaps been a bit
complimentary; but she was beautiful
of that there was no doubt; and
every one of the doubling males who
danced with her made up his mind
that he would get in on Beatties din
ner.
The evening ended with no issue in
doubt. When Ames hade them good
night and escorted her from the hall,
it was admitted that he had won a tri-
umph; and the only despondent face
| in the gathering was Beattie's.
The next day in Beatties room,
where the clans had gathered to rub
it in" appeared a hallboy with Beat
ties mail. Sourly silent TO the re-
marks going his way. fhe opened his
mail. read the first letter with wonder