The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-28
EVENING STORY
When the Stake Is High.
BY A. w. PEACH.

or the nall knew at last Inc reason
for the sudden change in her father.
She heard with slowing heart the
grave voice of the lawyer saying, Col
well has the papers which are the
evidence against you; and while we
who know you feel that your action
was never criminal to any degree, in
the eyes of the law and the gang who
are determined to drive you from
business, you are guilty. 1 must tell
you frankly. You must prepare for
the worst ColwelI takes office this
week, and naturally will want to start
with a case he can win
Marion heard her fathers low groan
of pain, and she hurried down the hall
to her room. There she stood, in 81
lence and thought She had watched
her father gradually seem to grow old
that month. He was haggard and
worn, and his will was gradually
brea king. under the burden >of what
he was facing.
What could she do? That was the
question. She had often seen Colwell,
the young attorney who had been
elected states attorney. His strong,
serene face had appealed to her, and
she knew that if his mind was made
up to lmprison her father no plea of
hers could count.
But I must do something's
thing! Fathers lawyers evidently
think there is nothing to be DONE" she
thought to herself. Then the decision
flashed into her mind. II will see Col
well and tell him just how it is
Her decision reached, she set about
carrying it out: but all the way to the
heart of the city she was wondering
what she could say-and what he
would say. There was nothing for her
to say other than that she had faith
IN her fathers honor and honesty She
realized how foolish that statement
would sound to the keen lawyer whose
life had been spent among men who
cid not do things from honest mo-
tives.
When she reached the great office
building her courage almost failed
her: but, setting her will, she entered.
She went into the outer office. and,
without realizing the stir she made
among the clerks as she came into
the busy office atmosphere looking
like a wild rose strayed from some
garden, she found herself guided by
a polite young man to the waiting
room.
She was one of three girls waiting.
Her wonder as to their errands there
was quickly ended when she heard
one of them say, Pm going to make
a try for the job even if 1 don't make
good afterward.'
1t dawned upon Marion that the
girls were applicants for a position as
stenographer or secretary to Colwell.
She had prepared herself for secretari-
al work in order to aid her father.
ColweH did not know her nor did any
enc else in the district. A wild, rash
plan formed in her mind, she, too,
would apply for the position, and per-
haps-perhapS she could secure the
fatal papers which alone could convict
| her father.
Shivering slightly with nervousness,
| she watched the girls go in and come
out depressed. Then her turn came.
She stepped into the quiet office
| bravely, and found herself courteously
| seated and then scanned quickly. She
| had never been near enough to see his
| eyes; she found them grave, searching,
with the thought of his mind hidden.
He asked her the usual questions.
! and then gave her some dictation.
| With trembling but skilled fingers she
wrote, and afterwards typed the mat
| ter. She watched him, half praying,
| half hoping he would reject her, for
| she sensed that he was favorably
| impressed. ~
He looked up with his gray eyes.
| IF you wish the position, it is yours,
| Miss
Quickly Marion breathed the name
she had already sent in to him
| Marion Lane" -
She was soon at work beside him,
| and thru that fated afternoon she
came in touch, for the first time. with
a personality SO strong that it master
ed her. When the afternoon ended he
| turned to her with a friendly word.
You are very capable, Miss Lane,
| and if you will tell me more about
yourself would like to make you my
secretary" he said, his gray eyes upon
| her. 81
She shook her head, frightened.
Really there is nothing to tell
His words disturbed her. If she
was to be his stenographer she would
not have the opportunity to secure the
damaging papers; as his secretary she
would. But evidently before giving
her the position of trust he wished t.
know more about her.
| To her surprise the next morning she
found herself doing a secretary's work.
Her hopes rose again; she would S9t
those papers.
case was approaching trial She
caught herself wondering, now and
then, if she had not better tell Colweil
the whole story-her own action-Who
she was. She felt sometimes as If she
simply must go to him. Her thoughts
were often with him; memories haunt
ed her after working hours-memories
of his face, his ways-and suddenly
the truth came
Her face crimsoning, tho she was ir
the shelter of her own room, she tried
to drive the thought away. II do be-
lieve L am in love with him-oh. the
idea of it!--the man who may SEND
father to PRISON.
She fought bravely. but when sht
found on her desk a bunch of rose.
the next morning she all but wept into
1 them. It was just his customary
thoughtfulness, yet it meant more thar
that to her.
Then came the crisis. The next aft.
ernOon she saw him take some paper.
from case. and from her desk she
read the inscription upon them. i
was the evidence against her father
She saw Colwell glance thru them
then place them in a file He picked
, up another folio and went out
She looked at the file with fasci
mated eyes. Then with a low cry
stirred by some inner despair, sh,
| rushed over, drew the slip of paper