The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-10
EVENING STORY
Slippery Fog.
BY DORA NOLAN.

hustled out of beloved city and de-
posted in a furnished seashore cot
tage, left in a most disreputably untidy
condition by its previous occupants:
if for the first three days after your
arrival it had logged SO persistently,
Iinsistently and consistently that the
windows might as well have been
blank walls; if YOU had nothing more
INTEREST," lg to read than a month be-
fore lasts magazine, and nothing more
inspiring to look at than a framed
print of a Gargantuan mosquito bit
ing the elephantile leg of an amaE-
ingly corpulent lady; il at intervals
eff thirty seconds the damp silence was
broken by the dismal, prolonged wall
of a fog siren; and If, to top it all.
your but Just returned and beloved
Esoldfer- I1tisband-to whose recently &C
auired passion for the open all these
present miseries could be traeed-had
departed on a business trip which to
you did not seem to be the least bit
NECESSARY, would you, or would you
not, provided you are a young mar
ried woman, have done what Sally
Anne did. wonder?
When the time set by Jerry for his
return came AMI passed withou.
word; after Sally Anne had opened
the door at least twenty times, peering
into the impenetrable wall OF fog in
vain, each time turning be ok to
more resentful contemplation of the
fat lady's plump member, she plunged
suddenly from the immaculate heights
of a lifetime of the utmost correct
ness down into the depth of-attend-
ing, alone ami unchape-oned, a pub
lie daneei
Fleeing desperately from her bore
dom, Sally An lie felt her way to the
end of the little beach street an6. there
took trolley for a mile or so to
mammoth pavilion she had noted on
the; day Of her arrival. where a great
sign read, Dancing Every Evening"
/ A long fight of steps led toward cir
cles of blurred light, from beyond
which came the fog-muffied sounds of
music. Half way UP a ticket booth
challenged. The tone of the man be-
hind the grating was firm: NO ladies
without escorts admitted"
A long arm reached over Sally
Anne's shoulder. a bill was thrust thru
the opening: A deep voice said Two"
hand grasped her elbow lightly and
the same voice remarked pleasantly,
I'm SO glad YOU came. Hurry and
we can make this waltz"
Sally Anne loved to danee-and
could. So could her partner, as she
soon discovered. He was taller, much.
but in the creeping mist which sifted
in at doorway-s and windows and thru
which the half hundred couples cir
cled weird4y, it was difficult to get
clear impression of his features. That
the tall man was courteous gentle
man was self-evident; the floor and
the, music were good. Aside from a
few tweaks of conscience just at first,
Sally Anne thoroiy enjoyed the eve
ming. They danced much. sat out
a. foII
without giving a ghost of a hint as
to his identity, mentioned his service
overseas. He told some amusing ex-
perienees, Incidentally referring to his
top sergeant and often to his first
lieutsnant, but never calling them by
name.
A couple, nearby spoke OF the hour.
| which was late. Hurriedly Sally Anne
started up, saying she must go at
once. Suddenly full realization of
what she had done came to her. Her
escort walked silently down the steps
suggested nervously that ne leave her
there: she could get home safely. The
tall man whistled sharply; a coupelet
appeared out Of the mist take the
lady to the address she gives you,
Henry he ordered. Then he assisted
sally into the car, thanked her for a
very pleasant evening, lifted his hat
and closed the door.
The next morning dawned bright
and sunny. To Sally Anne the fog and
her derelietion of the night before
seemed q dream. She preferred to
think of them as such. But she could
MT help bordering little as to who
the tall man might be. He had not
appeared to be any more familiar with
the place than herself.
Jerry's cheerful signal whistle from
down the street interrupted these
| thoughts before Sally had decided just
how and when TO TESS up to her esca-
pade. Of course she would do it
sooner or later; she had never kept
anything from Jerry yet, and she
WASN'T going to begin now.
Almost before the first hug and kiss
were over Jerry sprung the news. His
beloved captain was spending the
summer nearby. 1t seemed they had
| just met at the station. 'Blake's wife
| isn't here yet" Jerry explained; "she
| stayed in town to go to some social
| high jinks-though she was going to
| have a fine chance to show him off.
Blake hates that sort of thing, SO he
| skipped. They had some, sort of tiff.
I ina CINE. Guess that, or the fog or
something, got the old boys goat, be-
| that big public dance hall last night.
| Picked up some fair mystery and
danced with her all evening-said she
wore u wedding ring and didn't act as
tho she were used TO being out alone
That sort of thing isn't in Blake's line
usually
Sally Anne thanked her lucky stars
that Jerry couldn't see her face. She
I didn't reply "How would you like it
| if 1 did a thing like that2" Jerry
asked.
| How would you like it IL 1 did 2
counter-questioned Sally.
THAT'S a proposition I refuse to
| consider because it's inconceivabie,'
| replied Jerry in a voice he seldom
used. by the way. dear, asked Cap
! tain Blake to lunch tomorrew-is 1t
/ all risht?'
rs he a tall, dark man with a deep
voice, Jerry?H Sally Anne's head was
pressed close to her husbands coat
| lapel
| nIVhv. yes" answered Jerry, puz-