The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-05
EVENING STORY
The Barker Luck.
BY A. w. PEACH.

Rose Barker faced the issue brave
ly as she had faced other difficult
problems in days past Without any
particular ability except willingness to
work hard, she had won her way into
the good will of the great real estate
firm, and was about to enter On the
rev duties of the position. when the
grave but kindly-faced physician had
told her the cause of harassing pain
in her side. and ended with state
ment that involved the word "opera-
ton
On the evening that the verdict had
been given, her faithful and unobtru
sive lover, Elmer Horton, who had
worked in her old office, came 70 see
her; and before she realized what he
was doing. in his quiet way he had
drawn from her some of her fears and
doubts. The steadfast love in his eyes
and they were not handsome eyes
may have been the cause.
Its the Barker luck, Elmer" she
said, smiling bravely. Alone in this
big, big world"
You forget me-" he broke in, his
steady eyes twinkIing.
She choked an instructive desire to
hug him. You old dear, how faith
full and kind you have been to me;
and you know never can love you"
Perhaps" he nswered, smiling at
her mood.
. "Ah. wonderi'' Then her smile
twisted a bit. We'll. I must have it
done, but the money end of tim
poor as Jobs turkey-was it Jobs
turkey? Hold on?" Her chin was
quivering. but her eyes were smiling.
Il have one thousand dollars after all.
Did YOU know that?"
He confessed great astonishment.
Some one did love me enough to
give me one thousand dollars" She
hunted thru an old wallet that evil
IDENTIFY contained cherished treasures,
and drew out a rumpled check" You
remember old Mr.. Pruit-"
DO +? He used to sit and ramble
on by the hour with you while / was
only. asking for five minutes to make
loves to you
She shook her head warningIy.
None of that. Well. l did trJ to
be good to him. He was a little out
of his head, you Know. Just before
his last sickness he came in and gave
me this check with a great flourish.
You know he always talked of having
money. I am glad he thought he had
1t. Poor. old. tender-hearted man,
the landlady told me the city had to
bury him at its own expense" Her
eyes shadowed.
He took the check quickly. The
writing was SO erratic that it hardly
made sense. Clearly enough, it was
tAAO fdSdiy VI al n11nQ, vet
IT did represent pleasant memory;
and Horton sought to divert her mind
from the last thought she had spoken.
She sensed his effort, however, and
smiled back. Elmer, it's the Barker
luck; and I'm going to face it in the
way father and mother did. Tomor-
row L go to the hospital. 1 am going
to let them do as they want to with
me; and afterwards-why afterwards
She looked at his with stricken
eyes. She knew that weeks must pass
after the operation before she would
be strong enough to take up work
once more; and where was the money
coming from to enable her to live as
she should and grow strong during
those weeks?
He took up the check in desperate
fingers, stirred by the look in her
eyes. Say, Rose Bee, indorse this
checks an III try to get it thru. Per-
haps. the old chap did have this
What are you thinking about?
That check is some old thing he had
around. See how yellow it is! He was
little crazy. No. don't be foolish "
He held in his fountain pen toward
her;
rectly. N
AN right sir" she assented. MAX
ing game OF it.
He folded the check and placed 1t
carefully in his pocket Then he
looked at her hungrily. Rose is there
ANYTHING L can do?"
Please don't look at me that way."
She rose, her face white. You have
been so good to me, so faithful and
kind-I wish | could reward YOU" He
mad risen. and she put her hands on
ms shoulders and looked into his eyes.
But l can give you nothing except
my thanks. You might-might send
me a few f1owers-if-good-by byi,
His big heart could not speak tbru
ms slow mind. He said awkwardly.
II remember. And Rose Bee. re-
member that the Barker luck may
ing modernized-Its a long lane thai
has no ashbarrel!' So buck up-and
be of good cheer! Good-by."
She smiled at his "modernized say
ing because she knew he wished her
to; but after he had gone she stood
long in silence. realizing as she never
had before that the man who had
gone carried with him a soul that like
gold would wear brighter with the
years.
etfJer- scented world. the first glance of
her sick eyes fell upon the flowers
his gift. The sight held and checked
her sinking soul. She was not alone
in big, big world. She drifted away
to sleep, anchored to a love that would
not let her go.
When again she awoke. the smiling
nurse said to her, Here is short
note which I was told must be given
you just as soon as possible. Would
you like it now?"
Her blurred eyes read-"Dear Rose
Bee: Your luck has turned. I took
the check to a bank: they put it thpu
for me- and the money came backi
Old Pruit must have known his time
was short. and thinking of your kind
ness to him in an unkind world. gave
you all he had. He loved you. So
do L Elmer" And in a smaller en-
velope she found bills that totaled five
hundred dollars. and a note-"The
rest you can have when you want it.
L kept 1t in the bank"
The noises OF her tumbling world
died away into peace. It was the old
mans gift. and there was nothing to
do but accept IL. 1t means weeks in the