The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-27
EoeningSt
Valued at a Million.
81 III. Ray BAKER.

By R. RAY BAKER
Uncle Sam was doing a-poor bust
| ness, in spite Of the fact that he had
no competitors.
The postoffice was vacant of Gus
toners except for a white-haired.
| whffekbearded man. wearing spec
taeIes OF the old-fashioned variety.
with straight bows, who stood at the
end of a pencil while he thought,
and faboriously and painstakingiy
formed scrawling hieroglyphics in
putting the thoughts on paper.
Round his neck was wound a white
scarf with big red, round dots in it.
giving it the appearance of a dozen
| flags of Japan merged into one. How
ever, the scarf had NO bearing on what
he was scribbling, for the characters
were intended to be English, and the
| face was plainly American, of the
| homely, honest backwoods kind.
The scarf must have BEEN part of
the man, the same as his ears and
nose, for 1t was an unnecessary bar
rier to the cold, due to the fact that
a bright spring sun was shining.
| He had been standing there an hour.
and there was no indication that he
expected to complete his task with
| in the next sixty minutes.
II began to look as If business might
| be picking up; for a young girl, clad
| in a plain blue suit, her head adorned
which ringlets of light brown hair
| peeped, came thru the turnstile door.
| and walked to the high desk. In her
hand was a small package, which she
| proceeded to address. standing near
| the old man. b.
! Fine weather" he observed, and
| the girl smiled at him and agreed, but
\ it was not a very bright smile. A close
( observer might have detected an un-
! due redness about the blue eyes, as
/ l.
considerable quantities
| The girl walked to the registry win
| dow and passed the package thru the
| opening. The clerk, a dark-haired
young man, picked it up without look
ing at the customer, inquiring brlskly:
| Whats the value?'
He placed the package on the
scales
"A million dollars"
7 The young man let the package slip
from the scales but caught it before
1t went far.
"Eh?" he>ejaculated, as he replaced
it on the counter. How much did
you say it was worth?" And his eyes
met those of the girl.
| Il said a million dollars" she re-
turned. with a wry little smile. The
package is worth that much-to me-"
"Oh, hello, Ruth" he exclaimed,
recognition showing in his glance. He
| extended hand thru the window, and
she took it, her eyebrows lifted in sur
prise.
Hello, Harold" was her response.
her face flushing. .'I didn't expect to
see you back here. Where have you
been?"
"Oh-around some" he said. and it
seemed there was queer, eager look
in his eyes "West mostly-down the
Columbia river with the salmon fishers
a good deal. l was up in Vancouver a
year too. Seriously, what is this
package WORTH
Her face became more flushed. She
bit her lip.
| I'm sure can't tell; probably $50"
He began filling out a blank.
| II 1t was couple OF years ago I'd
say it might be a diamond" he OBJ
served, but you can't buy a diamond
now for sixty-at least not decent
one"
"It's little one. and I'VE had it "a"
She caught herself and bit the lip
again.
so it is diamond. Excuse me.
/ Ruth; didn't mean to be curious. It's
none of my business of course"
When she handed him the package
the address side had been down, but
he had reversed it while weighing it
and had inadvertently looked at the
name. Tt had made no impression on
his mind then, because he had not seen
the girl: but now he recalled it.
| 'It's-a queer world. isn't it?' he re-
marked sympathetically and under
standingly, as he tore off the stamps.
Yes, it certainly is" and she could
not suppress sigh.
She lacked three cents of the nee
essary amount of change, so she gave
him a ten-dollar bill.
Smallest L have she explained
alphabetically.
i He took the bill and rummaged in
the drawer.
"Well, what do you think OF that
It's the first time 1 ever knew of such
a thing in a postoffice. I can't make
change. Pardon me minute" and he
left the window, to return shortly with
the announcements:
81 can't find change for ten any
where in the office; so I've had to
send out for it. Perhaps you won't
/ TT wv wv