The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-01
JUST A GIRL
BY JANE PHELPS
TONY LUNCHES AT MARY's.
CHAPTER 1917.

i notice yeu have preference for
younger men," Mr.. Claxten spoke,
systematically, interrupting himself in
his diotation.
"why-what do you msans" I
asked, 50 surprised that for a moment
couldn't collect my thoughts.
Then remembered Tony. the night
/, before. But why should he speak to
me in that tone?
Just what say! I offered to take
you heme in my ear because thought
you looked tired. And because
he hesitated a moment, then went on,
rapd l was refused. I understood you
to say you were going home in the
street ear. see you an hour after
ward in taxi with, must confess. a
very seed-looking young man"
His tone was disquieting, yet thru
it ran something very like hurt-as
If he were disappointed in me.
Did you see us? l was on the car,
Mr.. Claxteh, Tony Deland, a boy /
knew at home when dad was alive, got
since 1 left New York. He insisted
that we take a taxi so we could TALK
I felt that much was due MIR. Claxton,
an explanation of some sort after /
had refused to allow him to take me
home But now ! added in an entirely
different spirit: ~ Mad a delightful
evening with him. we dined at the
Blackstone, and afterward took an
other ride in the park. Tony was so
insistent upon giving me a good time
that 1 couldn't refuse him.
Mr.. Claxten's face changed during
| my recital of how I happened TO be
with Tony. 1t had some way light
l'ened.s was, puzzled. He surely
wasn't SO finicky that he objected to
| his empleyes having a little innocent
endowment out Of office hours
den't>yet know what made me
want to explain to Mr.. Claxton that
| Tony had taken me to the Blackstone;
| had given me Just the sort of good
time he would have given the zena
! Stewart he had known SO long ago.
But my einplayer had been kind to
me, and / HAD sensed the hurt in his
! Yeice1aitflo I could not account for it.
/ couldn't bear that he should mis-
understand me. had refused to be
with him alone the only time he had
asked me; had refused to ride in his
! car. and yet he had seen me, less than
an hour afterward, riding in the park
with 1ice-lookine well-greoned
man, man of his own world I felt
! I owed it to him, as well as to my
| self, to explain.
/ | was startled by the look of some
thing very HE relief that swept over
his face. What did it mcan2 Had he
dared to think meEahythiag different
care anyway? 1 was only an enlploye.
he my employer Then, too. why had
he locked SO relieved when had ex-
plained2
| That young man-is he anything
to .'Sg 2sI,i ,,t . ono. ,r,.,s r. :.
going to lunch at the shop today. and
then he is going 20 take Tom, Mary
and me out Sunday evening He leaves
for Europe on business Monday" |
can't yet explain just why 1 told so in
detail all that concerned him not at
PM lie oil nj
Stewart" repaid me.
= realize I have no right to guess
| ton you" he said, land I thank you
for being so frank with me-" And this
man who had given me lack my faith
in men, who had given me a position
where I could hold up my head ana
have a little hope for the future, held
| out his hand and then asked me al
ways to trust him. when I needed a
/ gladly gave the promise, more
stirred by the incident than I would
have cared to acknowledge. Then we
went prosaicalF to work as If Moth
ing had interrupted the Information
which we had started to give a trader
when he had questioned me.
HE came to lunch. and by the way
he ate them pancakes guess we won't
have no party Sunday night" Mary
exclaimed when reached home. Hes
a dandy fellow, amt he. He talked
20 me and Tom Just as III we was like
him-not as If We was Just plain folks
that had no chance for an education
or anything. And what do you think
he said to Tom %
Il am sure don't knowi'
s'He said he would be honored il we
would accept his invitation for Sun
day night. Henoredl"
That's not strange, Mary. Any
man would be honored when two
! people as thoroly good as you and Tom
are accepts an invitation from him.
He could see the sort both you and
Tom are. I am glad he enjoyed the
I pancakes"
Enjoyed, I told Tom I'd bet II we
followed him we'd find he had gone
} TO a decteri Eat. / never saw any
thing like it,''
(Tomorrew-A foursome.)