The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-09
Eoening Story
Underadvertising.
BY WILL ID. AMES,

A
abstractedly over her bedtime glass of
matted milk. 1T isn't that ne hasn't
character and individuality enough.
but somehow he seems to be forever
keeping checkrein on himself. sort
of afraid to let any single enthusiasm
get loose and caper around in that
sober old head of his.
Sometimes it seems to me as if he
were using up lot of steam just try
| ing to live down to that dreadfully
commonplace name of his-as tho
| he'd made up his mind that nobody
called Henry Brown had any business
| to put flourishes around his person
| atty any more than around his sig
nature, and was tryins to avoid giving
offense. I hate anything like that
anything like self effaeement."
| Mrs. Fellows was the knitting kind
| of mother. She was knitting now,
and smiling the very least of smiles
| at her daughters attempts to analyze
| the person called Henry Brown.
AT have Observed she answered
"that you don't appear to altogether
detest Henry even if you do hate
some of his characteristics. Person
ally I can't see that he lacks self-re-
spect or even force. OF course, he is
| in contrast to Forest Noyes"-the
mother took a sly look at the daugh-
| ter, which was quite lost upon that
young woman. engaged as she was
with the last of her milk-"and. if
you want my opinion, in rather favor
able contrast"
but. mother, that's just it. can't
understand it at all. 1 just dote on
Forests bubbling optimism; his van
| ity is appalling but fascinating; he's
as transparent as water, but his effer-
veseence is delicious; he's full OF the
things he's going to do and they're
always terribly interesting, even when
you know he never does anything at
!, hi An oil q
time I know Forrest hasn't a single
one of the solid qualities of Henry
But 1 wish to-goodness that Henry
twas a little bit-just little bft-ike
him. nevertheless. Mother-ana
Julia turned a perplexed countenance
sauarely upon her parent-"what
would you do?"
The answer was prompt. Nothing.
Absolutely nothing, dear. Nothing but
wait. Your little riddle will answer
itself. They always do" But as the
girl kissed her mother good night and
took herself off, Mrs. Fellows sur
fprised her orderly churchgoing self
with a sporting soliloquy: I'll bet my
fur coat against paper OF pins on
Henry"
Henry Brown was in real estate.
He was a broker, not speculator, and
he made his money in bits Incident
ally he had built a reputation. People
said of him: IF Brown says thing S
so, it's So; and. he prospered, not
spectacularly but solidly.
On the day following her brief talk
with her mothers visit to her dentist.
whose offices were in the same build
ling, brought Julia Fellows to the door
of Henry's place of business She
opened the door to bid him good morn
ing. Henry's stenographer was putting
on her hat. Mr.. Brown is out" she
said, "but he'll be back in a moment.
ct afnc
Mont you waltz
Julia had scarcely more than seated
Herself at the window before she
Eheard Henry's voice in the hallway
outside, exchanging greetings with
some acquaintance. What freak of
room to the door marked Private, :"
she could not have told. But the
little inner office was empty and she
slipped thru the door.
A visit from her would be sur
prise to Henry anyhow, and she might
as well make it complete by popping
out at him as soon as he had settled
himself at that orderly desk of his.
Perhaps he would be startled the
fraction of an inch out of his ever
lasting guarded poise.
But Henry was not alone and the
voice of the other person was that of
Forrest Noyes. The girl was trapped
Not for a good deal would she have
Noyes know that she was there.
She detested being bantered about
Henry; and at that moment she real
lied as she never had before what a
gossip Forrest Noyes was. Uncertain
what to do, it was presently too late
to do anything but remain where she
was and become an unintentional
evesdropper, for the door was trifle
ajar.
II a NJ hi
do with it. I'll grant there's money
in it, and it's easy to put over. Per-
haps. as you say, it's just business. But
you know and 1 know something that
the people who bought those lots
would have to find out afterward--
that the whole area is full of ground
water and quicksands."
But" protested Noyes, they'll be
getting their land cheap enough so
they can afford to correct those faults
They'll get their moneys worth"
That's probably true, Noyes. But
| they wouldn't be getting what was
Pre- missed them Just to take a cuss
toner up there and show him those
lots, at the price you figure on, would
be- to promise him twice he value Of
his money-and If he bought he'd be
good and lucky to break even. 1 don't
| do things that way
| ooh, blazesi How far do you think
you can carry that stilted stuff in
Ilife?"
| All the way. Most tragedies come
| from somebody's failure to keep not a
spoken promise but an implied one.
I've tried to avoid making them. Here
what I mean. A fellow gets a chance
to meet some clever people. He
coaches himself up for the occasion,
plans number of bright things to say
says them, and gets away with it.
/ He's promised them clever companion
ship and they take him on the
strength of the promise--and pretty
sooR they drop him. He didn't make
good on a voluntary pledge-see?
| Noyes grunted. "Overstrained NOR
atty"
| You're wrong, Noyes; merely play
ling safe and avoiding bumps. Here.
lyou take the case of a man and a girl.
lChap plays up his wit, plays up his
lgood temper. plays up his generosity.
plays up his interest in things the girl
| is interested in. lays up high spirits