The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-05
EOening Story
Just Friends.
BY L. ROTHRLuM.


light to every literary society in town;
the hope of every hostess anxious
about table talk" at a dinner the
mainstay of Ferry & Co., with whom
she held a very responsible position,
and the boon companion of Randolph
White.
None ever explained the erratic
temperament of Randolph White bet
ter than he did himself by his opinions
and impulsive actions. He had known
Geraldine some five years, during
which period she had learned his pet
idiosyncrasies so we'll he hardly real
lied how dependent he had become
upon her for sympathy and under
standing.
It was a peculiar experience that led
to their friendship. At the time he
was selling a device for sealing letters
and had got tip thru some magazine
in which his firm advertised that
stall some such equipment.
Randolph White was not the type
of salesman to permit his card, when
he called to demonstrate, to be re-
turned to him with a too busy to see
you" announcement. He flung open
the swinging gate between the recep-
ton room and the inner office and
with evidence of courage more SEEM
ing than felt, knocked at the door of
the private sanctum which bore on its
pane the legend Purchasing Agent"
Hardly waiting for the invitation to
enter, he stalked in and somewhat
abashed, halted in his tracks as he
faced the young lady at the desk. Ger
aldine Blake was charming.
II beg your pardon" he apologiZed,
may 1 see the p. A.?''
II am busy right now" came the
which somehow carried a cutting
edge.
Randolph White, for the first time
in his business experience, backed
water and tried to make a graceful
exit from the office. As he turned to
leave he was detained by very re-
parative But if you will be seated, L
shall be glad to talk to you in a mo-
ment"
Gingerly, because he was nonplused
to find the ogre of a purchasing agent
to be a lovely young girl. he placed
seated himself. Vaguely he wondered
If she had reached her majority and
inconsistency he now hoped she would
detain him more than the moment
promised that he might have the bet
ter opportunity to observe this re-
markable parsonage.
Randolph White got the order, but
he afterward admitted to himself that
he had never before been called upon
to exhibit such intimate knowledge
concerning the product he was selling.
That was five years ago. OF course.
Randolph had to call many times on
Ferry & Co, Inc, in order to instruct
their clerks in the proper operation
of the sealing device; and, finding
with each visit a growing taste for
the society of the purchasing agent,
he gladly permitted such increased
where he felt privileged to ask her to
luncheon.
1t was not long after that an invi-
tation to dinner was forthcoming, and
then naturally the theater; since when
no considerate host has asked the one
without the other.
But. strangely, the two had man
aged to keep sentiment out of their
friendship, as if they feared affec-
tionate regard might prove a detri-
mental factor to the continued har-
mony of the'- companionship.
NOW, I don't see why" remarked
Geraldine one summer Saturday after
noon as they leisurely strolled thru
park grounds, "men and women can't
be just friends without getting fool
ish about it, and"-then hesitating for
moment, she continued. falling in
love"
Randolph called. ''Billy, Billy" to a
squirrel. who scampered off with tail
held high. That's just the way 1 feel
about it," he answered. We're pals,
good pals; but our palship," he added,
lis purely platonic."
They sat down on a bench and ate
popcorn out of the same bag Ran
dolph went on airing his views to a
sympathetic audience. IF we were
to fall in love with each other and
get married and all that sort of stuff
this last with a dramatic flourish
of his hand filled with the white,
fluffy edible-"we'd bore each other
to death inside of a month"
Geraldine laughed. "Oh, I don't
think it would get that bad, but it
seems difficult for a woman to wax
poetic about the sunset, for instance,
before the man who watches her wash
dishes!"
mo, it can't be DONE" assented
Randolph, 80 let's just be friends,
Jerry, and contract never to fall in
love with each other"
'Or any one else" Geraldine made
reservation.
And on this basis they continued
their association. 1t was well along
in the sixth year of their acquaint-
anceship that fate took a hand in af-
fairs to disprove any rule mortals
may have dared to set for such an
inconsistent creature.
Ferry & Co, Inc, obliged by the
paucity of government orders fol-
! lowing the close of the war to in
| crease the volume of business that
| larged plant in operation, had ac-
! quired an advertising manager; the
man was fairly well along in years,
but having possessed himself of a
| good position at good salary, was
not averse to sharing his good for
tune with a good wife.
Thrown into daily contact with Ger
aldine. upon whose judgment re-
speeding his work fe had come to de-
pend more each day, it seemed a ma
tural development that he should seek
| to extend his opportunities to promote
his suit with her
But for this poaching on his pre-
serves Randolph White had not quite
prepared any line of defense and it
was a very surprised young man who
heard his invitation to the theater
that evening refused.
But, jerry he demonstrated,