The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-31
Euening Story
Six in One.
BY H. LOUIS RAYBoLD.

ing down his old briar pipe on the
broad arm of his chair and bending
forward TO scrutinize more clearly the
six faces which gazed back at him
from six photographs propped against
books on his reading table.
You're the best locker, Sally" he
commented aloud. ''and you. Helen.
have got the brains. and you're the
best aIl-around good sport Jean.
Peggy, you've got a sense-of humor,
and you. Nell, know how to dress. AS
for you, Beth, well. the man who gets
you gets one crackerjack cook!"
Getting on toward thirty-five, Sam
Gaylord was well aware of his duty to
the state. to his family, of which he
was the last of the line and TO him
SELF He ought 20 get married, and he
certainly had a wide feminine acquain-
lance from which to select wife.
He had decided that as long as his
heart would not assist him to a dec1-
sion he must call upon his brain. That
was certainly a sensible idea. consid-
ering that his brains had made him
what he was, a very able and success
full lawyer.
Which characteristic would be the
most valuable to him in his career and
most agreeable to come home to after
a hard days work in court-beauty,
intellect, comradeship, sense of hui
NOR, style domesticity? 1t was hard
problem, thought Sam. and no refer
ence to Vol. 81, case So and So versus
so and So, would help him out.
The next days. routine promised no
excitement. 1t would be mostly occu-
pied with examining witnesses of an
automobile accident in which a seven
passenger touring car ssdeswiped and
caused to turn turtle a four-passenger
roadster, the chauffeur of the former
n 1rlcp III
denly into the road after a child, made
the accident unavoidable. Miraculous
ly, no one was seriously injured, but
the damage to both cars was consider
able, and there was much detail to be
gone thru regarding the relative posi-
tons of the cars, the respective speeds
at which they were travelling. the pos
sible DEDUCTIONS from the tire marks
on the road.
The first gieam of-interest for Sam
came when a Miss Bedford, an Occur
pant of the roadster. took the stand,
heavily yelled. Her cool, clear re-
sponses to his questions. her clever
yet seeminly casual refusal to be
caught in a compromising answer, one
brief, caustic comment which brought
a smile even to the face of the judge,
greatly intrigued Sam. who was &C
customed to nervous hesitation on the
part of feminine witnesses and a
tendency to contradict themselves and
to be easily ratified. But it was quite
otherwise with Miss Bedford, and as
she stepped down from the stand,
Sam found himself wishing he could
catch a glimpse of the face behind the
veil
STILL, I'm probably spared a disap-
pointment,'' he consoled himself philo-
sophically. Il would hate to discover
that she had a poor complexion and a
large mouth, or that her nose was all
wrong
On the day that the decision was
rendered Sam discovered that his fears
were ungrounded. In the. excitement
of the moment the girl threw back her
veil, and in watching the play of ex-
preston across her beautiful features
Sam almost forgot his chagrin that the
case was one of the very few he had
ever lost. And likewise he forgot he
had ever thought Sally pretty
With characteristic energy he put
into motion the forces which would eff
feet for him an Introduction beyond
the formal one of the court room, and
eventually, by digging up mutual ac-
quaintances. he obtained his wish.
Il didn't enjoy quizzing you worth a
cent was his second remark to her
as they stood together for a moment
at the Footguard reception.
You We're very-considerate,' she
comforted him, and Sam thrilled in
ward:y az the words. A moment later
and she was swaying in his arms to the
seductive strains of the palm bow
cred orchestra. How the girl could
dancei He was rapidly forgetting
Sally and Peggy and Helen and Jean.
May I calf" he asked eagerly just
before he turned her over to her escort
at the end of the wonderful dance.
And her brief little nod and smile dis
missed him happy
The rest was easy sailing. For in
matters of love the heart is apt to
prove more al1uring guide than mere
intellect Sans heart was leading him
along enchanting ways. Often he
visualized the time when he would ask
the vital question. 1t should he out
doors in late afternoon or early even
ing, by some ripping stream or on a
green-clad hill.
Yet, as a matter of fact, the happy
moment arrived far otherwise-high
noon, indoors beside the kitchen
stove Sam, calling for Marian unex-
pectedly early for a promised ride to
the Country club to witness the annual
tennis finals. found her making FROST
ms Tor a cake which lowered in all its
ythree-storied glory on the table
Companionably, she invited him out
to the kitchen while she finished the
job" and the very first Whit of chloe
olate fragrance arising from the little
saucepan on the polished surface of
the stove must have driven from
Sans mind forever all memory of
Beth, the crackerjack cook.
For Sam, gazing hungrily at Mar
ian. slim and tall in her enveloping
apron of cool. lavender checked ging-
ham. her cheeks delicately flushed, de-
cfded not to wait for the nice conjunc-
ton of time and place.
Marian" he cried. ST love you,
darling. VIII you marry me 2''
1t was, at the very least, five min
utes later when Sam looked into her
velvet eyes and said gravely: What
did 1 ever do to deserve winning the
most beautiful. wittiest, brightest girl
in the world, and the most stylish and
the best comrade, and the most do
nestle p
Marian smiled at him deprecatingIy
I'm not all those things" she pro-
tested. THAT would be six girls rolled
int ~ onef''