The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-02
Eoening Story
Advice to the LoveIorn.
BY r. RAY BAKER

| held the unique position in COM
munity that Richard Jerome occupied
| in Wakefield.
Vocationally Richard was a lawyer,
and a good one. A generous practice
had given him financial status that
might be termed comfortable, and of
late years he had placed certain re-
strictions on his legal business which
permitted many spare moments for
! his avocation, which was the mending
| of broken hearts.
The avocation paid Richard not
penny, but he performed the work
with a CLEAN in his eye and joy in
his heart; for he loved humanity and
could not bear to see his fellows suf-
fer when a way to alleviate their trou-
| bles was ready to his hand.
Never had a lovelorn young man
appealed to Richard in vain: never
had failed. in his assumed role of
Cupid, to get the verdict" His al
most uncanny insight into the ways
of women gave him something akin
to fame in Wakefield. altho it was a
| fame that was spread by word OF
mouth and not by newspaper head
lines and half-tones.
/ Anthony Brexton, came to him with
tears in his eyes and walled:
Its all over. Dick. VIII you please
get me bottle of carbolic acid or an
/ equally deadly poison? Isabelle has
| turned me down and life holds nothing
for me now
Richard had calmly lighted a corn
cob pipe which was SO old it looked
as if it might have been the pattern
after which all the others were
copied, had settled himself comforta-
! bly,. and said:
'First-before We get this carbolic
acid-let's hear your story. Not that
am curious, but object to spending
good money for poison unless it's nee
| essary. Remember, I am lawyer.
Why not let me advise you? My fee
will not be heavy"
| Anthony had laughed miserably.
| you advise in love affair? That's
funny, Dick. Why, you're confirm
gagged, never had a girl in your life"
| Maybe that will give me a better
perspective in the matter" said Rich
ard. at won't hurt to try
Then he had listened while Anthony
/ unfoIded his tale of woe, and when it
was finished and the latter was hud-
died back in his chair choking back
sobs and looking like a child that had
! crept out of bed early Christmas
morning and found his stocking
empty. Richard had taken the case up
complacently with:
your problem is easily solved
Isabelle thinks you have proved your
self faithless. She won't. listen to
your explanations. She's a fort and
you're trying TO storm her with shells
that won't penetrate the walls: The
thing to do is find a new method of
attack. Put yourself on the defensive
and wait for the garrison TO make a
lsortie. Then capture the garrison.
Now, this is my plan in detail
A week later Anthony appeared
again, radiant, jubilant. The scheme
had worked.
Now, Anthony had friend who
developed heart trouble, and the
friend went to Anthony for advice.
Take it to Jerome: he'll fix it, was
the advice he got and Richard prof
fered a prescription that healed the
wounds. And SO on, and SO on. till
Richards reputation was firmly estab-
lished.
Richard was not a youth in years
altho he seemed one at heart, and
most Of his friends were at least ten
years younger. Richard was nearly
forty, and there were tinges of gray
in his hair and some wrinkles on his
forehead. He was not handsome but
strength of character was stamped or
his face and this attracted most peo-
pie he met.
One day a young man came into
his office with a Hstless manner and
q heart that was not working right
my names Fred Mania he said
! by way of Introduction. and cast q
sour look out the window at a painter
| on a scaffold across the street. Eve
been living IN Wakefield onlya month
but during that time I've fallen ir
love with the most wonderful girl ir
| the world. I've taken her about con.
siderably, and I've tried desperately
. hard to win her, but she has not re
sponded. I've not yet really proposed
because 7 could tell the time was MOI
ripe. but she knew what was driving
at and last night she told me could
not see her again. I knew Elmer
johnson at college, and when I told
him my troubles this morning he re
ferred me to you. 1t seems yor
patched up a little love affair for hin
about a year ago. -
Mr.. Mania did not offer to revea
the name of his ideal, and Richard
did not press him for it. This mid
r dle-aged cupid was not curious OF
meddlesome He simply advised
: where advice was Sought.
mo doubt she's trying you out" HI
said. Remain away from her; dom
: try to see her. That will keep hel
guessing. and before long she'll prob
[ ably make it "a point to meet vol
somewhere and find out If you realh
, care. If she does it indicates one o.
: two 'things-either she loves you OF
! she's a flirt. If she's a flirt, you Gca'
want her"
A few. days later Mr. Mania wal
5 back. looking more woebegone thar
III doesn't work" he announced
dolefully. I've done as you advised
but she, might as well be dead as fal
) as any effort she's made to see me-"
, 1t began to look like failure fol
/, Richard Jerome, love mediator.
We'll have to try a. new plan" III
? said after a pause. during which hi
!, lresorted to the ancient corncob. cal
her up and tell her you've got to SEE