The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-08
Eoening Story
ALPS Fair.
BY r. RAY BAKER.


didn't marry patient. Graduated
from Sanburn Memorial hospital in
the big city, with an engraved, berib-
boned diploma, and an X. n. after her
name, Suse Hopewell accepted a posi-
ton as superintendent of Belleview
hospital in the small city of Rushing
ton, and there she met David Killing.
David nev-r had been sick a day in
his life. except with the mumps and
measles when he was a youngster.
Nevertheless, when he saw Suse Hope
well David decided that he needed a
nurse. not because Suse was nurse.
but because Suse was Suse, and her
being nurse was just incidental.
David was proprietor of jewlery-
photograph sewing machine camera
store, and he first saw Suse when she
entered the place of business. The
business was the purchase of a sew
ing machine-badly needed at the hos
pital.
Now David was a very ingenious
young man. albeit somewhat reserved
and backward when it came to the
business of wooing. The moment he
saw Suse step into the store the little
engine that operated on his left side
began to work queerly. AS he walked
toward the prospective customer he
was afraid its humping would frighten
her. However, she seemed quite COM
posed and he came to the conclusion
that perhaps she had not noticed the
anomalous sound
In stories all nurses are pretty, and
this one is no exception in that regard.
Suse had big eyes that usually appear
ed gray, but at times seemed shaded
with deep blue She was neither
slender, short. tall nor chunky. Her
hair was light brown, and while it
could not be called luxuriant, there
was enough of it, without paid-for
a ~ h. 14,, T.
like. nevertheless attractive, couture.
Il need a sewing machine" Suse
said and David stopped staring and
suddenly remembered what he was
there for.
Once out OF his daze. he tried to
cover the fact that he had been in one
by rapid monologue, which was rather
inane, but served to make UP for the
time he had consumed in staring at
Suse.
Suse selected machine and paid
for it. requesting that it be sent to the
hospital and after she left David
drifted into a walking dream. Suse
certainly got a bargain when she
bought that machine, for a young
mans heart was. thrown in without
extra charge.
The apparent 4hopelessness of his
dream brought David out of it.
I'm goner." he half groaned.
But what's the use? I don't know
! her and there's no chance of getting
acquainted unless 1 get sick, and then
the store would go TO ruin, and who
wants to marry a bankrupt man? Be
sides, L might as we'll admit that
haven't enough nerve to go after her"
However, as has been said, David
was an ingenious young man, and it
was not long before his brain got to
work on a scheme which had for it's
object the forming of Suse Hopewell's
acquaintance. and, some distance in
the future. the marrying of her.
Two sewing machines were to be
delivered on the same trip and a short
time before the driver of the flivver
called for them David might have
been seen busy with a screwdriver
about the mechanism of the one or
dered by the superintendent of Belle
view hospital. He might have been
seen thus engaged, but he took pains
to make sure that he was not.
He watched the machines leave on
the truck and with a queer glitter in
his eyes began Strengthening up the
photograph record racks.
There were no developments that
day, but the next afternoon David re-
ceived a call from Belleview hospital.
The new machine 1 bought of you
doesn't work. said sweetly familiar
voice on the wire. ct need it right
now, so please send some one in a
hurry to fix it."
Some one went in hurry. David
sent himself.
Suse ushered him into the presence
of the obstinate machine. and he pro-
duced a. Screwdriver from his tool bag
to remedy the trouble, of which he
was the cause.
You won't need that" smiled Suse-
ITS something about the belt that's
wrong"
With surprise David noted that her
statement was true. Something was
wrong with the belt, and the bobbin,
which he intended should have be-
come balky, worked smoothlyS
AS he busted himself repairing the
belt, David managed to entice Suse
into conversation, and when he left
he felt that he had made some prog
ress, altho he was still mystified. The
mystery was solved when he got back
to the store and learned that a man
had been sent out to Joseph Freed
mans home to repair new machine.
THE delivery man got them mixed, >
David decided; but he was just as well
pleased. for the broken belt had
served it's purpose as effectively as
the bobbin might have done.
Thus did David Klinger and Suse
Hopewen get acquainted, and, en-
couraged by his progress of the first
day, David summoned enough cour-
age to invite Suse to attend the thea
ter with him.
Suse seemed to welcome his atten-
lions, and soon he was calling on
her with considerable regularity.
Three months after the purchase of
the sewing machine that had served
to guide their destinies, they became
engaged.
| isn't it wonderful" he observed
one night, what little things serve to
bring a man and woman together2"
yes" she agreed, 81 once heard of
man who met his fate just because
Observation-Disclosures
In ST%& -