The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-03
EDening Story
A Question of Rivalry.
BY A. W. PEACH.

BY A. W. PEACH.
Stanley Murdoch looked with SOM
Der eyes into the brown. amused eyes
of the girl opposite him. Ruth, you
are a puzzle, and wish you would
unravel or unriddle or something else.
You know I love you; you let me go
Just so far until I think you have
some feeling 70 me, and then-then
the cold water" he added gloomily.
She studied him gravely. II do
think great deal of you. like to be
with you. You are handsome, and as
things the right way, but She
paused, her battling eyes studying
him.
"But-" he urged.
But she continued there are OBJ
He stared at her sharply. obstacles
or obstacle? All. 1 see there is some
one else. 1 thought so-a rival-back
in the old home town. Won't you tell
me about him?"
She unused as she paused before an
swering. Why, yes, L might-a lit
tie. I like him because-well, he is
sptenaidly unselfish, thoughtful of
others ana always even tempered
He must be getting ready to die
with such record" he interposed a
bit bitterly,
"And always good-natured' She
added quietly. 'Inever heard him say
an unkind thing except in defense of
kind things"
Ruth, I beg your pardon. swear
am sorry, but l can't bear the
he said earnestly. Tell me, isn't
there much of a chance for me %
She laughed softly why do you
desire me so much? Yes, Stanley,
there is a chance, of &urse. l do
like you, but-well, I guess you under
stand"
He did not understand, however. He
simply knew that there was rival
who must be beaten, who must be pre-
vented from winning the brown-eyed.
brown-haired girl whose slight but
graceful form had walked into Muir
docks heart the first time he saw her.
Beyond a grim determination to win
her from her old home lover he did
not 80 in his thinking.
The next day a dim ray of light
struck him. An error by a subordi-
nate in the office aroused his ire. and
quarrel followed that led TO his be-
ing summoned into the managers Of
flee. u
Stanley, that COMPOUNDED temper of
yours makes more trouble in, this Of
flee than any other thing. Now you
are worth too much to us to fire you,
and you know it; but for heavens
sake take a brace. Treat people a bit
Of you'll" the manager said earnestly.
The phrase that stuck was think
more of you" THAT was what Ruth
was driving at Thunderl I didn't
realize 1 was such a nut as that" he
said to himself as he debated the mat
ter. THAT home town chap has some
thing on me there!"
From that hour he braced decided
ly, and he was astonished at the
changed attitude of the office toward
him, but he was more happy over the
change in Ruth.
They were returning from an after
noon together at their favorite beach.
She slipped a small hand thru his.
''Stan, do you know that this is a
record day? You haven't Quarreled
with anybody today-not even the
conductor who 'sassed' you on the
L. How ashamed of you have been
sometimes"
"You never will be in the ft8ure be-
cause of these hot-headed stunts of
mine, Brown Eyes. I am going to
gain on that home town chap"
She laughed in her merry way and
walked a bit closer to him.
Out of a clear sky. destiny or what
ever it is that, breaks into a mans
way of life and shoves him into the
right path, another incident came to
open his eyes.
Adjoining the apartment house
where he had his rooms was a fine
court, cool and comfortable on the
warm days. Returning from work one
afternoon he found the two children
of one of the apartment jewellers play
ing in his chosen corner. He drove
them out with some degree of anger.
He was rewarded with the sound of
heated girlish voice saying, you big
brute! You are the most selfish man
in this housed"
He stared at the flushed face of the
young mother. "Selfish," He heard
another voice, girlish like this one say
OF his rival-"splendid1y unselfish."
He rose, called the children back,
sat down, and taking the scattered
blocks began to erect a fascinating
tower. The children slowly drew close