The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-05
Eoening Story
The Thirteenth Picture.
BIZ CLARIssA MACKIE

There were thirteen pictures ON the
walls of Barpara's new room on the
third floor front of Mrs. Wilson's Sc
lect boarding house for business peo-
pie Thirteen pictures. placed there by
Mrs. Wilson herself. or by one and
another of her unending procession of
paying guests. The house was run
down; Mrs. Wilson herself, an asth-
matte, snuffy looking person In
greasy black, was an acknowledged
widow, and only those who must have
a roof at the most modest price now
patronized the old house on Chester
street.
Thirteen picturesque must come
down." decided Barbara, while her
heart yearned to take them all down
but one or two, only she must explain
to Mrs. Wilson.
81 would rather look at the hideous
things" groaned the girl. as she in
copy of an etching of Westminster
Abbey; next to it was a walnut-framed
chromo-sheep vending homeward
thru village street; a colored pic
ture cut from magazine and framed
in gold-four men gambling; RAJ
phaePs 'Cherubs' in a heavy metal
frame, another gold framed magazine
illustrations Gibson girl. q sepia
thing under it-"Happy Childhood"
three nursery pictures grouped to-
in gale, with the sea piling high
that was good; a burnt wood atrocity,
photograph of a beautiful gill. and
then a steel engraving of Napoleon
After Waterloo"
Il don't like that girls face" de-
clared Barbara as she studied the
naughty head. the cold, hard eyes, the
mechanical smile of the girl in the
picture. "She looks too much like
Agatha Denslow-it is Mrs. Denslow,
am sure, quite sure. Fancy her pic
ture here. How she would rave if she
knew it!" She laughed a little. de-
cided to remove the offending pictures
and leave only the cherubs and the
water color.
She tied a cloth over her misty
oark mar. A Saturday afternoon was
always her cleaning period and she
was dressed in a little pink cotton
dress she kept for this housewifeIy
task Outside the sun was shining
and the spring day invited her, but
she shook her head and carefully re-
moved Westminster Abbey from the
walls. She determined to stack them
carefully in the closet in the hall
where the ladder went to the roof and
having decided upon this. the fear of
MIS-. wilson's wrath grew less and
she tackled the picture of the sheep
with great vigor.
She had moved around the room
until she now stood at the east side
removing the nursery rhymes from
theIr downhill arrangement when she
heard a sound near the fireplace Her
eyes slowly widened in amazement and
alarm.
The picture of the great Napoleon
was rocking to and fro in an unac-
countable manner. Suddenly it swung
out from the wall and below it crept
a hand mans, hand protrudfng
thru the wall of the adjoining house
1t was strong hand, well cared for
and Drowned by the sun. The fingers
CROPPED around the wall as far as the
thrust in arm could reach, as If
searching for something. Barbara
slipped along the wall ana called to
the owner of the visiting hand.
Perhaps can help you" she sug-
gested.
The hand wavered helplesslv and
then withdrew and the picture of
Napoleon swung into place. Barbara
twitched it down and disclosed a stove
pipe hole which had lurked behind the
mask of the Corsican hero. She
thru the aperture. All she saw was
the broken background of light,
papered walls and mans face peer
ing thru to her.
well. I neverl" calculated Bar
bara, jumping to the floor. DO you
know I am going to tell Mrs. Wilson %
Il am sorry-and 1 apologize, but
I didn't know the room was rented
I've been living there for a week and
moved two days ago. 1 left picture
there. I would like to have 1T
thought I could reach it. I ann very
sorry indeed"
"a picture?" Barbara shifted at the
gallery of masterpieces. rs it sheep ?"
NO"
"Gamblers?"
mo, indeed" virtuously.
angels? ''
'In a manner of speaking-one"
"Ohi" Barbara wrinkfed her nose at
the naughty girl-picture.
at isn't the Gibson picture. or the
nursery rhymes, or the water color
or even old Nappy-it's a framed
photograph
"Oh!" Barbara's tone was all en-
Ilightenment. "You must mean Agatha
Denslow's picture-here it isl" She
and it disappeared hastily. A mascu-
line voice came back in a worried tone.
"Ycu said Agatha Denslow'-this is
the picture of Miss POST
Didn't Agatha Post marry old
James Denslow last week." Barbara
wanted to know.
MOP he exclaimed.
yes asserted Barbara severely.
81 was there-I saw the wedding
May and December. Pooh. went to
school with Agatha. oh, am so sor-
~, forgot that she must have been
particular friend of yours-please
forgive me-
Particular friend?" he laughed
shortly. "She was engaged to marry
me. I've just returned from France"
ooh, dear" pitied Barbara; why
you must be Jerry Lane. I am Bar
bara Dorr. the little girl who lived
next door to you and played with your
sister Cathie.'
Bobby Dorr? The dickens you
are!"
isn't it funny-and jerry shall
have to replace Napoleon and seal up
the stovepfpe-so goodby."
IF I ring the front doorbeH may I
call formally upon you in Mrs. Will
sons parIor?"
"Of course" and Barbara's cheeks
were flying pink signals now, for as
child she had worshiped her play
mates big brother from afar. She