The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-11
EDening Story
The House That Jack Bought.
BY DORA NOLAN.


There are many Uncle Johns n
this world, but outside of ancient
rnelodramas few as mean az Jack
Elgers. However, Jacks uncle was
dead, and because he had left no word
as to the disposition of the little for
tune which he had broken the Ten
Commandments to accumulate, in less
than six months after his demise 1t
bulged the hipN pocket of his nephew
in the form of large roll of bills.
Then the nephew sat down and
made out a score against his Uncle
John. There was the time which
hundred dollars would have saved his
fathers life-and the expenses Of the
.pitffuI funeral 1t had taken his
mother a year of scrimping and work.
ingIby gaslight to pay them. Then her
illness at the time when he, Jack, had
Just started in on his first job-he
would never forget that. Well, it>was
too late to do anything for his mother
now; but somewhere in the big city
there were men and women in just
such distressing circumstances; he
would search them out and make
Uncle John, dead, do for them what
Uncle John, living, had refused to
do for his own kin. Asxfor touching
any of the money himself, the idea
was repugnant to Jack. He didn't
need it. But if there should be any
left he would make Uncle John give
him a present-the idea tickled his
sense of humor,
The ease with which Jack Elgers
paid off all sthe items on that score
would make a convincing argument
for they divide-everything-u equally
variety of socialists. Now, in quest of
some slight remem brance for himself,
we find Jack strolling down that broad
avenue known the world over for its
display of luxury and lovely women,
and fling three $1,000 bills, all
that remained of the miser's hoard.
Jack was gazing, without much in
terest, at a display of dewdrops of the
millionaire variety when he noticed
girl gazing intently into the window
of the next store. Exclusive shop of
Original Creations" the sign read. He
moved on and stood beside her. by
Jove," he exclaimed inwardly, that
girl might be natures own model of
feminine beauty and all the others on
this avenue, in their conventional get
ups, mere copies and adaptations of
the original"
Jacks eyes followed those of the
girl to the gown they were fastened
upon. We'll. I'll eat my hat!" This
exclamation on Jacks part was invol-
untary as well as audible and was
called forth by the embroidered border
on the gown in question.
This extraordinary theme consisted
OF the same motive repeated several
times-a small shingled cottage snug
Cling close to the ground. 1t was only
a step from its latticed porch to a
little garden laid out in paths and
blazing with flowers of the grand
mother variety. Across the front of
the house stretched a row of dormer
windows and above them a red brick
chimQey puffed ourls of silvery SIN oke
AT Jack Flyers exclamation the girl
turnedAtO look at him; the situation
seemed to Jack to call for some fur
ther remark. So with his usual di-
rectness. Pm settling scores with
the last way he would want it spent.
II you want that dress, why, he'll play
lady godmother."
The girl started like one waking
from a dream. How absurd!" she
answered. TITS the house 1 want, not
the dress-I designed that myself. .
With these words she vanished into
the shop.
aJek Elgers had seen the only thing
he wanted on the avenue, and he
could not go in and buy it, cash down!
Also, there was that business trip to
the West he was due to start on the
next day; it didn't leave him much
time. If he could only do something
TO make her think of him occasionally
while he was -gonei Squaring his
shoulders and taking a firmer hold on
his stick, Jack opened the door of the
little shop and walked in.
Gould I speak with tbeAer-archi-
tect of the house depleted on that
gown in-your Window" he inquired
OF the saieswoman who came forward.
Il will ask madame" replied the
clerk. and disappeared behind screen
at the rear of the shop. Miss Has
| tings," voice called
Carol" echoed another one. "You
are wanted out in front"
II thought" began Jack without
preamble when Miss Hastings stood
before him, that perhaps you would
be so kind as to tell me whether there
is such a little house-in the flesh I
mean. If so, I wish to buy it,
Carol Hastings answered as directly.
es, 1t -exists-in my dreams. But
one can't buy dreams with money. not
even with Uncle Johns"
Sometimes one can help along in
! the fulfillment of them, tho,,' re-
turned Jack, and he smiled with such
good nature and friendliness that the
girl smiled back. 'I am going to
he added Good day" And he de-
parted without giving Carol a chance
to reply
Carol Hastings would have been an
abnormal young girl indeed if she had
not thought often during the next two
days of her unconventional visitor
She Mad tentatively decided that he
was suffering from shell-shock when
she received by mail flat box 1t
disclosed a brass key wrapped in a
scrap of paper and on the paper was
written an address, with these words:
The key to the fulfillment of your
dreams. John Elgers"