The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-02
Eoening Story
The Red Star Special.
BY MARY MORRISON.


A fitful breeze caught the gayly
painted sign that hung over the door
and set it swinging gently to and fro
above John Henrys head. 1t told an
Indifferent world that John. Henry of
s1A Blocker street sold lawn mowers
of a superior and eternal excellence,
and, as it swayed back and forth 1t
seemed to be the only thing with vi
tally enough to move in the whole
city
Up and down the sun-baked street.
torpid in the August heat. there was
not sign of life; it might have been
a deserted village.
Not a creature was stirring, not
even a mousse" murmured John
Henry to himself. He stepped back
into the welcome shadow of the door
way and surveyed the shining rows
of grade A lawn mowers that lined
the side of the wall.
Somehow it all reminded John
Henry of the summer two years ago
when he had been salesman for the
Red Star Special Lawnmower COM
pany and had tried to sell machine
to a pretty girl in a small town up in
Connecticut. Whenever John Henry
thought of her standing there in the
doorway OF the little old farmhouse,
with the sun in her hair and the blue
sky in her eyes, he was conscious Of
a little jump in his heart BEATS.
He closed his eyes and the whole
scene came back to him. He had
spoken eloquently of the way Red
Star Special worked; he had shown
her how beautifully easy 1t was to
take care of. She had listened atten-
lively and he thought he bad made a
sale. Book in hand, he stood ready
to write down the order when the
girl suddenly burst forth: 20. u -
"A lawn mower! 1 wouldn't buy a
lawn mower if 1 had so much money
that I had to hire bank to take care
of it Look at that one under the
tree, there-works a few minutes a
day and sleeps all the rest of the time.
Does nothing but cut grass from one
years end to another. I hate grass
and trees and-oh! very much and
lawn mowers. If you were selling city
pavements and crowded street cars or
something that really lived, Mr.. Agent,
I'd buy. But as it is. I'll save my
money for carfare to a place where
there is no grass that needs to be cut"
She had turned on her heel and
slammed the door in John Henry
face.
He gave a sigh as he remembered
the picture she had made in her pink
Bingham dress. her sun-tanned cheeks
flushed with intense anger at lawn
mowers and life in general He was
wondering where sheNwas now and if
she had ever saved up enough money
for carfare, when a soft exclamation
from the doorway made him turn
quickly around.
"Ohl what beauties! What perfect
beauties!" came in tones of hushed
fervor. \
There. but for the gingham dress
and thf angry discomfort, stood the
girl from Connecticut! Her French
heeled slippers and blue georgette
frock proclaimed her very much of the
city. citified-but John Henry knew
her in an instant.
How much are they?" she went
on, while he continued inadequately to
mop his brow. 81 do not know how
can use one exactly in an apartment
but somehow think I'd just love
to have one around. I suppose could
use it as a sort of hatrack effect
Painted black, with a rosebud pattern
on the handle, it might be quite effec-
tive
She paused a moment in deep
thought, and then suddenly inquired
Il don't suppose by any chance
these are Red Star Specialist
Then for the first time she looked
straight at John Henry. Blocker
street outside was beginning to wake
up, for from a block or so off came
the softened Jangle of a hurdygurdy
and boys voice singing so that they
could hear the words quite plainly:
"A veranda with some sort of clin. ng
vine,
And a kitchen where the rambler
roses climb"
"oh!" said the girl ITS you. Mr.
YES" answered John Henry, rather
breathlessly II had just been won
dering whether. you ever saved up
enough-car fare. and then looked
upsand here you are"
Better than palace with gil6ed
Is a love-nest we can call home
came the boys voice outside. nearer
this time.
when you saw me that day ]
wouldn't even talk civilly to you about
lawn mowef=tho we really die
need a new one-just because they
stood for the grass and trees ano
country. I thought I was fed up
She spoke in such a low tone tha'
John Henry had to step quite close tc
catch what she was saying.
Today" she continued, when
saw your green sign. would give any
thing I possess TO be running one VI
and down up and down
Here" said John Henry. thrustine
the handle of his choicest grade A into
her hand. TRY 1t. 1 often do. And
= it almost seems as II the grass and tbs
dandeliops were growing right undei