The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-14
EDening Story
After the Coin.
BY R. RAY BAKER

on the floor, while short bits reposed
here and there about the room.
One piece was held taut in Claude's
fingers, as he sat at a desk by win
dow Seven stories down the city
roared and clattered, but the young
stock broker heard none of the tumult.
He. bent over the desk, his elbows
resting on it, his gaze transfixed on
the tape before him.
Lost he muttered. 1t was not
grean. for Claude was not the grean-
ing kind He had stamina, althe the
supply was being overtaxed at present.
"Lost-a clean sweep. Only one pos
sible way to retrieve, and that's to
throw at least 100000 into the whirl-
pool that sucked down my half mill
lion. But where's it to come from? 1
haven't more than $4,000 left, and
that wouldn't affect Jumbo iron one
jot. No, what 1 need is a whole lot
of money in quick time. I'll not give
up. Two hundred thousand will bring
back the five hundred thousand;
there's no doubt of it. But wherell
get it?"
He rose. dropped the piece of tape,
and ground it between a heel and the
office rug. Crossing to the telephone
he called up various bank officials,
one after the other. No satisfaction.
Money was tight and besides, it
was the big banking interests largely
that had brought about his downfall.
He was disappointed but not surprised.
Claude returned to his desk. but
not to his attitude of detection. His
mind was busy seeking the signpost
of a highway that would lead him
out of the forest of "frenzied finance"
Six years ago Claude had come to
the city with comparatively few dol
lars,<and acceptance of a lowly posi-
ton, in a brokerage office had proved
a lucky step. He made a favorable
impression with the broker and was
educated in the finesse of playing
stocks Finally he was made a part
ner; shortly after that the broker died
and Claude became sole owner of IL
business. Fortune leaned on his side
and money rolled in. Everything he
touched responded as objects re-,
sponded to the golden touch of Midas
as told in mythology-until he tried
Jumbo iron. Then came the crash.
All this time he had neglected the
he had been born and raised to young
manhood. On the adjoining eighty
acres had lived Alice Hall, pretty
daughter of a farmer, and with her
Claude experienced his first affair of
the heart. He had loved her despe-
rately-he had thought.
Then his parents had died, one
shortly after the other, and having a
natural-born dislike for farming, he
had gone to the city. I'll come back
for you some day. he had told Alice,
but after writing once or twice he had
forgotten her. A member of his Of
flee force had attended to the pay
ment of taxes on the old farm, but
that was his only remaining connec-
ton with the environment of his boy
hood.
ha !,
a way out of his dilemma the picture
of girl arose in his mind-a beau
tiful girl. But it was not Alice. Her
name was Hortense Motion and she
was the daughter of Ruthford Motion,
power in the financial world. She
had million in her own right, and
she was fond of Claude. He had met
her at a social function and they had
liked each other. Somehow he had
felt she would marry him if he asked
her, but he had never really courted
her. aitho he had taken her around
some.
She's the solution" he decided, as
he harassed his brain for a means of
raising money. iii ask Hortense to
the month at Troy. I'll just run up
there in my car, get her consent
quickly-if l can-and then put my
hands on some money. This situation
ought to keep a week at least. I'll ap-
peal to her romantic nature, and she
ought to dispense with an elaborate
ceremony. The trip will do me good,
and incidentally I'll stop on the way
and cast my eye over the old farm"
That very afternoon he started on
the trip, his hopes once more arisen.
Abandoning the cares of financial life,
which his peculiar construction per-
mitted him to do, he assumed a holi-
day spirit, and spoke amiably to every
one he net on the road.
Cities, villages and farming districts
he passed thru at a swift pace. At
last strangely familiar sights began
meeting his glance. They were
strangely familiar because never be-
fore had he motored in this direction,
in spite of the fact that the road led
past the farm which had once been his
home.
Cant stop for more than min
ute" he muttered as he noticed
landmark which he realized was not
more than 1--WE miles from the old
farm. III just stop and look it over;
won't even stop the motor"
A mile farther on he came upon a
flivver in trouble. 1t was standing
at one side of the road, the hood was
up and a girl was proving in the
mechanism with a wrench.
Being in holiday mood and like
wise being a gallant young man,
Claude stopped his roadster and in
CURED:
NEED some help?"
= Apparently the girl was too en-
crossed in her work to take heed of
his pleasantly voiced inquiry.
He repeated the question, and she
turned toward him, wiping a hand
across her face that left a black
streak there.
Well" she said slowly, sit looks
as if l might"
She stopped talking and gazed at
him in a daze.
"Youre-you're Claude Wintersi''
she managed to stammer
1t was like an accusation that he
felt guilty, without having the slight
est idea why. He peered at her in
tently- The black mark disfigured
her countenance, but suddenly her
identity dawned on him.
And you're Alice HaH2" he ex-
claimed, and forthwith switched off