The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-22
Epening Story
The Man Who Would Be Wild.
BY MARY MORRISON.

Inc wan VINO would be WlIQ.
BY MARY MORRISON.
John Carey's sister swung her pretty
self down from the Uttered top of his
big mahogany desk and regarded him
with stern disapproval.
What do you get out of life, any
way, johnny" she demanded. You
sit here all day figuring out how Tom
Smith can win his old lawsuit against
Ben Jones, or how Mrs. Brown can
get a divorce from her horrid husband
your head all tied up in musty law
books-and then you come home dog
tired and go to bed. What sort of
existence is that?'
Her young voice was growing louder
and louder with pent-up indignation.
What you need is to live-even If
you do get into Serape like some of
your clients and have to engage an
other lawyer to pull you out of it,"
Johnny. show that you are human
be wild, for once in your Hfei'
And, with a toss of her head. she
slammed the office door behind her,
leaving the room oddly cold and sun
less.
John Carey laughed at the storm
his refusal to neglect his carefully
built up practice for one afternoon
and go to tea dance instead had
raised. He picked up his interrupted
muttered to himself:
Tea dance! Good Lordl John Carey
at tea dance would be like a war
ship in fish bowl. Ridiculous"
But somehow the afternoon work
was spoiled. John looked at the pa
per before him and read to himself
Party of the first part" while in his
ears echoed his sisters parting words
to tantalize and distract him: What
do you get out of life. anyway, John?
Be wild for once in your life. Show
that you are humani"
He gazed somberly in front Of him,
seeing nothing, but thinking hard.
After ALL was the girl right? He
didn't seem to be getting much joy
out of life. Perhaps he was a walking
example Of the adage that says all
work and no play makes Jack dull
boy. This was a new and disturbing
thought for John Carey, middle-aged
attorney-at-law. He left his desk
abruptly and walked across to the win
dow, looking moodily out at the early
spring sunshine.
wild? Jove. I believe I'd like to
be wild" were the surprising words
he found himself muttering. i've
worked too hard all my life and have
forgotten how to enjoy things-that's
the unpalatable truth of the matter
How the deuce does fellow go about
1t, tho?'
The click, click of his stenogra-
piers machine in the little waiting
room outside penetrated his thoughts
with an cod persistency. He opened
the door and looked across to where
size sat, tapping out words and knit
ting her brow over some especially
difficult phraseology. For the first
time in the two years Miss Bronson
had been working for him John no.
tfced that her hair was very pretty
when the sunlight caught it and that
hn-- hrnr -,
size and beauty.
by Jove," he muttered to himself,
that's the answer. A man to be wild
always asks his stenographer out to
lunch or dinner. It's o'clock
guess tea at the BiItmore will do as a
starter. I'll do it!''
Miss Bronson looked up in surprise
when he walked<over to her desk and
stood looking down at her silently.
She regarded him inauiringly, waiting
for him to speak.
Look here, Miss Bronson" said
John Carey at last, you've worked
here now for two years and must
have formed an opinion of some kind
during that time. What sort of man
do you think I amp"
Hilda Bronson laughed, and for the
first time John noticed how white and
even her teeth were.
1T think I'd call you a nice man,
Mr.. Carey" she answered
That's the deuce of iti's exclaimed
John at don't want to be 'niee'-I
want to be wild-be-human- enjoy
life. and find don't know how.
Will you nelp me? Will you, for in
stance, go out to tea with me and
teach me how to toddle? My sister
tells me that's the latest thing in the
dance line"
Hilda threw back her head in the
most musical burst of laughter John
had ever heard-or ever noticed, I
should say. "Of course I WILL she
said. 'I've never been wild, either,
for words to teach my employer how
to drink tea and toddle.'
When, fifteen minutes later, John
Carey and Miss Bronson left the office
behind them and entered a taxi for
the Biltmore, John told her he had
never felt so utterly young and reck-
less in his life before.
a"I suppose I ought to have dread
full conscience to be leading you astray
like this-to be taking a young thing
of your tender years out for toddle
when I've just had my fortieth birth
day?"
He looked so naively anxious that
Hilda Bronson didn't have the heart
to tell him that she had just celebrated
her thirtiethi
You certainly should" she muir
INJURED. Its the sort Of thing the
villains in the movies do-and they all
come to a bad end, too"
We'll, I must say it's well worth
bad end" replied John CALAMITY. as he
helped her out. He couldn't help
wondering what his sister would say
could she see how quickly and mag
nificentiy he was following her advice.
They secured a little table for two
at window overlooking the street
and John ordered tea and toast and
raspberry ice and French pastry. And
between mouthfuls they Joined the fox
trotting crowd on the floor and John
learned how to toddle.
1t was 6 o'clock when he left HiIda