The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-13
E0ening Story
Not Enough Speed.
BY r. RAY BAKER.

failed to find any one that suited his
matrimonial tastes quite as well as
Jessie Pearmont, assistant general
manager of the same concern.
They had been associated in the
same offices now for four years, and
Jessie had grown" on him. At first
he had given little attention to her
personal charms, one reason being
down, another being that he had es-
tablished a business rule never to fall
in love with an employee.
But now Sidney felt that the time
had come, for he was q and the home
instinct had fastened its grip on him,
Then there was the everlasting restau-
rant menus that were firing him both
psychologically and gastronomically.
So he set out to find a wife, and he
travelled in a circle and decided the
object of his quest was right in his
own office.
Jessie was young-about 24-and
brunette of the charming type; not at
all the kind that is considered real
business woman timber, but in this
case being the exception that proved
the rule. There were two drawbacks
Jessie was too slow and she wasn't
human.
In specifying these drawbacks in his
mind Sidney meant too slow in the lit
eral sense; Jessie simply couldn't move
fast. Everything she did was done in
a slow, methOdical, machine-like man
ner, and she had never been known to
get excited in the most momentous
business crises. And not once. to Sid
rey's knowledge, had she ever made a
mistake. This latter fault was in her
favor, from a business standpoint, but
when viewed from a matrimonial an
sic. it was quite the opposite. He
could scarcely reconcile himself to
wedding girl who could not err, be-
cause he was prone to make mistakes
himself. In fact. if it hadn't been for
Jessie's watchful eyes the firm would
have lost many dollars, due to it's
heads carelessness. But would this
eXactness prove a blessing in marital
life? Sidney feared not. He wanted
some one who was human for a life
partner.
1T looks as if I'll have to remain
bachelor" he confided to himself one
sunny morning as he sat at his desk
and watched scurrying forms in the
street below. Jessie is almost the
riht person to be my wife, but those
two drawbacks are insurmountable
barriers. OF course I don't know that
shed have me, altho without being
conceited, I am inclined to believe she
might. True, [ don't know a thing
about her outside of business hours,
but person who works so method
ically must play the same way, and if
she can't make mistake in business
she'd be just as inhuman in a home.
guess I'll have to give it up"
AS he watched from the window his
eyes CHANGED to light on a figure plod-
ding along the sidewalk below. 1t
was a girl, aind she was taking her
time, with other pedestrians hurrying
on all sides of her.
There she comes now" Sidney
sighed, and his heart beat just little
quicker. That everlasting gait of
hers W0IIld drive fn dist Pfinr if
had to live with her. Why doesn't
she hurry just once? 1t isn't that
she doesn't get results, for she does,
but she's. so methodieal,"
Presently Jessie entered the office,
laid number of long envelopes on
her desk. exactly in the center of it,
hung her coat and hat on the, same
hooks they had adorned for the past
four years, walked leisurely to her
chair, seated herself slowly, touched
up the knob of hair on her head as
she always did, and said sweetly;
Good morning. I've just been to
the auto license bureau and procured
your number and those of several
others. You remember you filled out
your blank the other day and had it
sworn to before a notary public. 1t
certainly is convenient not having to
send to the capital for them, as you
used to-"
He agreed that it was a good morn
ing and that her statement was true.
as her statements always were. and he
couldn't help thinking how adora BILE
she appeared as she sat there opening
mail. 1t was gratifying to note that
the third finger of her left hand re-
manned bare, for Sidney was con-
stantly fearing she would show up
some day with a diamond ring.
He took his license plates with him
when he left the office that evening
and attached them to his car. He was
q. motor enthusiast when the weather
was good, but it turned cold that night,
and for two days he did not take his
machine out of the garage. Conse-
quently he was more than a little sur
prised one morning, three days after
the opening of this story, to receive a
telephone call from police headquar-
tiers requesting his presence in court
to answer to a charge of violating the
speed laws.
But I haven't had the car out" he
said over the phone.
Tell it to the judge" was the curt
reply, and Sidney went to police court.
He had some trouble explaining.
but his standing in the community
caused the judge to give him some
heed.
what is your license NUMBER"
that gentleman asked. isn't it
tt don't know. put on the
plates, DuI Qldnt notice., sidney
was obliged to confess.
isn't your machine a Hammerhin
touring carp
yes" he admitted. "but I'm sure It
hasn't been out of the garage"
Better take look at your plates"
the judge advised. There must be
some mistake. I take it for granted
you have more sense than to work an
old stall like that if you're guilty"
So Sidney went home and looked at
his number. There had been, some
mistake. for his number was 1859
But where could the mistake have
been? Surely it must have been the
officer that CAPPED it when the traffic
ordinance was violated
He went to the office and phoned
his information to the Judge, who
promised to look up the new number
in the records and let him know the
result. Then he sat idly and watched
his assistant manager work. adfnirinc
her from behind a newspaper.