The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-06
EDening Story
Lost-A Private Secretary.
BY FREDERICK HART

/
DooIittle, engineers, held solitary sway.
Eyes, sir-right here" The young
man who spoke these words was
! pleasing to look upon. He was tail
and slender, with light hair and
mouth that seemed forever TO be about
to twist itself into a grin. But there
was no grin on his face as he hurried
| toward the sanctum of his chief. "Old
Man Hawkins" as the outer office
| called him, was il one of his tantrums'
and woe betide the employe VINO
would keep him waiting!. Collins, the
private secretary, betook himself to
the office with all haste.
Hawkins glared at him as he en-
tered, but could find no immediate
reason to rage. SO he merely raspea
from a pile that lay before him.
These fresh railroad people are
| raising the dickens with US on rates,
Collins" he gro%led. This is the sec
ond letter I've had from them. NOW
we want the bridge job and we're go
| ing to get it-but it'll be on our own
| terms, and not on-ouchi Holy GIN
geri" ~,
'sWhat's the matter. Mr.. Hawkins q
Collins was jolted out of his usual at
| titude of patient listening. Mr.. HaW-
kins pounded on the desk ana raVeu
"Gout's the matter! My foot's the
matter! 1t hur0, It hurts! Don
st.nd there grinning like an lolot' Do
something!"
nothing to do, and as a result he pc
come the recipient of a storm OF rage
that made. all the other storms he mao
Weathered pale into insigniflcance; A.
last Hawkins, breathless, ordered nun
out of the of the room, calleo Ior ms
car and went home.
The next day Collins received
memo from his employer that caused
him to pulI a very long race 19e
stenographer asked him what was the
trouble.
.Trouble. Plenty of it! The old
mans laid up with that govt OF ms
and I've got to go out to his country
Mace and help him with his work
Holy smokel That's pleasant pros
pect,"
The stenographer sympathized with
him you'll have your. head bitten
off about thirty times a day." she said.
81 don't see why you stay with him
why any of us stay with him, for that
matter"
Collins let his grin spread, I'VE
stay because he's the best and squar-
est boss in New York, and we know It,
Let him howl and tear and cuss US
out all he wants to-we know wen
get a square deal"
you're right agreed the stenog-
rapher, nodding a blond head. But
just the same, 1 don't envy your
Edward Collins arrived at the Pines
his employers country place, that
same evening in time for dinner He
dressed-they specified dinner coats at
table-and reflected that it might be
worse. He had a nice room and was
not treated as a servant. AS he de-
scended the stairs he looked for Mr.
Hawkins, but did not see him. In
stead there swan into the field of his
vision the loveliest thing he had ever
laid eyes on-a girl of about his own
age. in a shimmering evening gown
that made her look like a fairy in a
misty cloud. He could only stare as
she came toward him.
I'm Miss Hawkins-Evangelin
Hawkins" she explained amused ut
his look of surprise. dad won't be
down to dinner--and he won't want
you till tomorrow morning Poor
dad!' she added. His foot hurts him
SO. and I'm afraid he'll make it
awfully uncomfortable for you"
Collins grinEed. Odd I say that he
had a most attractive grin ~ "Oh.
I'm rather used TO it, Miss Hawkins
And I'm genuinely sorry he's fli.-You
see things at the Office" and he
launched into a detailed account that
took him half thru dinner. Suddenly
ne remembered. TN afraid I've
bored you awfullyt" he exclaimed con-
tritely.
mo, indeed-I'm awfu1lv interested
Do tell me some more" And Collins
did.
Three weeks later the situation was
unchanged. That is, id was unchanged
as Tar as Mr.. Hawkins govt was CON
cerned, but there was a decided
change in the affairs of Edward Col
Inns. - w
Formerly he had spent his eve
nlngs reading or wandering over the
grounds alone; but now he seemed to
haunt certan spots. It was a peculiar
Iact that Miss EvangeIine Hawkins
was nearly always near those spots.
He was also given to incoming about
and Mr.. Hawkins found some cause
Tor complaint in inattentien 1t might
nave been noticed. inc addition, that
ne cherished a withered rose in a
drawer of his dresser This rose had
been worn by Miss EvangeIine Haw-
klns at Il small dance given at the
mouse one weekend. She had dropped
1t and he had picked it up All these
signs, of course, mean nothing in mar
ticular.
And then one day he lost his note
book and Miss Evangeline Hawkins
found it.
An hour after he had discovered his
loss ne came upon her in little sum-
mer house in the garden. She was
reading something = his notebook!
With a sigh of relief he approached.
She rose and smiled at him-a little
uncertainty. Here's your. book" she
said
Thank youi" He was relieved that
she had found it.
What neat shorthand you maker
she said.
He blushed crimson. Tive had
a good deal of practice"
bid you know" she said idly, "I
went to, q school once and learned
stenography? I thought I'd be useful.
1 can still read it,
The red in his face deepened.
Let me read SOME of yours-Iye
been looking it over and can read it
very we'll" She was turning the pages
as she spoke. He became conscious
of wild desire to grab the book from
her hands and flee; but she remained
rooted to the spot.
Here" she said. Dear Sir-Your
letter of the l 5th received love her.
T..