The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-28
'Eoening Story
Pothooks and Hangers.
BY M. e. MARSH


which to learn his fate and-well, he
hadn't decided just what he would do
after that; that is. in case she wouldn't
marry him.
So he sat in the little parlor of Lou
ise's home and waited. Presently she
would come in briskly, her brown eyes
demure. her lips smiling. She made
him think of a sturdy little wildflower
in the woods in springtime. And
Jimmy. young lawyer tho he was,
knew that his heart would skip a beat
and his rudy face take on a still
deeper hue, as he faced her. He tried
to be patient, and as the minutes
passed, memories came-sweet and
bitter-in their turn.
Around that library table in the
center of the room he had sat three
nights a week with Louise and-yes-
Terry Gerard. the Shark-who was the
particular fly in Jimmy's ointment.
Why did he need commercial edu--
cation, anyway-his business didn't re-
quire it. Jimmy's did; at least, so he
had represented to Louise when he
had begged her to teach him the art
of shorthand.
So around this table the three had
sat-Louise and her two mismated
pupils, for they hated each other as
much as they loved their teacher.
Both had invented their need of a
knowledge of shorthand in order to be
near the object of their affections.
The only difference in their methods
was that while Jimmy didn't try to
learn, concealing his indifference to
the best of his ability, Terry made the
most of his lessons and consequently
was able to read whole pages of curli
cues without a break.
Red headed shark" growled Jim
my, gritting his teeth. He smootaed
his own glossy dark hair and scowled.
That shark was to be reckoned with;
he was bright and, yes, good looking,
and Louise seemed to like him. OF
late he had imagined that she pre-
ferred him. Only yesterday he had
come upon them talking confidential
ly in low tones when no one was near.
Well, the suspense would soon be over.
He heard her coming down the stairs,
and his heart skipped that beat ac-
cording to prophecy, as Louise entered
in anticipated fashion.
While he was holding her hand,
which had been extended in welcome,
he looked at it idiotically, as if he had
never seen it before.
why, Jimmy" said Louise, looking
at him in surprise.
Jimmy gulped.
You promised to write my answer.
Today"
And so have
Didn't get it," gasped Jimmy. Mail
service punk. Was it yes or no?"
silly she answered. diving into
her pocket. 81 didn't say I'd mail it
you. Weren't you to come this eve
ming to take your lesson? Weui''
She handed him a notebook, open,
pointing to a neat array of pothooks
and hangers that adorned the page.
THAT is my answer" she told him
sweetly.
He looked at it heIplessly. "Je-
| hoshaphat!" he explained. For the
first time he enYied that shark. He
could have read those marks. Poor
Jimmy couldn't, and he didn't know
whether to sink with despair or take
| his teacher in his armsl
ut was. at recess the night before
that it happened. The Shark had left
early. Louise had told him goodnight
| in what seemed to Jimmy a most I'M
| necessarily interested fashion, and
Jimmy had forthwith laid his heart
and fortune at his teachers feet. In a
Sweetky businesslike manner she had
promised to write him her answer.
And there it was in his hand and
| he couldn't read it,
| THAT is your answer" repeated
Louise.
YES" Jimmy floundered miserably.
She was looking out of the window
now. Jimmy set his teeth and began
to study those awful marks with a
vengeance.
A gasp escaped him. There was a
! familiar chicken track in that first
line. 1t was the one phrase he had
learned very early in the course, think
| ing some time to use it craftily, Il love
you'll" He recognized that when he
saw it. 1t was there! He looked
closer. Yes, it was there, but what
was that silly mark preceding the
word love? 1t didn't belong there! He
tried with his finger to romove tit
might be an eyelash fallen there. But
| it stayed, and Jimmy's brow grew
| n ~ II
thought. Suppose that little fool curved
line should be the negative to that
sweet phrase! Did she or didn't she
That was the question. 1t was time
to use some of that craftiness.
Pushing back his damp hair and
calling to mis- aid a sickly smile, he
pointed to the disturbing curlicue.
Teacher he said in a wheedlins
tone which he sometimes used teas
ingly, teacher. you made this char
acter a little lame. can't quite make
it out" He held his breath.
That" answered Louise, turning te
him patiently and spelling the woEs
Iphonetically, sis don't - han
length, you know, to add to-
Jimmy stiffened and the notebook
fell to the floor. When Louise left Il
there and turned away again he ex
rage gained mastery of his tongue.
''I hope you're satisfied" he said
ithickly. you've made all kinds of {
fool of me-deliberately. TOO"
Louise raised her finger warningl,
and listened. 81 think -Terry's com
ing" she said. Hes early
Jimmy swallowed and looked for hi:
hat. He was certain now-the Sharl
had won. Louise's smile showed that
1t was radiant and her face was shin
ing with a glory that only love car
bring.
Cant stay for lesson" he mumbled
examining the letter into his poke
and making for the door.
ct was a false ALARM" said Louis
door.
THAT shark" began Jimmy angri
ly.
isn't he a wonder?" asked Louise
her sparkling eyes upon him. H
can read shorthand like print" He
face was glowing still and Jimm.
could stand it no longer.