The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-01
EDening Story
Any Old Port.
81 Il. w. PEACH.

Stafford gazed around the room
with a whimsical grin. 1t was a top
floor, sky-light room. The bed groaned
and the whole room gave evidence
that 1T was a last shelter. He looked
up thru the sky-light. Anyway. /
am getting nearer the angels all the
time" he advised himself.
He arranged a few belongings that
he took from his pocket and placed
on the small size, battered bureau.
drawer some torn pieces of paper.
Somebody's last will and testa-
ment," he muttered to himself.
wonder what poor soul came to an
Choir in this last harbor."
He arranged the pieces until the
story was plain to him and he whis-
tied softly as he worked. Three at
tempts had been made to write
letter to some one called Dear" Each
had been thrown aside, the third and
complete one evidently because of a
blot The last he could read 1t be-
gan-"Dear:-I am all discouraged.
My hospital bill took all my savings
I'm so wea--. =. (Here the note was
illegible). Come to me. Just for
the old love lou had for me. Cheer
me a little; you are the only one who
can. If you don't. I'm afraid it is
Stafford stared at the trembling
girlish hand, his smile vanishing, and
read on. She asked her one-time
lover to meet her in the city station
She would be in one of the first three
seats-if there was room.
The German of whom he had just
hired the room had told him that the
roomer had just left, and Stafford
reasoned that in her condition she
indicated in her note.
He drew his last half-dollar from
his pocket and inspected the. coin.
How can I escue maiden in dis
~ this 2'S he asked himself
and did not pause for reply
In few minutes he was heading
for the great central station, breast
ing the cold winds that hummed by
every worn thread of his old suit. Pa
tient trudging soon brought him in
sight of the huge pile, and a minute
later found him studying the long
central seats. His quick eye saw a
slight form the thin, wistful face,
from which abnormally dark and sad
eyes looked out with inner dread. In
the girls hand was a yellow slip of
paper.
He went up to her with decisive
stride. Miss Hope Hartwell? My
name is Lane Stafford. Has the
knight arrived?" He held out her
bIotted nCte.
She stared at him: then at the note;
then at him. What she saw eased
the tension in her face-probably the
inner light of GOOD cheer and frank
manhood in his eyes; little lights that
would burn while life lasted.
She held I 1t the yellow slip. He
sent a messenger. He isn't coming"
she said quietly.
THAT suits me-" he said cheerfully.
THAT is my last half dollar. Let's
spend it like miIlionaires. It's lunch
time, you know. I know a warm and
coy place where for four bits, you
can GET" He elaborated on the
menu.
The girl look :. at him wonderingly;
and he became sober. He did not in
tend that this dark-eyed bit of city |
wreckage should drift from his life. |
"Rememb6 it's any old port in a
STORM" he announced. And we both |
better get in"
His air was infectious. She rose
and started with him, worrying him
as she did 0 with her revealed weak (
ness.
They feasted to the full extent of
the half dollar. He exerted himself |
to amuse her, and was satisfied with !
the shy amusement in her eyes. At
ter the feast H. announced:
Now, let US set sail for 'Sauer- !
krauts' abode. where you shall have
my room
But
"But-you shalt Come, lass. the
tide has zen ebbing, but it's COM
ing in, believe-me"
1t was evident she had never met a |
specimen like him-one of the CHEEKY |
souls that life seems never able to !!
overcome: and he guessed, too, that ,
she knew her need of him.
Old ''Sauerkraut" long ago hard !
ened to the ways of the strange world /
that drifted in and out of his cheap /
place, nodded briefly when he heard /
the arrangement. He had his weeks
rent-why worry?
Pledging her not to run away, he I
waved her a gay adieu and headed out
into the night to become one of the
sleepers in a long hall where by vir-
tue of a bath aid evident poverty a
man might sleep for one night only.
He planned and then he slept, dream
lessly.
The next day he hunted for work.
but his crippled right hand barred