The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-14
Eocning Story
Midas's Understudy.

woman that ever Scuttled Dold aoVen-
turings or cut the throat of heady
nresur1Dtion 1t had passed into a
proVerb among the younger set that
YOU could trust her always to face
ana down a difficult situation. Hence
the dismay tiaged hotly with disgust,
when sire fell-feu hard-for the
travelling apostle of the most ridicu-
lous among ridiculous new cults, one
whose jargon was incomprenenslole
to folk OF decent common sense-fulI
of The Now, Upforthings, Aware
nesses and such.
What could be understood by a
wayfaring man was that the cult held
it the whole duty of man, exc OF wo-
man. to give all the money in both
pockets TO the spreading of the mys-
tic creed.
There was the rub Elinor had
tidy competence, one that might serve
as the cornerstone to fortune, provid-
ed it-and herself-were but proper
ly husbanded. The apostle apparent
~ had elected himself to the improper
outstanding of both.
Yet tho The Larger Humanity was
his favorite text, appeals however
poignant to humanity, common or
garden variety, found him as resistant
as a ducks back to rain. But he had
not quite succeeded IN Insulating Ell
nor from the electric current of pity
for starving children She was among
the first to give sum everybody
knew she ought not to afford for fam
inc relief. But no friend protested
not even her truSty some time guar
dian. now her trustee-inarticulat
all felt that what the famine relief got
was so much saved from apostolic
greed.
To say that her largesses peeved the
apostle, Magna-Rey by name,
is putting the case more than mildly
Deeply as he grudged and sorrowed
for the money, he was worse DIS
turbed to find himself not quite her
TnF- mr.
show that openly. Instead. he said sor-
rowfulIy, haste in such giving was I'M
wise.
She ought to have let some friend
investigate for her-he himself would
have done it, failing anybody else.
There Elinor broke in, her cheeks hot,
her eyes shining with: Starvation
does not wait to be investigated If
L have saved even one poor baby, l
shall be glad-and if the money does
no good. giving it at least acquits my
conscience have done what 1
could"
"a lovely thought" murmured the
doubly hypenated one, feeling that he
had gone too far.
I'VE hope you believe what you say,
Bahawdur" Tommy Samson said be-
hind the apostolic presence Tommy
had spent two years in India-hence
his cant name for the apostle. prove
that you do believe" Tommy ran on:
Lots of folk are pining to see and
hear you. II you'll let us-the relief
committee you know-we'1 fix it so
you can speak in the Town Hall-at
SIS a throw, and every cent to go to
the famine fund"
Impossible! Simply impossible!"
protested the Bahawdur.
why impossible?" cried Elinor
TREMENDOUSLY.
vulgarize anything SO sacred as my
mission. 1t, in a way, consecrates my
poor human self-can I let myself
become the target of curiosity"
you do it for your own benefit,
Tommy flung in nonchalantly. BE a
sport, general-come across in this ex-
cellent cause. If you don't-well,
something may happen = something
you won't like one little bit"
Tommy. there are limits to even
friendly jesting," Elinor broke in with
quiet dignity that made Tommy sigh
more than ever to shield and save
her.
Sticking out his chin belligerently
he flung back, mo jest; I'm in dead
earnest. But there are jokes in bust
ness-very big ones. For example. in
come tax returns = some of EN-
wheeling upon the apostle. Say, |
member, you can deduct what you
contribute to charity. If you don't
want to make a holy show of your
self you can likely save money and
trouble by contributing enough to
bring you down peg or So"
Income taxi" the new Swami !!
scoffed. Man, you know earthly laws |
do not touch. me-
eff it weren't so impolite I'd say |
you were a liar" Tommy answered, |
his hands clinching. And prove it |
into the bargain. But I don't yearn |
to make myself a nuisance I repeat |
be a sport-and come across, hand |
somely. You will. if you are wise. as
you should be-"
Deliberately, without a word the 4
apostle turned his. back, walked away; |
at the top of the steps he was almost /
nor did he slack speed until |
s-a fine, small electric. As it /
sped him away Tommy, breathing /
hard, said thru clenched teeth: Nell, |
1 wish you only knew how hard I'm
damn"
Tommy left town that night on a /
mysterious errand to the city four /
hundred miles away EIinor was un-
easy over his absence-he had been
for so long part of her everyday |
consciousness even the apostle had |
not washed him from her life. The |
apostle was uneas:er still, but masked /
it with deeper mysteries of doctrine, |
more savage devoutness in privations. |
greater length of devotions- !
After three days he told his neo
phite needs must they both go into
silence-neither speak nor listen to
any but inner voices for TWO days and /
nights Full of unquiet wonder. Eli
nor obeyed thru half the allotted
time But upon the second morning
she saw so strange a group discharged
by a big limousine at her door she
could not refuse Tommy's insistent
summons: Come down and see what
rye brought you
She found Tommy. her trustee, a
strange uniformed person, plus the
apostle, fronting her in the big hall
~ II. 600 FTr.r,- I
my said jauntily, about those depos-
its in bank-and things-especia
the last big check from Miss Gray"
This is an outrage. You should
T. I'LL 1,- |