The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-04
Eoening Story
BnIy's Car.
By CLARfSSA MACKIE.


Polly Granville presented a grave-e eyed
face, little too thin and sunburned,
perhaps. ~Agnew looked at the famous
Miss Fordyce without curiosity, as if
all her millions mattered nothing, all
tho to lovely Ann the name of Aguew
suggested dim recollection of finan-
cial crash, and broken fortunes, but
that must have been a year ago, and
this young Agnew looked well dressed,
| prosperous, leancut,>and as well
turned out as any of the other reluc-
tant males who had forsaken the out
doors for one of the opening events
of the social season.
| II saw you yesterday Billy de-
elared Mrs. Granville as she gave him
cup of tea.
He looked vaguely at hers 81 was
in SO many places yesterday" he apol@
oGzed.
| Polly Granville laughed. This was
at Forty-fifth and Broadway, and a
policeman was handing you a little
| slip-you were in~your carl"
"Oh, I remember" grinned Billy
Agnew.
zone usually remembers such
things" smiled Ann.
He looked at her casually; then his
loneliness was too much for him. Il
suppose you own a dozen cars" he
said b1untly.
Ann grew pink. mercy, mol"
"I am being very rude-forgive me,
please" his eyes looked sorry and
worried at the same time.
Another idler," thought Ann scorn-
fully; probably worried to death
over his debts-racing around in a
SNOWY car and
Some one called Ann out of her
reverie, another brought her more tea
and cakes, and others crowded out
Billy Agnew, who presently vanished
altogether.
BILLY had to go-has a lot of en-
gagements-bUt he kept his promise
of coming to my tea" said Polly Gran
vile to Ann when the two were alone
before a whispering fire in the library.
us it a privilege to have him at
ones teas asked Ann lightly, tho
she was interested in the grave young
man.
Il consider it an honor" said Polly
earnestly, and Ann would not queS-
ton her further. Some day she would
know Nor herself whether he was a
cattle king, a famous screen star, or a
STANDARDIZATION.
The next day she lunched at the
burlington, and because her own car
cab. One of the hotels fleet of hand
some dark blue cars awaited her. As
it rolled up Park avenue toward home
she happened to glimpse the profile
of the driver.
It was Billy Agnew!
This was his cart A taXicab driver
and he had appeared at Polly Gran
viIle's tea-Was it one of Polly's
pranks? But so many people had
recognized him-and they appeared to
like him. He was hkable, too, SO
much ike the lover that Ann Fordyce,
poor little rich girl" had always
dreamed would appear some day that
she had measured other men by his
standard and found them wanting! A
taxi driver! But this apparently had
once been an expensive carl
When they stopped at Mrs. Gran
ville's house the driver stepped down
and opened the door. Ann alighted
like a small, naughty princess, and
looked the man full in the face-and
it was Agnew. tho his face was ex-
pressionless, his eyes vague and un-
seeing.
She did not offer to pay him She
Nmerely smiled and said sweetly.
Thank you so much, Mr.. Agnew!"
and s4nin she vas rewarded Re by the~red that
{ HE is not quite a man of stone"
she commented. as she drank a cup of
tea with her hostess.
'And so he drove you home, Ann
Fordyce. daughter of a millionaire"
Don't be melodramatic," chided
Ann. 81 am wondering why the man
does drive a taxi; it must be embar~
RAISING to his friends"
NPshaw! Ann, don't you know that
he does it because he needs the
money? When his father was ruined
and died suddenly do you know that
the limousine was the only thing left
after everything else was sold? Billy
an only son, his mother is DEAD, his
cousins were frantic because he might
disgrace them-but he's true blood
he's studying nights to finish his law
course. Some day it will be good-by
to the car-tho he declares he will al
ways keep it! Now, do you dislike
him.
Il never did," protested Ann tear
fully. Il liked him, and / was pro-
voked at what I thought was. just an
idle fad of a rich mans SON"
He is TO longer~a richs mans son."
said Polly, staring into the fire with
thoughtful eyes.
1t was after midnight when Polly
was awakened from sleep by the sight
of her guest, clad in a scarlet silk
A<imono. her dark eyes tragic with ex-
element
"What is the matter? Burglars?"
demanded Mrs. Granville.
Come INTO my room. please, re-
quested Ann, and when they were
there. sitting before the fire, the rich
Miss Fordyce faced her dearest friend.
Tell me. Polly, is Billy Agnew the son
of that Agnew who was interested in
my fathers mines?"
YES" said Polly. bluntly.
was it something my father did
that ruined John Agnew?"
81 don't think your father knew
he was sick-and you were in Europe
with him. But your Uncle Martin, who
also owned the mines. crowded out
Mr.. Agnew-I don't understand the
details, but it was whispered that your
Uncle Martin was to blame"
And Uncle Martin is dead-and
there is no one left save me-" said
Ann slowly Her face was white and
her eyes were drowned in tears.
Il was sure you didn't know" said
Polly softly, land remember, Billy is
a good scout and so proud he won't
take a cent from you,"
Polly was right. All the great law