The Topeka state journal., 1922-02-27
'Euening Story
GalIatin's News.
BY WILL T. AAIES.


marrying a squaw. Gallatin and Bal
| lard had nothing in common in Tenn
p1eton; moved in quite different cir
cles. Judging from what Gallat1n said
to Mary Holden at the Kimmet house
| Wednesday dance they had had moth
| ing in common in Oklahoma.
1.-THE fellow was no crony of mine.
| either here or there, so I don't mind
tattling. OF course, I wouldn't tell
the story to any friend of his, but you
went away and struck the OIL"
You may tell it to me quite safe
ly," remarked Mary, indifferently.
According to Gallatin, Ballard was
one OF a party of prospectors that
guessed out a pool of oil under a quar-
ter section owned by drunken Cher
okee. They found the Indian fight
ing snakes in his shack and being fed
teaspoonful doses of Jamaica ginger
by his stolid, moon-faced daughter.
The others left Ballard to make a
deal with the Cherokee as soon as he
came out of his jimjams, instead of
which Ballard rushed the girl off to
Tulsa, that evening and married her
leaving the old man alone with his
snakes. When they go back next
day, the Cherokee had gone to the
Happy Hunting Ground and Ballard's s
wife was the owner of 71couple of
million dollars worth of remarkable
fine oil land. Sweet way to get your
money-what? commented Gallatin.
Nice country, that; lovely ethics!''
you're not going back?" inquired
Mary.
'No. only the blackguards sue
ceed out there. Besides, it's a rotten
hole for fellows wife, It was
boldly significant look that Gallatin
bent on the girl, and he pressed her
fingers as he took her hand to lead
her out on the floor, for the music
had begun again.
But Mary. declaring the orchestra's S
selection simply dreadful" sent Gal
latin off to dance with neglected little
Edith Prince. Then, finding her wrap.
she went out on the long veranda to
be alone in the crisp, starlit night.
So that was the sort of man Fred
Ballard was, after ALI Gallatin could
have had no reason to invent or en-
bellish the story, for neither he nor
any of her friends was aware that
she was even acquainted with Fred.
Oh well, what had she known about
him, really? Only he had seemed so
genuine, SO dependably fine and hon
orable. And-yes, she might as well
admit it-she had loved him. Thank
God she had kept her love a secret,
even from him!
So ran the girls thoughts bitterly.
Ballard had been rather a nobody in
Templeton, from the viewpoint of her
set-just an under executive in her
fathers factory. But their eyes had
met one day last spring, and since
then-well, she had had her dream.
What a cad he must be! Yet how
secretly proud of him she had been,
when on the one occasion when he
had called on her he had said so man.
fully:
/ Miss Holden, I am going away to
try to make some money. If L sue
ceed 1 shall come back and try to
make you love me-"
She had been periiously bear to say
ing something then that she would
have been sorry for now. What she
did say, however, was: "That is your
right, Mr.. Ballard
He had never written. There had
been sort of tacit understanding that
he should not. But word had come
back that he had prospered immense
ly. In her secret heart she had been
looking for his return.
And now!
A taxi rolled up to the curb fifty
feet away. Even while it's occupant
was paying the driver Mary recognized
him and shrank back into the deepest
shadows. Gallatin, searching for
Mary. met Ballard face to face under
the electric globe in front of the en-
trance. 1t was strange, Mary thought,
that Gallatin, after what he had said,
should greet Ballard SO effusiveIy:
stranger yet that it should be Ballard
who withheld his hand, ignoring that
of the other man.
Il have shaken hands with seuaw
men" she heard Fred say, but it was
when they stuck" Then she saw him
pass Gallatin by and enter the hotel
GalIatln stood uncertainty under the
lght for moment. then he too went
in and almost Immediately emerged
again, hat and coat on, and hurried
away
n eli,
Mary Holden the longing that Ballard
would come to her there and fell her
Gallatins tale was a lie. 1t did not
tarry. Why should Gallatin SO libel
another man gratGitously? And how
weak and silly it would be, with Bal
lard likely to appear at any moment!
NO, she did not want him to come.
She didn't want to see him, ever again.
All she wanted, noW,- was to escape
without encountering him For she
had loved him. She hadl She had!
And it was all a disgra ceful, horrible
a1falr! she would get away, now, at
once, without going indoors again.
There would be taxis at the corner.
But when she had almost gained the
steps at the front Ballard come out
He was strong and sturdy looking
and not too big. Mary stopped short
in her tracks, unintending, and looked
at him, straight inNthe eyes. Ballard
stopped, too, futiiely speechless. But
into his eyes there came a look, so
glowing with candor, so full of the
frank worship that had sent him away
and brought him back. that all at once
Mary knew, so well that 10000 proofs
could not have made her surer, that
GaIlatin had indeed lied.
You didn't marry an Indian girl
out there" she said. shaking her head
slowly. It was as If she were talking
to herself, with nobody about, and |
there was a queer little shaky tremble |
in her voice tht told Ballard what he
would gladly have given all his oil |
wells to know. ''No, you didn't marry |
a Equawl"
NO. said Ballard "Gailatfn did"
"You see.3 said Ballard -afterward. /
'Gallatin thought I was starting, with |
some other oil men, for China and |
wouldn't be back here for many |
months. It was an easy story for him /
to tell. because he knew it from ex- |