The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-02
Euening Story
CIinging Vine.
BY r. RAY BAKER.

| The quandary arose from the fact
that she was not of the type Of mod
ern woman he always had admired,
the kind ne had set his heart on
marrying-if he ever married. Indeed,
she was the reverse; she was the soft,
fluffy, velvetE, clinging-vine sort, and
for that species he never had had any
time.
Jim admired the capable. practical,
striding. self-reliant type of girl who
can stand up to man and read MIN
the riot act'' (Jim's own term for it,,
and, if need be, give him punch on
the nose. The young woman that
rowed, skated, swan and performed
4 gymnastic feats always had Appealed
/ to him whenever the idea feminine re
ceiNed any consideration from his
active business mind.
He was a bachelor of thirty, not
versed in the ways of the fair, and not
particularly interested. He was as
sistant manager of the Wells Electric
Pump company, and his duties kept
him busy from breakfast to dinner
But in the evening newspaper he
would read about some woman stick
ing a hatpin into a footpad, another
routing a porch-climber with a rolling
pin, or another knocking "masher
off the sidewalk. and he would ex-
claim: ''Bravoi That's the kind OF girl
for mel"
But as Jim was neither a footpad,
porch climber nor masher. ne never
came in contact with such an adj
mirab person. The beribboned,
dimpIed, fluffy haired girls who
played engineer to typewriters in the
pump office were his only feminine
associates. and, like a fool" as he re-
buked himself many times, he Went
and fell hat over shoes in love with
one of them. Maize Holmes by name
Jim fought against it, but to no
avail He was not master OF MS own
destiny. Maize was to all appearances
4 soft fluffy ve1vety, clinging vine,
but also she was pink-cheeked, grace
full. smily and altogether charming.
Against his better judgment, Jim
Just couldn't help taking Maize to
lunch occasionally. and once he over
stepped all bounds of reason and en-
tertained her at a theater. When he
got home he berated himself in harsh
terms all the time he was undressing,
and all night long he tossed and
tumbled and hated himself. And in
the morning went down to the office
with A crouch against the woodland
lost it when Maize tripped into the
room.
Hence the quandary.. Jim's heart
said. Marry Maize" and his common
sense, bolstered by that long-nourished
desire for capable, self-reliant mate,
said: Have a care; shes cllng1ng
vine.''
OF course. he did not know that he
could marry Maize. but he believed she
cared for him. Indeed, they were
quite chummy," and twice Jim had
been on the point of proposing, only
to be disSuaded by that cold, calculat-
ing judgment that had made him
good business man. He was rather
nice looking himself. and, altho he was
not conceited, he was quite sure that
Maize would have him if he pressed
his case. Between you and me, he
was right: she loved him, too.
Along came two weeks vacation,
and Jim decided the opportunity was
at hand to escape the clutches of the
clinging vine. He went fishing with
friend, dressed in old clothes, smoked
strong tobacco, and had a rough rest.
When he returned he was confident
that the spell Maize had cast over him
was broken.
The night before returning to work
he had dinner with the companion of
the fishing excursion, and was invited
to spend the night in the spare bed
The friend lived in a big apartment
house all by himself, not great dis
lance from the office.
Seated in a comfortable chair, while
the friend played music a la disc, Jim
eagerly digested a paper. He had been
separated so long from the busy world
that news acted on his brain like por- |
terhouse on an empty stomach.
That's the stuff" Jim suddeRly ex-
claimed, in the midst of a grand opera |
concert Here's a girl found a burg |
against his ribs with one hand and I
called the police with the other. and |
brought about his arrest. That's the J
kind of a girl for you! Why can't 1 /
get acquainted with one like that?"
This brought Maize into his !
thoughts and there were some peculiar |
disturbances in the region of his heart I
Yes. he loved Maize yet, but he
wouldn't yield. If only she were not a |
clinging vine!
About 9 O'Clock Jim became thirsty !
and went out in the hall for a drink |
of water. The friend kept a supply in |
the refrigerator. which was located IN |
the hall, and Jim went after it him |
self. not wishing to disturb his host, |
who was preparing a fish dinner in
the kitchenette.
Jim obtained his drink and started !
back to the apartment, and just then /
the lights faded out.
There go the lights again." he
growled as he felt his way along the |
hall. IT wonder if the power COM
pany will ever be in shape to carry its
load? About once week they fall
down on the job
Presently he bumped up against a
door. turned the knob and entered. He
stumbled over a chair and received a
blow in a kneecap that produced an
That's funny; I don't remember
leaving a chair in front of the door.
But then I didn't expect"
Keep perfectly motionless!" said a
soft. sweet voice in peremptory tones
IF you bulge I'll shoot!'
Against his temple a cold object was
pressed; SO Jim remafped as motion
less as he could with his legs wabbling
erratically.
"Auntie," called the sweet voice,
please call the police I've caught
a burglar!'
From another room came a faint
cry of CONSERVATION. then a scram-
bling sound, and presently Jim heard
another feminine voice summoning
the police.
Now sit DOWN. Jim was ordered,
and he sat. That cold object had been
removed from his temple. but he could
int hfS