The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-04

and his face was thin and haggard.
There was a trace of EN- barrassment.
too as he put himself in her way and
extended his hand; but the eyes were
as frank as ever-and eager
Rose had not thought of meeting
him thus, or at all. She had planned
no course of action. Suddenly she
was aware that her heart had given
one great wild leap; that high anger
had possessed her, and. that she had
ignored his hand, stepped aside and
passed on without word or second
Hook at him. She was shaking when
she reached the bookshop.
Ten minutes afterward Mr.. En-
mons. also returning from lunch,
looked curiously at Rose as he passed
her; then he turned and asked her to
come back to the desk with him.
Miss Blythe said Emmons
bluntiy, why did you give Bob Lane
such a. ghastiy cut just now? l was
just behind YOU
The bitterness of Roses disappoint-
ment in Lane was still upon her You
should know better than any one else.
Mr.. Emmons," she answered. II can
not be friends with thief"
Emmons's eyebrows went up "A
thief! What the deuce! There's
some misund erstanding here, I guess"
In five minutes he had picked it all
out of her-what Collard had told
her. at which he looked grimly grave:
the shock it had been to her, at which
ne mia WulnllSCal smile.
Now let me tell You something,
young lady" said Emmons Bob
Lane was not discharged. He went
out of this business for a reason of his
own-whether it was good or not re-
mains to be seen. He went out at a
time when it took nerve to throw up a
job, and he went out practically dead
broke. for he'd just finished paying
fors a terribly costly operation on his
sisters crippled boy. He'd had a
- l. s-
take it, tho he didn't complain. You
see. / had talk with him just after
you snubbed him, and he came back
here only because the sister has been
very ill and begged for him to come.
But the point is. he knew very well
when he went that he was likely to
have rough shedding.
Bob is coming back into the store.
Business is enough better to warrant
II, and l told him to come in tomorrow
But now that I've had this talk with
you, he isn't coming back as a junior
clerk; he's going to take Collard's job.
Collard's plumb right about one thing
y won't keep the thief in my en-
ploy; not even the kind of thief who
can manage to keep his fingers off
his boss's money but can't keep from
stealing a rival suitor's good name!'
Rose was staring at her employer
her color coming and going.
Like n lightning flash had como
sudden illumination. Mr.. Emmons."
she trembled, "if Bob didn't have an
other position and wasn't discharged,
why did he leave p
Cant you guess p asked Emmons.
"Oh, oh yes-yes, And believed
such awful things. just because that
that beast told them to me! What
shall l say to him? What shall do?'
Il don't know, my dear But Bob
told me he had tramped and ridden
the bumpers and starved and been
threatened and had an altogether
wretched experience since he went
away, but never went down under any
thing till a few minutes ago If
were you. Rose. I'd just lift him up"
"Oh, if there's any way can will,
will He has been wonderfu1v'
-'rhen dry your eyes and go back to
your work" said Emmons. with his
whimsic smile. For If I know any
thing of life, Bob viii soon show you
the way
Copyright, 1922, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)