The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-26
EDening Story
Waiting for Bob.
BY JANE OSBORN.


| For the past six months Margaret
Hope had avoided Blanks department
store. When a shopping companion
suggested Blanks Margaretlnade an
elaborate excuse. 1t was as important
to hide the reason for her avoidance
| ofBlank's as it were to avoid Blanks
But now it seemed imperative that
she should break her resolve. A rlch
aunt had sent her half dozen pairs
of, gloves with the note inclosed; Il
haven't the most remote idea what
size you wear. If these aren't right
take them back to Blank's and eX-
change them" The gloves were sew
ems and Margaret wore siXes.
There was no one to send to Blank $
SO Margaret went herself The ro-
tunda at Blanks, where crowds iof
men and women daily sat to listen to
mechanical music, to rest. to while
away the time, or to met friends, Syas
the place that Margaret especiallyIn-
tended to avoid. And yet, having got
as far as the glove counter, sheer per-
vers.ty led her to that section. 1t
seemed as if her feet carried her there
without her consent. N
.I wonder whom he meets here
now ?' was what Margaret was saying
to herself, and with the question tor
menting her she took a seat behind
a large column in what seemed to De
a hidden retreat.
1T was his idea to meet at Blank :
II suppose he always meets girls mere
probably met them before he met
me and still meets them"
About twenty feet away from Mar
garet'S column sat a good looking
young man, law student. His lee
lures had just ended in the nearby
law school and he had been impelfed
to come into Blanks.
And the law student, Bob Goodread,
was saying to himself: "I wonder
whom she meets now. Fool place to
make a man eome-a department
store. But it was her idea. L suppose
'-she always meets men here"
Margaret was about to rise from
her retreat when she looked ahead of
her and suddenly sat down again. As
she rose Bob Goodread saw her. He
him so he shranlz back as much as it
was possible, believing himself COM
pletely hidden by his column.
I'll wait and SEE who it is," was
ing pale and narrow and her heart
beating fast. "I'd like to see what sort
of girl cut me OUT
when he comes I'd like to thrash
him." thought Bob. keeping girl
waiting like that! I was always on
time, a little ahead of time so she
never had to sit and watt
Margaret waited and Bob waited.
They waited fifteen minutes and then
they waited half hour and the longer
to see the thing out. Besides"
thought Margaret, 'if I move first
he'll see me-; and Bob reflected that
he'd be in an empafrassfng position
If he made himself evident by stirring
from his retreat.
Half past chimed on the big clock
somewhere in the rotunda. 1t was
5:30. BY the store would be closed
Clocks pointed to quarter of six.
The crowd began to thin. 1t would
be more hazardous than ever to try
to get away now without attracting
attention. So Margaret kept her seat
and Bob kept his. Margaret became
uneasy.
"Cad," thought Bob. "she's nervous
as can be. What sort of man can
he be to keep her waiting like thatI"
And Margaret saw Bob b's>uneasiness.
He must care lot for her." she
thought.A perhaps if L had kept him
waiting He might navea cared for
me. Men always like girls who lead
them a cha-e."
Presently Margaret realized that she
and Bob were the only two persons
remaining in the great rotunda. She
saw salewomen getting out crash
covers to throw over counters and
aisle men helping to put displays un-
der cover for the night.
A shrill bell, that sounded like a
giants alarm clock rang, and then the
rotunda clock chimed 8.
Margaret rose very slowly. her nose
in the air, and then started to hurry
off A passing aisle man suggested
to Bob that he'd better be moving Son.
They were the last persons not en-
ployes, in the store. Side doors swere
closed tight. They had gone in oppo-
site directions, but somehow met in
the main entrance way, whittier they
had been directed.
"Sorry." said an attendant 'sTne
doors been locked. You'll have TO
go out the employees exit. Rear OF the
store, last door to the right"
There was nothing to do gut sto
obey, and standing within three feet
from Bob Goodread it was quite inn
possible not to recognize him. Mar
garet bowed coolly.
Bob seized at this slender excuse
Can I do anything for your" he