The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-30
EDening Story
Mary O'Brien.

BY LILLIACE NJ. MITCHELL.
! John cambridge was gulping the
| last drop of coffee at the breakfast
table with one eye on his watch,
which was propped up before him.
| and one eye on the boarder who sat
across the table. He did not want to
| be late again, for old Manson was get
| ting grouchy of late. When the wait
ress came in and said that Mr.. Man
son was on the telephone and wish ed
| to speak to Mr. cambridge. John fair
ly gasped-
There are half a dozen agents out
there right on the ground to show this
farmer the place." he heard Manson
saying. Nevertheless, I think that
we should be represented. I'll leave
the car at the corner and go down
town the rest of the way on the l.
You skip out there and hang around.
If we could make the sale it would
mean a fat commission for you, Balm
( bridge. Go to it. Get iti''
cambridge was one of the younger
statesmen in the realty corporation
and as yet somewhat IMMERSED in sales
talk. As he hurried toward the cor
ner to get into the sedan which was
waiting there, he shifted at the air
of the early morning and thought
what wonderful day it would be in
the country where he was going. He
wished that he knew some charming
girl to take with him, somebody who
loved the smell of clean, fresh eoun-
try air. He rapidly thought over the
list of girls he knew. 1t was a short
list and they all lived fairly near.
He stopped before the Adams house
and Eloise herself answered the door.
She blushed scarlet when she saw him
and asked him to step inside. 81 got
up late" she began apologizing, and
haven't had a chance yet To-
"Oh, well. never mind" John Balm
bridge cut in. Il had to drive out to
the country and 1 thought he
tarN nd I.oT.
laced boots distastefully.
'.If you'd phoned," she began, but
now it would take me a half hour
Better luck next time" he said
whistle as he showed in the clutch.
But she surely is charming in the
EVENING""
At Anna Compton's the maid an
swered the door, a Saucy maid, who
did not trouble to go upstairs. but
who called up that-a gentleman want
ed to see Miss Anna. He heard Annals
voice, now more on the querulous
order than the lifting. laughter-loving
voice that he knew.
That doorbeu Weakened met Send
him away; he's probably a man with
coupons from some photograph studio
or somebody wanting somethingi"
1t was an almost daZed young Jchn
cambridge who again stepped into the
sedon belonging to the Acme Realty
Corporation. The time was fleeing
and he must start out for the long
drive that was ahead of him. He could
not risk being late, and yet it seemed
a pity to take such a good drive alone
when some one else might as well
enjoy it, too. Besides, he would like
company. The traffic was getting
heavy now and so he took a short cut
up a side street, He saw a few IA
miliar houses and emembered. Mary
sO'Brien lived along here in one of
these houses. He saw the very house
now and undecidedly drew up at the
big white stone in front that pointed
out the fact that they had once had
enough carriage company to use a
block.
Here again the girl of the house an
swered the door-Mary O'Bri@h her
self. Her hair was smooth and pref
tily dressed and her shoes were we'll
ened properly. Her apron, tho, was
a mass of blue and yellow streaks.
Hello, Jacket" she. greeted with
wide smile. Thought you never were
going to come around any more. Come
on in
"I can't" he temporized. 81 stopped
just for a minute. You see, I'm going
to take a long drive out into the coun-
try to try to sell a wealthy commercial
artist a gentleman's country place and
maybe you'd like to drive along"
Her eyes danced I'D love itl'' she
exclaimed enthusiastically.
But" he went on evenly, II
thought maybe you'd be dressed
enough to go-Pve got TO get there at
once"
But Mary was already Juggling at
her apron that covered her from neck
to hem THE kitchen needed paint-
ing and thought that Mary O'Brien,
house artist, might as well do the job. /
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