The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-07
EDening Story
Teaching Jim a Lesson.
BY JANE OSBORN.

if you never get as good chance
again. That's ALL Bruce Borden
spoke with the full authority of
twenty-five years to his twenty-year-
gether alone in the Borden living
room. Bruce had noticed for the first
time that Jane was not wearing her
engagement ring, tho it had been
missing from her finger for a week,
and then it had suddenly dawned
upon him that he had not seen Pro-
fessor James Crane in the-Borden
home for several days.
Bruce demanded explanations with
brotherly exactitude, and Jane had in
a manner that Bruce considered much
too flip, announced that she had
broken with Jim and was glad she had
done SO.
Isis, you're crazy Bruce an
nounced. slamming closed the heavy
volume he was trying to study. you'd
be darned lucky to marry a man like
Jim Crane. 1 guess you don't realize
what1his standing is. Why, he's barely
thirty, and it's generally acknowledged
that he knows more about oysters
than any man in this country
Oysters gasped Jane. Don't talk
to me about oysters. Who wants to
marry an oyster expert?"
But don't. you realize that to have
won that reputation Jim has to be one
of the best scientists in the country?
I guess if you knew how the fellows
ADMIRE MIN at COileSS you u De bOrTy
for what you've done. He's one of
the most brilliant members of my fra
ternity."
Hes crusty cid professor, and
as absent-minded as the worst of
them,' snapped Jane That's the
months, and three times in that time
Jim forgot to call for me when he had
promised to, and once he had tickets
for the theater. He got interested in
IN, f1aa lob tn
around with his. old oysters, and for
got all about me. And once he
brought me a loaf of bread instead of
a box of flowers. His sister had asked
him to get the bread, SO he had the
flowers sent to his sister and handed
me the bread
signs of genius, sis; signs of
genius commented Bruce; but Jane
was not to be persuaded.
So matters stood between Prof.
James Crane and his erstwhile fan
Gee, Jane Borden. Meanwhile, the
professor perceptibly lost weight and
became more absent-minded than
ever, and Jane was secretly perfectly
cred engagement she had reached the
point where she assured herself that
she did not wish ever to renew it
that it was out of the Question-but
that she would like to be friends. She
admitted to herself that she longed
for the sight of Jim Crane.
1t happened that week that there
was an exhibition in town promoted
shore property. 1t was Ncalled the
ocean Front Exhibit" Some inter-
ested protector of the affair had
dumped a number of admission tick
cts on the secretary of Bruces frater-
nifty Bruce had brought one home
for Jane, realizing that James time
hung heavy on her hands, and an aft
ernoon spent at any sort of exhibit
would be better than time spent
incoming at home. Prof. James Crane
had wandered into the fraternity
house after lectures and, feeling too
distraught for more serious work, ac-
cepted a ticket for the exhibit. He
didn't really intend to use it himself
but, going to his rooms in his sisters
house where he lived, he discovered
that his sister had his afternoons
work planned for him.
Its nurses day off, and I must
do some shopping. Can't you man
age to take care Of Lucille while I'm
gomez"
Lucille was four. Not infrequent1y
she had accompanied her Uncle Jim
been the excuse for trips to the zoo
and the circus. but Jim did not feel
qualified to play nurse girl alone.
However, he consented. He started
out with Lucille and then decided that
his task might be less difficult If he
took his charge to the exhibit. A bus
ride, thrilling for Lucille, brought them
to the door of the exhibition hall, and
before many minutes had passed Luz
Giles eyes were agog with admiration
of the gay lights and gaily decorated
booths. What took her eye from the
first was corner booth set up to adj
vertise a newly opened stretch of sea-
shore. Orchard Beach was. as vet a
stretch of dune-dotted sandy shore,
but its promoters hoped to boost it
into prominence among summer re-
sorts. The booth in question consist
ed of a space twenty feet square filled
with white sand from the beach. At
the back was a canvas drop painted to
resemble the far horizon of ocean and
sky and foamy breakers playing 'on
the shore. There was a bit of board
walk, a bench and a collection of chill
dren's sand toys.
This looked good to Lucille and she
to join the three or four chill
dren who were already playing in the
sand. Prof James Crane spied not
very far off a booth set up by the
state fisheries. There was a special
display showing work in oyster Gull
ture. James Crane was interested.
He was always interested in oysters.
suppose you stay here a few min
utes, Lucille" he suggested, and I'll
go over to that booth and pretty soon
I'll come back and get you" Lucille
gladly agreed.
The oyster exhibit proved especially
not, of course, that the
state fisheries could show James
Crane anything about oysters, but he
met San oyster specialist there with
whom he struck up a lively converse
ton anent their pet hobby.
Meanwhile Jane Borden had ar
rived. She looked about but saw
nothing that especially interested her.
Still there was nothing else to do, SO
she decided to walk around. She ap-
preached the Orchard Beach exhibit
and spied- Lucille. In a second she
had crouched down beside her and
was asking her a dozen questions
Uncle Jirn's gone to look at some |
thing and left me here" said Lucille
He's been gone a long time and may
be he won't come back" AS a mat |
- "a hoan 0nne