The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-22
EUening Story
The Car Between.
BY CLARISSA MACKIE

Theresa Lane stepped into Mar
garets little office and closed the
door. Margaret looked up from the
pile of papers on her desk and smiled,
even while she hoped that Theresa
would not remain very long. There
was so much to do. and Theresa was
a bit of a gossip
Guess the latest began Theresa,
her hand on the doorknob, so that she
might make a swift and innocent es-
cape should any of the executive Off
GERS appear. You never can guess!"
Then you must tell me-"
August Waite has a cara per-
fectly gorgeous Matteroonl''
FANCY" exclaimed Margaret, with
a queer little lump in her throat.
theresa took out a vanity case and
powdered her nose: They are all
saying that you will have the first
ride" she said coolly.
"Absurdln And just then the teIe-
phone rang.
Probably calling you now" gibed
Theresa, as she went out. when you
finish talking. come and look out of
the window and see the Matteroon-
looks so funny beside Billy Cooks lit
tie car
Margaret WINGED as she picked M
the receiver, and she frown as Waite's
smooth voice came over the wire. "A
new car-wanted her to have a tryout
he would wait for her tonight after
"a run along The shore road
Why did l accept?" Margaret asked
herself as she hung up the receiver
and turned TO her work "Of course
there no harm in taking a little run.
only it seems disloyaI to BilIv-ob
bother why doesn't he get a decent
car instead OF bouncing around in that
little ark that every one laughs at?''
All the afternoon she kept at her.
work. her cheeks hot. her eyes bent
over the endless columns of figures
once waite came in with a sheaf of
papers in his hand to ask her some
question about the inventory. but he
did not mention the car. She was
glad of that-she did not like TO min
gle business with pleasure, vet all the
tlme she was fighting an undercurrent
her self-controL
Poor Billy and his little old car
poor Billy and his pld car-you were
siad enough to ride in that-vou
thought II was all right until the boys
Degan to make fun of it-remernber
ne. .Iae rae you took around by the red
mil! remember the sunset? Re
mem Der Nother rides on holidays and
sunday afternoons? Remember
Waitefs boast that he would have a.
car that would put Billy's fIivver out
OF the running? Wonder why Billy
1asn dropped in to ask If you were
leaving early? Suppose he has seen
the new car-where did Waite get
the money? He must have quite a bit
to pay for car like that" And So
endlessly. on.
just then the door opened again
and Billy stood there, looking very
tall and very white and grave. Are
you going early tonight, Margaret p"
he asked in a strained voice.
m sorry, Billy-that is, I prom
ised Mr.. Waite I'd try a ride in his
new car-you understand
fRi2hf-Ct' ha r,Iao 50
turned crisply away.
Billy" she called after him, hut
ls did no: hear.
When 8 o'clock came the old flivver
had disappeared and August Waite
was standing by the Snowy Matteroon,
his plump form incased in long tan
dust coat and a new tan cap on his
round, pinkish head.
'Lo"' he greeted her cheerily.
Isn't this grand little pushcart ?"
TT is beautiful" cried MARGARET,
with genuine admiration, for all the
fine points of the glistening chariot
appealed to her luxury-loving soul.
She sank into the softly cushioned
seat with a sigh of satisfaction.
Comfy" asked August Waite, with
just a thread of tenderness in his
voice.
Very" she replied briefly. and then
the car shot forward into the traffic.
She saw the smile of satisfaction on
his SNUG little face and she wondered
what his thoughts were If she had
really known would she have sat there
quietly enjoying the swift speed, the
sudden chances of interest that fol-
lowed their passing? Waite was think
ing that with Margaret for his wife.
there was no limit to the progress a
man such as he might make; she
would help professionally as well as
socially. and he-would be proud to
have her at the head of his table. AS
for that poor fish. Cooke, he was good
foil Jove, there he is new rafting
along in that wretched Kerosene can!
This was a good opportunity to point
him out to Margaret.
There's Cooke" he told her genial
". ION his way to the Red Mil road
I suppose"
Margaret said nothing, for she could