The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-14
Epening Story
TemporariIy Out of Order.
~ RUBY DOUGLAS.

BY bOOGAA0-
Grace o.Brien spent many hours
outside boxoffice of moving pic
ture theater. 1t was the only way
she had OF earning her living when
she found herself a young widow
systematic and quick. and it did not
take her long to become. expert in
the art of selling tickets to the hurry
ing public
foyer of the theater where she sold
tickets and two girls operated these
lifts. They were relieved as was Grace
herself, by other girls who came on to
do their turn at the work.
Sometimes, Gay, I wonder whether
the nonotonous ups and downs OF my
life here in this elevator are not more
wearing to the nerve than the seden-
tary life you live cooped up in that
box" remarked one of the elevator
girls to- Grace when there was a lull
in patronage for both of them.
ITS an even break" acquiesced
Grace, but 1 think we are lucky to
have any jobs at all, and I'm thank
full for mine"
That's the reason we call you Gay"
At that moment a man stepped up
to the little window, put down q dollar
bill and asked for a ticket. AS he
took the change he looked thru the
circular aperture at Grace O'Brien's
face. Suddenly he reached his hand
thru.
"Grace-why Grace Lowell" he ex-
claimed. at is you ?"
Grace looked at him scrutinizingly.
Bob Morton!" she cried.
For a moment each held the hand
of the other but did not speak 1t was
ten years since they had seen each
other.
AREN'T you lost ?" asked Grace at a
loss for words while he held her eyes
SO compellingly. s.-
Pm just on here for visit. And
you?"
"oh-its long story with me-" ad-
And then, urged on by the gathering
string of expectant patrons of the
moving picture house, the man dis
IAN old friend?" asked the elevator
girl when there was a momen mt of rest
again.
He was more than that--in our
school days" said Grace. p
oh breathed the girl meaning
I'VE were really-truly sweethearts
in those days and then came east
and then the war and George in his
uniform and the call to the front and
left That's all. have never heard
of Bob from that day to this"
But you 'wiII-if know a chin
when see it, laughed the girl. And
saw his.
It was the next day that Bob Nor
ton was dragged as by magnet to
the moving picture theater again.
Isn't there some. time, some place,
somehow that we could have a visit ?"
he, asked. after talking to Grace for
arfew nom tents.
Grace was silent. She could not
ask him to her tiny room. She would
not ask him to the general parlor of
the boarding house. She did not like
to let him take her to some place of
amusement.
why couldn't you just visit
here?" she said hesitatingly.
A group of persons sought tickets.
Its a fine place toto talk" Bob
said, anusedly, as he took again the
place bef9re the glass window. Now
at isn't exactly my idea of-of ro-
mance!" Grace laughed. ~ -.t-'f' =
Bob stepped aside again. He was
thinking. His time in New York was
a"Gay says you a.e an old friend Of
hers" said a voice at his SIDE.
Bob turned hastily and took off his
hat. "Ah-yes-very old. From her
home town, in fact: Tou-you calf
I'VE call her that because she's
such a brick in the face of all the
trouble she's had-and it nickname's
Grace very we'll"
wearing black-alI b!ack-on both of
the occasions when he had seen her.
| 'She's-she's had trouble, them"
"Oh-yes! Her husband was killed
In the war;
Bob was silent for a few moments.
"Oh-yes-so he was. I-perhaps I
did see that in the local papers, He
knew well that he had not. He knew
that he had never connected Grace
with any husband dead or alive
II have been trying to get a few
words with her, but she seems so
busy" he admitted to the girl.
The elevator bell rang; the girl
looked at her wrist watch. "She will
be off duty in ten more minutes.
Stick around"
Bob remained. The girl returned
with a little placard which bore the
lettering, Temporarily Out of Or