The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-24
EDening Story
Alice in the Subway.
BY JANE OSBORN.

to be holding a continual competition
for the ''prettiest girl or the most
beautiful girl" In this competition he
was sole judge and the contestants
were girls he CHANGED to meet or to
see anywhere. When he went into a
restaurant where women served he
cast his eyes about to find the girl
who, in his opinion, was the prettiest.
Then he took a seat at a table that
seemed to be in her zone. After a
dance he could tell you which of the
girls was the prettiest, which the most
| beautiful In the office of a friend
he would look about in search of the
best-lookinG stenographer. 1t seemed
to be a game that interested him i'm
mensely and that made even a ride in
a crowded subway car something of
an adventure.
Thus he was engaged one afternoon
when the offices of the business Sec
ton had just poured forth their thou
sands of young women to make their
way homeward. This time the laurels
were awarded without delay. The girl
who stood opposite him in the vesti-
bule of the subway car was so fresh of
/ face, so gracefully proportional, so
brown of eye and golden of hair that
she won with flying colors. In fact
she was probably the prettiest girl he
had ever seen in a subway train. In
fact she was perhaps the prettiest girl
he
Then the surprising thing happened.
ing to her cheeks, stepped over to him
with hand outstretched.
} You're John Laurence, aren't
you?" she said with perfect convic-
ton. Il haven't seen you for ten
years, I'm sure. Yet I knew you in a
flash"
1t was surprising, because the girl
didn't look at all like the girl who
would respond so quickly to his look
of searching interest.
You bet I am. John Laurence's
my name, all right
You don't remember me?" she
asked with a little disappointment.
remember your face-couldn't
forget that" he assured. But for the
minute the name has slipped me-"
Alice" she reminded. II used to
sit in front of you in school. You
used to walk home after school, too
and carry my books. And I used to
call you Johnny to tease you, and you
used to put the end of my braid in
your ink we'll"
so I did. so I did. You look Just
the same. Let's see, how many years
ago was that?"
Ten. wasn't it?" she figured. I'VE
were fifteen then and we're twenty
five now. That's ten, isn't it?''
Enormous satisfaction swept over
the man. He was thirty-two, and
girl who didn't look moro than twenty
thought he was her own age.
Il guess look a whole lot older
than you" he flushed.
We'll, maybe, but then I suppose
you have worked pretty hard. 1 heard
you had graduated from Harvard and
had gone in business with your uncle"
she said, and again the man swelled
with pride So he looked like a Har-
ward man, did he? weren't we fool
ish?' she went on. You and 1 used
to be such good pals, John. and then
we quarreled over some trifle."
We were more than pals, weren't
lii.
full effort not to overdo the matter,
yet eager to know what role he was
entitled to play.
"Oh, you used to make calf love,
John, but that doesn't count. wcTl
forget all that. But I'd really like to
see you again and talk over school
days" She put her hand out. '-Come
and see me some time. 1 live exactly
where did ten years ago. The neigh
borhood hasn't changed. I am getting
out here tonight to see a friend"
And there the man stood glued to
the side of the car Why he didn't
follow the girl out of the car he could
not tell When he came to .Ris senses
and tried to follow, the subway door
slammed in his face.
That night he took note of the facts
on hand. Tho he had no thought at
first that the girl was just getting an
excuse to talk to him he was assured, |
as her face and manner had assured
MIN InaI she was not Ine KIM OF BlT4
to do that sort of thing. He was sure
of her story. She had simply mistaken |
him for some one else.
All he knew of her was that she !
lived where she had ten years ago, |
that her first name was Alice, and that |
she had gone to school ten years ago |
with a man named John Laurence. |
now twenty-five, who had graduated |
from Harvard, and bore a striking re-
semblance to him, Jim Kelly. After |
,T1 ~ H11 q
man thought it over, he believed that |
the girl realized her mistake before |
she left Much as he admired his own
personal appearance he could not be-
Iieve that she could have looked at |
him as closely as she did and not |
realize that he was more than twenty
five.
Jim Kelly took time the next day |
to drop in at the Harvard club In /
town and find from there something |
of one John Laurence He found that /
he lived and operated, with his uncle, |
a factory, some sixty miles out OF the
city. The next day was Saturday ana
Jim had promised to take Kate Hick-
to the theater, but he made his ex-
cuses and took o'clock train to
the home of the Laurences.
He found John Laurence, and was
not flattered at having to CONSIDER
himself his double. To be sure, they
were of the same build and coloring.
Their features were similar. tho John
Laurence looked his junior by ten
years. But while Jim Kelly was the
mirror of fashion, with affected
sprightIiness of manner. John Lau-
renee seemed indifferent of his APP
pearance-was digging around some
apple trees in his orchard in pair
of old army trousers when Jim called
.iT've come on a rather curious err
rand" he began in a grandiose man
ner. You see: happened to meet
a little gfrl-a chance meeting but
we got rather well acquainted. the
little girl seemed to take a fancy TO
me-asled me to call. She gave me
her address written on q card and