The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-18
E0ening Story
Pretty Molly and Her Slogan.
BY FRANK H. WILLIAMS.

over clear down to the tips of his toes
in his large good-looking shoes when
ever he gazed into Mollys big brown
eyes, and longed to tell her she was
the sweetest girl in the world and that
he'd be the happiest man ever if only
she'd let him lead her to a preacher
and put a wedding ring on her finger.
But it is not quite the whole truth
to say Jack knew nothing more than
that Molly was the only girl for him.
He also knew that she treated him
rather disdainfully, that she had lot
of other beaux and that it didn't seem
to mean much in her young life
whether he came around or not. And
that was a very disagreeable thing to
know and no one can blame Jack for
fighting back this distressing knowl-
edge and trying to fool himself all the
time into a belief that he didn't know
it at all.
But the knowledge of Mollys purely
platonic attitude toward him would
rush over Jack like a dark cloud every
now and then when, as tonight, he
called up Molly for date and was
turned down because of a previous
engagement with another fellow.
"Gee!" grumbled Jack over the
phone after Molly had said I'm
sorry" in the sweetest voice mag
Unable. I'm about as popular with
you as the smallpox. Aren't you ever
going to break a date with another
fellow SOS to have one with me?"
why, Jack" exclaimed Molly, re-
provingly, you wouldn't like it if I
broke a date with you to go out with
some one else, would your"
THAT isn't the point at ALL" ex-
claimed Jack. Here am lying down
and letting you walk all over me and
everything. and 1 don't seem to be get
ting anywhere with it at all. 1t just
riles me all up TO have you treat me
only as if I was always a friend and
nothing more"
A silvery giggle was MoIly's answer
to this.
You can't keep running around
with everybody always" went on Jack
mournfully. Sometimes I think you
don't care any more about me than
nothing at all. You seem to look thru
me and around me for somebody else.
What makes you treat me like that 2'
oh" came the surprising answer,
that's because I'm living up to my
slogan"
This was the very first time Jack
bad ever heard anything about Molly's
slogan and it mystified him.
What slogan?'' he queried. What
do you mean? What is your slogan Pr
"Oh, that would be telling" cried
Molly. Pm not going to tell you what
my slogan is. But you know what a
slogan is; it's a sort of guiding star,
or philosophy of life, or whatever
hfghbrow name you want to call It
1t helps you decide what to de and all
that sort of thing. Well, I've got a
slogan and Pm living by it"
Tell me what it is" pleaded Jack.
mo, III never tell." said Molly.
Never is long, long time ex-
mo, no. said Molly. "Goodby.
Maybe I'll be able to go with you the
next time you call up"
And she hung up the receiver.
Jack walked away from the phone
disconsoIately.
Now 1 wonder what her slogan is.
anyway said Jack to himself. eff |
could only find out what it is I might
have a chance with her. BY Jove, l
am going to win heri I've played
around with a lot of girls in my time
and I've passed up a lot of dandies,
but there never was a girl like Molly
and I'm going to get her if it's the last
thing I do. But wishsI could get her
off this friendly footing stuff and
make her take a real personal interest
in me. What is her old slogan, any
way?"
In spite of Jacks determination to
cut out all his other girl friends and
to stop running around with any. one
but Molly, he didn't make much prog
ress in his avowed intention of captur-
ing her heart. She was always gay
but elusive.
you're the hardest girl in the
world to get" exclaimed Jack ruefully
one day, ''but that's the reason I'm all
the more determined to get YOU
Molly smiled at him quizzfcally.
How many other girls have you
told that?' she queried.
Not a onei" cried Jack, emphati-
cally, edging closer to her. They were
seated on the davenport in the board
ing house where Molly roomed.
"No?" countered Molly, with a dis
maying infection which indicated po-
lite interest and nothing more. And
she rose and sauntered over to the
photograph where she put on a jazz
record which made the room ring.
Jack waited quietly until this piece
was finished. Then he went to Molly
and put his hands on her.
Il know what your old slogan is
that you're living up to all the time"
he declared.
"Yes2" queried Molly
Eyes, it's Beware of Mem or Never
Get Married or something like that,
isn't it?''
TIL never tell" Molly smiled exas-
peratingly again.
1t was then and there that Jack got
an Inspiration.
I'm not getting anywhere this
way" said Jack to himself as Molly
put OH dnOlneF record. 1t up TO
me to do something radical or des-
perate- Now, what can 1 do?"
For few minutes he thought over
this question. Then a light came in
to his eyes and his manner became
animated and happy. He saw Molly
looking at him curiously as he laughed
and capefed around the room But he
didn't tell Molly of the idea that had
come to him. The idea was much too
radical and desperate for that
The next afternoon about the time
when Molly left the office where she
was employed as a stenographer, Jack
was waiting for her with a rented fliv-
yer. He saw that she was alone as
she came from the office, and he saw
her manifest surprise and real interest
as he hailed her.
Get in" said Jack, "and I'll drive
you home"
rs it yours?'' quefied Molly, refer
ring to the car.
mo. I'm just using it, said Jack.
Almost at once Jack set off down
the street at a furious pace. For a
while Molly sat beside him eonteuted1v