The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-26
Et,ening Story
The Girl Jim Took 10 the Game.
By 81. LOUIs RAYBOI.D.


/ Jim Crawford fingered the oblong
bits of cardboard refleetiveIy. His
| tickets had safely arrived a1ads thank
heaven and the ticket office, his seats
were as good as any ever allotted to
newly sfledged graduates under the
strain of unprecedented demands.
| That part of it was all TO the mustard
Only-whom to take? With Jim
| the choice was not a narrow one. Y ct
gradually it siTHmered down to two,
Caroline Hemingway or Peggy Curtiss,
/ both lively girls-and fair. For Jim
could not visualize himself as escort
ing to that Selorfui spectacle any but
a pretty girl. To chohse, then, either
Caroline's dusky attractiveness or
Peggy's winsome blendness?
i've got it.' said Jim. I'll toss
up their telephone numbers and abide
by fate. Come seven,"
| A moment later he snapped the re-
/ eeiver back on its hook. at was
! ever so nice of him, thank you, but
Caroline had already planned to go
with somebody else!"
Now for Peggy.
If Peggy's soft voice over the tele
| phone carried with a bit more of a
| thrill than had Carolines. Jim was
scarcely aware of the fact as her
words struck gradual dismay to his
soul
1.-The game2 oh. Jim, I'd love to.
/ but Blaine Ashley asked me ages ago.
| But, Jim, I've got a simply tremen-
dous favor TO ask you. Had you any
one else in mind? No? How SPLEEN
did You see. my cousin is here from
Milldale. and Just dying to see the
game. But you know how it is about
/ tickets. And-oh, Jim, if you would
take herl She's awfuiIy bright and
did you say, Is she pretty? Why
oh, Central, you've cut US OFF,
An ultimate reconnection and Jim,
I
wondering why on earth he had done
it, presently found himself pledged TO
take Peggy's Milldale cousin to the
| seasons greatest contest.
| Early in the afternoon on the day
| of the game, Jim drove his modest
| little roadster up to the curb in front
the girls on the veranda. Besides
them lowered young Ashley, tall and
! superior.
Never had Jim seen Peggy look
more beautiful, her eyes glowing and
her cheeks whipped to a radiant color
| by the crisp autumn breezes. Beside
her, the little Milldale cousin paled 10
| insignificanee. And she wore huge
| tortoise shell glasses
Driving out the crowded boulevard
thanked by laughing, chatterins
streams of people all flowing in one
direction, Jim tried to do his duty as
an escort and gentleman. But his
most valiant conversational methods
produced the most -meager of re-
sponses, subdued little ''yesses'' and
noes totally lifeless.
Disguised, Jim lapsed into a SILENCE
which lasted unbroken until he had
parked his car and the two of then
/ had entered the portal and found Their
places in the huge structure gradually
filling with a vast animated throng.
Then once more he reused himself
Ground in good condition" he com
tT11a IL, !
ball like all girls, Miss Crumley?"
Miss Crumley nodded timidly. 1.-THE
Iside that kicks the ball oftenest oven
those posts wins does it not?" she
wanted to know.
JIM all but groaned. Imagine
! Then he forgot his companion, ever
forgot that Peggy was sitting some
where with that arrogant Blaine Ash
ley, forgot everything but that the
team was coming on the field, shed
ding their blankets as they ran.
Yea! Yea. Veal"
For the greater part of the game
Jim forgot his silent guest. During
the intervals between periods he po-
litely supplied her with the offerings
of the peanut and popcorn boys and
a minimum amount of innocuous
small talk. But when the game was
on, she vanished straightway into OBJ
liVion as far as Jim was concerned.
Then. Just at the end. with the
score tied and five minutes to play
i the star of the team, taking one OF
those desperate forward passes s.
often futilely tried near the finish
started down the field. The crowd
| went wild
Touchdown! Touchdown"
And it-was.
| Jim became suddenly aware that
the girl at his side had grabbed his
arm with enc hand and with the other
was frantically waving her score
| book. HE made it, He made it,
Oh, boyi"
That night Peggy had a party to
celebrate the victory. Jim had been
invited when he deposited Miss Crum-
ley on the Curtiss steps and had re
Iluctantly consented. The girls slipped
away upstairs leaving Jim and Ash
ley to argue the. fine points of the
game.
1t was when the girls came back
that Jfa got the shock of his life.
|