The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
oEDening Story
Malcolm Works His Way.
BY JANE OSBORNE

BY JANE OSBORNE.
"Oh, snakes" said Tom Higgins
with resigned disgust, glancing at the
leaves of a little black notebook that
he had just taken from his coat
pocket.
Malcolm Crimson, sprawled out on
hammock on the wide veranda Of
the Alpha Beta house, looked up with
some interest.
What's biting you, Higg?" is the
way he showed his sympathy
Two engagements for the same
time You see. I've got to pay my
own expenses this year. Dads sailing
close to the wind. So got next to
the student help committee and, hang
it all, somehow promised to see two
people at the same time this after
noon about some work. There's a lady
willing to give me board and>1odging
and a little money for what 1 can do
mornings and evenings. You see L
can't board at the frat house here. I
can't afford it. Then there's job
with one of the sightseeing bus COM
speel thru the megaphone two or
three times a week. Somehow I ar
ranged to see them both at 4 this
afternoon. Snakes!''
Malcolm sat up, stretched and
yawned. I'll look into one of the
Jobs. There's no nourishment sitting
around here and I haven't anything to
do till after my first class tomorrow
morning.
well, suppose you go see the lady.
Just size up the job. If this sight
seeing job falls thru might be glad
to take it," Again Tom consulted his
little notebook. Its a lady named
Mrs. Gregory Ginner so Park lane
I'll do something decent for you some
day, maybe"
At 4 promptly that September
afternoon Malcolm Crimson appeared
at the front door of the house of
ET-nrpnrvy IN, Do,-I- Z
Ginner opened the door and smiled
and blushed a little, showing that in
spite of herself she was a good deal
interested in students even when they
were, or were supposed to be, of the
''self-help" variety. Emma ushered
Malcolm into the family living room,
as being more appropriate than the
front drawing room, and went to tell
mamma" Malcolm watched the
slender figure eagerly as it withdrew
down the hall Mentally he made a
note that here was the girl he wanted
to take to his Junior ball. He had al
ways rather inclined toward spirited
brunettes, but his preference suddenly
swerved over to the rather shy blonde
type.
Mrs. Ginner soon appeared, an I'M
affected, motherly sort of woman. She
explained that since the boys were
away and Mr.. Ginner was SO much
taken up with business, they wanted
TO have young man in the family
to look after the furnace night and
morning, to take care of the walks
and lock up nights when Mr.. Ginneri
was away. They kept one maid, and
there were little things around the
house that the boys used to do before
they went away. He could have a
room on the third floor that one of
the boys had had. Mrs. Ginner was
sure he'd be comfortable. He was
just the sort of boy shed like, remind
ed her of one of her own sons
Malcolmn was about to say that he
was looking up the, position for a
But he doesn't look a bit like
Fred" she said. IFred has light hair
and blue eyes and your eyes are
to Malcolm.
Malcolm grinned and said they
were. j
We'll, goodness, but your eyes are
sharp" said Mrs: Ginner laughing. to
her daughter. 'I hadn't had time to
notice what color his eyes really were
all mean is that he is the sort of
boy that our boys are-Mr.," she
looked up to Malcolm, what did you
say your name was?"
'Mr. Crimson" she smiled, but I
suppose we'll all be calling you NAL
colin before long"
She quickly said something about |
but Malcolm did not heed this. He |
was SO intent on watching little Emma, |
who seemed lovelier every time he
looked at her.
Now, I guess everything is agreed |
on" Mrs. Ginner was saying. You |
can send your trunk and things to-
morrow morning. The room is ready. /
L am sure we'll get along we'll Mr..
Ginner has no end of admiration for
a boy that is plucky enough to work |
his own way thru college"
Mr.. Ginner, thought Malcolm Gin
son-why, yes, that was the fat father
of the Incompatible Emma, his own
some day. And he ad-
mired boys who worked their way
thru college; perhaps he would bel
more inclined to accept him as a SON.
in-law il he did work for himself in
stead of taking the allowance that
came so regularly and SO freely from
his Uncle Roger.>
IAN right" said Malcolm, rising
and making for the door. 'TH be
here tomorrow"
Tom was waiting in the lounge of
the fraternity house for his friend.
No housework jobs for me-" he said
joyfully. And I'll make enough on
the sightseeing job to be able to live
at the frat house. 1t was fine of you
10 look up that other job. If I'd gonei
I would have missed out on this, so
you see you sort of saved my life.