Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-04
CONVERTING A PARENT,
wRIrrrs rcR TIE EvrNISs STAR By nARvIN DANA
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Ten miles of electric railway separated
Arthur Brent from Alice Lathrop-and hap
piI ess.
They had been engaged with the full con-
sent of Mr. Lathrop, cashier of the San
Baratos Bank, until the project of con-
Meeting the town with the Park Hotel had
arisen, and on this project, a petty ten miles
of iron track, had their happiness been
wrecked.
qathrop had never believed in the Park
Hotel scheme and he had been so lacking
in public spirit as to rejoice openly when 1t
failed to draw the expected patronage from
California tourists, who declined in this
day and age of progress. to make the thou
sand-foot grade on the backs of patient but
not overrapid burros.
1t was at this juncture that Arthur Brent,
superintendent and manager of the munic-
ipal electric light plant, had suggested the
electric road to the mountain peak and had
tried to incorporate a company to install
the road. The matter had come before the
directors of the San Baratos Bank and the
loan had been secured in the face of its
cashiers most strenuous objections, which
added fresh fuel to his anger against the
young man. And the engagement had been
broken off, for Alice was the only daughter
of her father, and he widower.
Brent, certain of her love, and comforted
by her assurance that If he could win her
fathers consent the engagement should be
renewed threw himself body and soul into
the new project and now the great day
had cOme-the car to make its trial
trip up the incline. with half dozen promi
nent citizens. including Mr.. Hail. president
of the bank, and the mayor, as Arthur's
guests.
All the town was at the foot of the incline
to see the start-all save Alice and her
father. Grieviny that she could not accept
her lovers invitation TO share in his hour
OF triumph, she stood in the vine powered
window of her own room watching the in
teresting scene through a pair of strong
field glasses She saw the crowd sway
about the car, gay with flags and flowers:
she saw the crowd part and the start
forward across the level tract beyond the
town, then up the mountain side, until it
looked Ike vari-hued fly creeping toward
the Park Hotel among the clouds. Then a
mist came before her eyes, and she wonder
ed why girl of twenty very much in love
and very fond of life and the good things
thereof, should be forced to choose between
duty AMI a newer, stronger love that was
very. very sweet indeed.
And all the While, in a narrow bank Hen
rn Latin op bsnt over his papers and scowl-
ed, because of town gone mad over
foolish fancy of a foolish youth
But the car made its trip without Incl
dent and plunged down for another load.
Back and forth ii ran like a merry shuttle,
al through the beautiful spring day, each
time taking n fresh party of merrymakers
to the mountains summit. for the manage
ment of the Park Hotel was celebrating the
innovation and the promise of big patronage
during the tourist season. There was to
be dinner at night, followed by dancing,
TO which everybody VINO was anybody had
been bidden, without money and without
price.
right hand of his motorneer, with keen
eye on the roadbed, the brakes, the slight
est variation in the schedule time of their
running.
AT / O'Clock he tho
vas now starting on its last trip until after
dinner. but by this time the major part of
San Baratos population had already
reeched the hotel. AS the car rounded the
curve toward the incline Arthur leaned
over the gate and cast a lingering glance
In the direction of the Lathrop home,
standing quiet in the golden sunlight amid
It's Well-kept grounds. 1t was hard to feel
that his success was In reality a barrier
between himself and Alice.
What that old gentleman needs" muir
INJURED Arthur between set teeth us a
change of heart He needs to be converted
to modern ideas. He's a clam a barrier in
the progress of San Baratos, that's what
he isr'
the bank, looking over some papers. He
was always the last to leave, as we'll as the
first to arrive. This was not entirely a
matter of habit and sentiment, but of ne
cessity, for he alone, besides Mr. Hail. the
president, knew the combination of the
great vault. The vault now stood open,
.1Or ne mad Just entered IL In search OF the
papers The blue curtains, with their bands
of bright gold had been pulled down
promptly at O'Clock, but Mr.. Lathrop sud
denly realized that a shadow heavier than
that cast by curtains had come between
him and the light.
Very stealthily the door had been opened,
and as quickly and stealthily closed. To-
ward the absorbed cashier. two STOPPING
forms had crept noiseless shoes. until
they rose suddenly IN front of the low
screen that separated them from the CASH
Ter. Then. as Lathrop looked up, one of
the men raised a heavy stick and struck
sharply, fiercely over the screen.
The blow struck the cashier squarely on
the head. He reeled back into his chair,
and one man darted through the door which
divided the counting room from the corri-
dor where customers filed past the various
windows. The other bounded over the
broken screen. Lathrop, in moment of re-
turning consciousness. made an instructive
movement toward the drawer where a
loaded pistol always lay, but another blow
and another rang upon the cashiers skull,
and he fell an inert mass, with blood oozing