The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-12-14
By the Shuttle
Train
By NIxOLA GREELEY.SMITH


oillB the one man and the one WOuun
together.
1t WIS the shuttle train that has its
terminus at the Fifty eighth street ele-
waited station, where Sixth avenue ends
its devious journey past wholesale
warehouses and small shops and de.
! partment stores, with a brief dip into
the gayeties Of theaters and dance
halls IN the frivolous Thirties. and Cen
trail park begins Its spreading progress
through the citys heart. that brought
about the determining moment in the
lives Of Madge Rowan aud John Clev
erley
The interference of tins particular
agent was the more remarkable be
cause the lives of the two persons most
concerned with it had till few months
before been lived more than 1000
miles away.
1t was in February that the pretty
daughter of the most prosperous physi-
elan in a thriving Colorado town had
hidden a fearful farewell to the fond ia
Their and mother who had at last ac-
quiesced in her desire to go east to de
yelop her artistic talent.
The talent found its chief expression
in fluffy impossibilities masqueradine
as Easter chickens and other seasonal
bic novelties, with which she decorated
menu cards. to the infinite admiration
of her many friends.
Her art, therefore, had brought her
to New York. And it was art, likewise
hers. that had brought John Cleyerley.
For though the two had been boy and
/ girl sweethenrts together, the sudden
! development of Miss Rowan's artistic
genius had apparently absorbed all her
sentimental impulses, and before leay-
ing Colorado she had told Cleyerley
that she could never marry him.
She had not been a month in town
before the young man made his APP
pearance at her Fifty-eighth street
studio with more or less plausible
story of having been sent east by his
firm to look up an important case.
Art had languished during that first
month. when visits to unsympathetie
dealers had convinced Miss Rowan Of
the dcarth Of the demand for dinner
cards, and the cordiality of the auburn
haired. paint despatched vision that
greeted GlcyerleY when he climbed the
five flights To her studio augured well
for his hope of taking her back with
him 10 Colorado. But the day after his
arrival she had actually succeeded in
selling a dozen menu cards. and again
! Cupid dropped his diminished head un-
der Arts ogershadowing wing
So furiously did Miss Rowan apply
herself to her profession under the inn
petns that ii WAS only after much
persuasion that she consented to spend
an afternoon nj the beach the Satur
day after CleYerlcY's arrival.
You know. Jack" size had said
you haven't the responsibilities that
| have. II is natural for You 10 want
10 go about and see things. but I've
just started Il new pond lily menu
series. and | must have it finished to
morrow night And the studio must be
cleaned tomorrow afternoon anyway"
But as CleVerley looked unconYinced
and rueful she added contritcly: Well
| I'll go this once. But don't you come
here. for everything will be IN such
mess. I'll meet yon at the Fifty.
| eighth street elevated station ri >
O'clock"
And to this arrangement, after some
argument, Gleverley was forced 10 ae-
quiesce
On Saturday the fact that size knew
she would have to refuse Jack Clever.
ley FOR the last time lent "A pleasing
melancholy to Miss Rowans prepare
tons for the afternoon As a eonces-
sion TO Cleyerley she determined to
wear the rather barharic necklace of
topazes and Cripple Creek gold which
had been his last birthday offering to
her and She therefore sought it in the
little jewel box. which had not been
taken from its place of conceament in
the bottom of her trunk since her ar
rival in New York
Her surprise when she discovered
after search that WAS ut first perfume.
tory, then earnest and finally frantic,
that 1t and, indeed. all her jewels were
gone was Il splendid testimonial 10 her
belief in her adopted city.
But fact. relentless. immutable. must
ever triumph over illusion. and in fiji
teen minutes Miss Rowan had realized
that all the pretty little trinkets She
had collected since infancy had indeed
been stolen In the face of such IN
foresecn disaster she stood alone. in
experienced. in Il strange city And
for young woman in the full enjoy
ment of an Independent career her first
thought was Il singularlY impraeticable
one she must tell John C1eyerley all
about it, and he would get them back,
But first she would summon the land
lady, the stout person inhabiting I'M
penetrated depths below, who called so
regularly 10 collect the rent and de
clare her loss There WAS theory
that this mysterious person might be
reached by bell and speaking tube.
But ten minutes Of frenzied blowing
and ringing sent Miss Rowan plunging
down the five flights 10 the basement
for moro tangible consolation than the
mocking silence which answered her
afforded
Now. Miss Rowan's neutrality-suspicious.
landlady does not?-played the races.
And she generally lost When Miss
Rowan confronted her with the tale OF
ha