Middletown transcript., 1905-08-05
TooNrINUED FROM LAST WEEK

sMiss Carleton turned pale. "Oh, but
YOU must first take me to the Waldorf,
said she, with sudden recollection OF a
friendly face that she had once encoun-
tered at the desk OF that hestelry. 1t
was possible, just barely possible
Take me to the Waldoraf," she repeated,
and YEARLY assembled the hanson again.
There are certain situations in which
the human mind works quickly i'll the
five hot and quivering blocks through
which she YEARLY passed in twice as
many minutes, Miss Cartoons mind
reviewed past and present, present and
future, with surprising clearness and
accuracy. Certain episodes at Tuxedo
last year-certain long-drawn weeks and
months which had since then elapsed
certain sentences in letter recently
received and even now folded away i'll an
inner pocket of her hand bag: 'Dick
Wentworth absolutely refuses to come to
Sundias this month, though | held out
every inducement, including the lnfor-
nation that we expected you. lie says
he intends to stop in town all summer
and stick at his work. l am sorry,
because you and he seemed TO get on
so we'll together last summer" ct cetera.
Get on well together? Yes, perhaps
they did-only too well, for awhile And
then that foolish quarrel-the hateful
little suspicious that she had harbored,
the singing little words that she had
said. Then his bow, the cold line OF
his lip as he said good-by and went away.
Well, there was one comfort-if she had
broken her heart for Dick Wentworth
this past year, if every night her hands
had been clenched in silent pain over
a tear-wet face, at least nobody lad
known of it. "You got on so we'll to-
gether % That was all, then, that had
been visible from the outside /; nobody
had ever suspected what this summary
dealing OF justice and this abrupt parting
had cost her-not even Dick himself
The flower of her romance had been
shattered before it was plucked he had
gone away in silence, silence which
now had lasted for whole year. "Stiff-
necked, naughty prig J" she breathed to
herself, violently. ale understands now
pretty we'll how much care for him y
The cab turned down Thirty-fourth
street. Practical necessity drove wound
ed tenderness out OF court, and brought
back again a certain sentence in that
letter-"Dick intends to stop in town
all summer" So there wass aid, hard
to ask for but doubtless ready for the
asking, near at hand.
The horse planted his feet with de-
jected jerk beneath the cool and hollow
porte-cochere Of the hotel. Miss Garlic
ton descended bewildered, trembling,
and the cabman leaned down from his
aerie with sudden words Of fate.
81 got to go'n git my dinner now,
lady," said he. "Four dollars MALT"
He looked down at her in gruff ex-
pectancy. Miss Carleton turned giddy
it seemed to her that her spine was turn
ing to water. As the drowning man
realizes the seductive charms OF the firm
earth, so then flashed upon Miss Garlic
toms brain Ter first comprehension OF the
value and meaning Of money. Dreadful
visions Of policemen, Of the Young Wo-
mems Christian Association, Of kind
faced matrons with serious voices and
hair parted in the middle, foated before
her eyes.
-Four dollars n'alf," stolidly repeated
the cabman, and something in his eye
filled his helpless passenger with new
terror. Impossible to get rid OF him
until she had paid him-impossibIe with
out his aid to find the means wlerewith |
to pay him And every moment that
went by in this vain and hopeless chase
was piling up his bill, like a rolling
snowball-till perhaps finally when she |
succeeded in finding some one to cash
her check, the whole amount would not |
suffice to pay the expenses Of the search.
In swift horrifying glimpse of posi-
bilities, she saw second edition of the |
Flying Dutchman''-a fantom cab fit
ting about the New York streets in wear
isome endless iourneying the baleful
grin OF the spectral cabnan, and the
shrinking white face of the passenger,
haunted eternally with the debt of
million-dollar fare
She threw up her head with brusk
determination.
"Just moment" size said. 81 have
to 60 in here just moment
She turned and rushed rapidly into
the hotel. The cabman followed her
with doubtful eyes.
Miss Carleton fastened to the desk.
She sought vainly for the familiar face
which once had smiled over mail and
keys to her. Application to the others
was, as she knew, useless. Her heart
dropped to the last possible notch in
the thermometer of detection. OILY
one course remained.
When she passed from the door and
sought her carriage again. her face was
pale but firm. "Drive me-" she said,
ito No. 402 West One-hundred and tenth
street."
"You'll have to git some one else to
take you up there, lady," replied the
cabman. ''Dinner-time now. Four
dollars MALT" The words came repeated
like the stroke Of fate
A moment before, Miss Carleton had
shudderingly beheld herself placed be-
tween the devil and the deep sea ; but
now this unwillingness OH the part of
the one TO convey her to the other, made
the deep sea shine with sudden wonder
full attraction. She must get to Dick.
and then all would be right She looked
up at the cabman.
tits the last place want you to take
me to-" she insisted. No. 402 West
One-hundred- and tenth street,
The claimants moist red forehead drew