Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-24
Tho Threshold Of Adventure.
CHAPTER !.

no IUtS6n0tO " N0VSus0ISs
The roar Of State street filled the
ears of Robert Orne not unpleasantly.
He liked Chicago. felt towards the
western city something more than the
tolerant, patronizing interest which
40 often characterizes the eastern
man. To him 1t was the hub OF gen.
uine Administrations aggressive,
perhaps bit too cocksure, but ever
bounding along with eyes toward the
future. Here was the city Of great
beginnings, the city of experiment.
experiment with life; hence it's incom.
pleteness-an incompleteness not dis
similar TO that of life itself. Chi
cago lived; 1t was the pulse Of the
great middle west.
Orme watched the procession with
clear eyes. He had been strolling
southwark from the Masonic Temple,
into the shopping district. The
clangor, the smoke and dust, the hur-
Tying croNis, all worked into his
mood. The expectation Of adventure
vas far. from him. Nor was he man
who sought impressions for amuse-
ment; whatever came to him he weigh
ed, and accepted or rejected according
rs it WAS valueless or useful. Whole
some he was; any one might infer
hat from his face. Doubtless. his
ault lay In his .overemphasis on the
purely practical; but that. after all.
was a lawyers fault, and it was
0unterbalanced by a sweet kindness
oward all the world--a loveableness
which made for him a friend OF every
nance acquaintance.
II was well along in the afternoon.
nd shoppers were hurrying home
yard Orme noted the fresh beauty
Iof the women and gfrls-Chfcago has
reason to be proud of her daughters
--and his heart beat a little faster.
Not that he was man to be caught
by every pretty stranger; but scarce
Iy recognized by himself. there was
hidden spring of romance in his prac-
teal nature. Heartfree, he never met
n woman without wondering whether
sIle was the one. He had never found
her; he did not know that he was
booking for her; yet always there was
sic unconscious question.
A distant whistle, the Changing OF
gongs, the rapid beat OF gallopins
hoofs-fire engines were racing down
the. street. Cars stopped. vehicles OF
all kinds crowded in toward the curbs.
Crme paused and watched the fire
horses go numbering by, their smo-
king chariots swaying behind them
and dropping long trails of sparks.
Small boys were running, men and
women were stopping to gaze after
the passing engines, but Orme's at
tenttcn was taken by something that
was happening near by, and as the
gongs and the hoof-beats grew faiuter
tsa looked with interest to the street
beside him.
He had got as far as the corner OF
Madison street. The scramble to get
out Of the way of the engines had
here resulted in traffic jam. Two
policemen were moving about, shout
ing orders for the disentanglement OF
the street cars and vehicles which
seemed to be inextricably wedged to-
Gether.,
A buriy Irish teamster was below
ing at his horse. The hind wheel of
a smart barouche was caught in the
fore wheel of a delivery wagon, and
the driver of the delivery wagon was
expressing his opinion Of the situation
IN terms which seemed to embarrass
the elderly gentleman who sat in the
esuche. Orne's eye Travelled
',lugh the outer edge OF the dis
lrbance, and sought its center.
There in the midst Of the tangle
YES a big black touring car. Its one
x.upant was q girl-and such a girl!
err fawn-colored cloak was thrown
pen; her face was unveiled. Orme
vas thrilled when he caught the
glory of her face-the clear skin.
Drowned by outdoor living; the de-
mure but regular features; the eyes
that seemed to transmute and reflect
softly all Impressions nom without
Orme bad never seen any one like
her-so nobly unconscious of self, SO
'7pealing and yet SO calm.
q She was waiting patiently, inter
! ested in the clamor about her. but
seemingly undisturbed by her OWE
mart in it. Orme's eyes did not leave
her face. He was merely one OF q
crowd at the curb, unnoted by her
hut when after time, he became
aware that he was staring. he felt the
blood rush to his cheeks, and he NUT
tered: What boor I ami" And
ssaasa, " But vic osn she Ss: "ho &C.
ahe be
I A policeman made his way to the
black car. OEme saw him SPEAK ia
the girl; Jaw her brows knit; snd he
quickly threaded his way into the
street. Hfs action Has barely coh
scio,s. but nothing could have stopped
him ct that moment.
"You'll have to-; uk, to the station
miss" the policeman Jas saying.
! "But what have I dene?" Her voies
was broken music.
you've ytolatsd the trafac regule
tseus. and made all this troubles that.
yAas 3ou'Ss done"
fn On very important efsand.'
sho seesr. "and-"
:. aaas hcl1 yh@s. ,Aiss. fs1s eg&4
t. nave had SONS one with ysn III
hnew-E r4isss.n
Her eyes were .pefpiexed, and sf'
leolkd .bps1. heFsaas:t.Afox helm, FL