The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-04-28
WHAT HE
FORGOT
For tho Time Being II Was
Serious
BY Clarissa Mackie
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OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Quintin attached himself to the line
at the ticket window and awaited his
turn. he felt that the eyes of the
whole world were upon him, and he
knew that this was the very proudest
moment of his life. Suddenly he bent
down to recover the glove which had
dropped from his hand, and at the
same instant the man ahead swung
quickly around, bringing the corner of
a heavy suit case in violent contact
with Quintin's head.
Il beg your pardonr said the stran-
ger as he returned Quintin's fallen hat.
II hope you are not hurt"
That's all right" said Quintin thick
ly, staring dazedly at the man. Gave
me COMPOUNDED headache, you know"
AT the ticket window the man asked
him twice before Quintin gathered
himself together sufficiently to reply.
"One-Miraflores," he said. pushing
some money across the counter
When the train pulled out he was
comfortably mapping in his seat
The conductor aroused him to- punch
his ticket and thrust the pasteboard
in convenient place. and Quintin
nodded Off again, conscious that his
head was aching splittingly and that
so far as he was concerned the ex-
press might go on and on forever
until it reached the end Of the world
and then drop Off into space. Quintin
did not know that these fantastic
thoughts were a legacy of the blow
he had received that evening. He knew
only two things. One was that Cynthia
Dewbury lived at Mirafiores and that
his ticket bore the name of that beau
tifui residential city.
Qulntin's people also lived at Mira
flores. and for years 1t had been his
habit to run down there every Satur-
day afternoon for the week end. 1t was
an hour out of New York and the first
stop made by the limited express.
"Miraflores - Miraaoresw sounded
from either end Of the car, and, only
half awake. Quintin aroused himself
and dragged down his suit case, got
into his overcoat. damned on his hat,
and. quite unconscious OF the many
curious glances shot after him by his
fellow travellers who got Off at the
same station, he left the train and
walked through the station to the OPP
posite side. where he boarded a trolley
car for his fathers house.
The car was of an obsolete type, and
as the little conveyance jigged along
the track its rocking motion accentuat-
ed Quintins racking headache. He
had only q confused recollection of the
happenings of the day. but he could
piece together a few facts, the princi-
pal one of which was that something
very unusual had occurred which had
now slipped his mind altogether. An
other matter that worried him was the
idea that he had left something be-
hind. Over and over again he counted
his belongings. They were easily emu
merated-his suit case, umbrella, and,
confound 1t, what was that other thing
which he could not remember?
He sat with bent head and knitted
brow. puzzling over the matter with a
growing conviction that he would not
solve the problem until something
cleared away the confusion in his head
When he arrived home he would get
his sister Amy to prepare bromo self
zer-notbing like that stun for knock
ing out headache.
Old Martin admitted Dick Quintln
to his fathers house. and, beyond the
first incredulous stare into the empty
darkness behind the young man, he
showed TO sign of surprise at his
masters return.
"Where is my father, Martini" de-
manded Dick as he turned his lug
gage over to the butler.
'HIn the library. Master Dick" said
the servant, throwing open the door
of Mr.. Quintin's spacious private room
AS the door closed behind Dick two
forms arose from the high backed
chairs on either side of the wide
hearth. One was his father, staring
and incredulous as Martin had been;
the other was Amy, his sister, her
fair face pale and startled.
"Why, son, what is the matter?"
asked the elder man as he approached
the dazed looking youth.
Something dreadful has happenedr'
cried Amy clinging to her brothers
arm. ooh. Dick, what is the matter"
Nothing has happened" returned
Dick. with an air of irritation. SIS it
so unusual for me to return to my
fathers house?"
at is unusual under the circum-
stances" said Mr.. Quintin, with a
warning gesture toward his daughter.
you must have some explanation to
offer us for your sudden return to-
night"
Dick Quintin rubbed his head
thoughtfuIly. Every time his hand
touched the lump raised by that blow
from the strangers suit case he
WINGED with pain. He felt great de-
sire for sleep, and he longed TO throw
himself down on the fur rug on the
hearth and lose himself in the bless
ed Inconsistencies of slumber. He
yawned prodigiously, excused himself
and turned to his father, who waited
impatiently for his reply. There was
a visible strain of anxiety about the
old mans face.