The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1914-12-04


was riding some other balloon"
you're wrong there. The descriD-
tion Of It proved that It was Orts' ma
chine. Oh, Jim probably has got
mans size yarn up his sleeve, but he's
long time in delivering the goods.
He's beginning to NOPE a good deal.
Woman back Of It somewhere. Haven't
held down this copy Job for twelve
years without being able to make some
tolerable guesses. Jims a star man.
When he gets started nothing can stop
him. He covered the Chinese Boxer
rebellion better than any other CORE
spondent there. wonder how old he
ls?"
20. I should say about thirty-one or
two. Here he comes now. 10. JIM"
'Helo Where's Fordi He gave
me ticket to the theater tonight. and.
I want to punch his head. What's
drama coming to, anyhow? Cigarettes
and booze and mismated couples.
Can't they find good enough things
out of doors? Oh. know. They cater
to a lot Of fools who believe that what
they see is an expression OF high life
in New York and London. And it's
rot, plain rot. It's merely the scum
on the boiling pot And any old house,
wife would skim It of and chuck 1t
into the slops. Life? Pifiel"
whats the grouch?"
Looking for the dramatic job?"
mo I've just been wondering how
far these theatrical managers can go
without Sitting the golden goose"
Norton sought his desk and began
rummaging the drawers. He was not
hunting for anything; he was merely
passing away the time. BY and by,
when the pastime no longer served,
he pulled his chair over to the window
and sat down, staring at stars such
as Copernicus never dreamed Of. Ships
going down to sea. ferries swooping
diagonally hither and thither. the
clockwork signs; but he took no note
of these marvels of light.
mot at homel" he muttered.
He had called. written, telephoned.
No use. The door remained shut,
Jones answered the telephone. and the
letters came back He began to think
: very deeply concerning the Perigon
woman. Had she played a trick7 Had
that fainting spell been buncombe for
his benefit as well as Florence's3 But
l he had not q shadow of proof. The
a thing that puzzled him equally with
This was that all attempts against his
/ life had niraculously ceased; no safes
Numbered down In front OF him. ana
1 no autos tried to carve him In two.
i. The only thing that kept him active
J.. was the daily call of Jones by wire,
a Miss Florence was well that was all
Jones was permitted to say.
Il Restlessly Norton spurned his chair
/. and walked over to the telephone
v booth. It was midnight. He might or
might not be able to get Jones. But
). almost instantly a voice said. What
r. is IT."
"JonesT .
v Eyes. Who is it?"
n Morton"
d "why. you called me up not ten
4 minutes ago."
Not II"
1T was your voice. as plain as day
What did I want?" keen all at once
Inc reply ulu uOt COAhO AhAAoNA1tN@s
"You are certain It was not your"
le "Wait a moment and I'll call thu
0f editor He will prove to you that rv'
g. been here for an hour, and that thii
Is is the first call I've made. Some on'
re- has been imposing on you. What di'
40 they ask you to do?"
you asked me to come down to tn
q office at once, and requested yol
to come to the house, and you said yo
could not. declined to STIR"
What did you think9"
III Exactly what you're thinhng-tha
they have come to life again"
Zones, is Miss Florence awakef"
mo"
do you think there is any hope {
having her understand what reall
happened?"
Il am here only to guard her. cal
not undertake to read her thoughts
You're not quite In favor OF re-
onciliation7"
"Oh, yes, If It went no furthe
Young people are young people u
world over"
what does that meant"
THAT they would not create imaa
native heartaches II they were M
young. Better let things remain @
actly as they are. When all thel
troubles are settled finally. the less
trouble may be talked over sensibl
But this is not the time. There is I
news. Goodnight"
Norton returned to his chair, glooI
Ter than ever. With his feet upon Il
window sill he stared and stared al
dreamed and dreamed till a hand Il
ION upon his shoulder. It belonged to OIL
us Of the Office boys.
al Mote fr you, sir"
ant Norton read it and tore II into lit
lea pieces. Then he rose and distribute
the pieces in the several yawniI
az vaefa haalpfa which efraWad the ala