The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-03-27
SHORTEST way HOME
BY KATHERINE HoPsoN.

Were sorry to lose you, Stewart.
but don't blame you for going. ItR a
good chance-better than we can Of
fer you here, perhaps for years"
Mr.. Denham, managing editor Of the
Recorder. shook hands with Dick Stew
art cordially. The younger man. aft
er thanking him, passed out OF the
office with little glow Of pride and
happiness.
"Old Denham's a mighty good sort,
and he's right I'm lucky chap to
get the place" he unused as he left
the private office. The outer ctfice.
which had been well occupied when
Stewart passed for his interview with
Mr.. Denham, was now practically de-
serted. The men had gone to fill
their assignments-except Fred Da-
Wis. He was clicking away at his
typewriter.
Good luck to you" he said, look
ing up with his keen. peculiar smile.
0lCWdIl ltll luo OhlCC " hlA liz
last assignment before taking his new
position. He was sent to cover the
suburban territory of Rockbridge, and
departed with more than usual alac.
rity. Margaret Wheaton's path lay
In the same direction today
When she came six months ago to
fill the position Of society reporter
for the office, he had fallen in love
with her big brown eyes. her kindli-
ness, her spontaneous gayety, and the
general dearness of her. But he rec
ognized the fact that Fred Davis
also had fallen victim to her charms.
mo wonder he congratulated me 80
heartily on my new job; for 1t leaves
the way clear for him." Stewart
thought with a cynicism foreign to
him.
well. at last have a man-size job,
and am justified In speaking to Mar
garet."
He quickened his steps toward the
interurban station, and was SO occu-
pied that he failed to notice a tall.
slender, keen-eyed man dodge into the
waiting room, and then watch to see
which car he-Stewart-entered be-
fore getting on himself and entering
the smoker. Nor did he see him re-
peat the same watchful perform
ance before they both alighted at
Rockbridge.
Stewart hastily covered his own ter
ritory, then FASTENED to the church
where the Patton.Whltney wedding
had just taken place, the reporting OF
which was Margaret's object in com
ing to Rockbridge. She had come
down on an earlier car, and Stewart
had timed himself so that he might
arrive on the scene when she was fin
ished with her work. Then he could
return to town with her.
He found reporters from other pa
pers there and stood a few moments
in the fragrant flower decorated
church in which strains of the wed
ding music seemed still to linger.
Margaret was not there and he
made inquiries. Some one told him
she had just gone; but whether tc
the station or to the Whitney home
where the reception was to be, he
couldn't say. Stewart looked at his
watch.
There won't be another car for
A Of hour
guess she's gone to the house"
Accordingly he made his way to the
place in question. 1t was one Of the
largest, most pretentious homes In
the suburb. Many persons in we'd
ding attire were streaming to the
reception when he reached the house,
and he made his way through the
guests and onlookers with which the
walk was lined. From one Of the care
takers he learned that Margaret had
been there. BY announcing himself as
representative of the Recorder he
gained entrance. Everybody except
the girl he was looking for seemed
to be there, and the most careful
search failed to reveal her.
Say, how many people does your
paper send out to write up these 80
cial affairs?' asked one Of the guests
whom he knew.
"One-usually. Why"
well, you're the third this after
noon who has presented himself in
that capacity. believe the first one
was her." laughed the man.
Miss Wheaton, OF course, Our reg
ular society reporter But | don't
know any other from our office who
would be here"
"Oh, he was tall, slim chap, with
shifty dark eyes"
The description fits Davis, but he
was sitting In the office when left.
Stewart rapidly retraced his steps
to the station, and found to his cha
grin that in his search he had not al.
lowed himself enough margin to catch
the next car, and missed 1t by about
three minutes. He could see it dis
appearing in the distance.
Yes, Miss Wheaton got on the
car" drawled the station agent in an
sWer to the question.