The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-20
The Perils of Pauline
CHAPTER !.

CHAPTER I.
0ep4sisht, 1914, by the star Company.
All Foreign Rights Reserved.
IN ono Of the stateliest mansions on the
lower Hudson. near New York, old Stan
= ford Marvin. president Of the Marvin
Motors Company. dozsd over his papers.
while Owen, his rascally confidential sec
rotary. eyed him across the mahogany nat
topped desk. A soft purring sound hoated
ih the open window and half-roused the
aged manufacturer. It came from one Of
his own cars-six cylinders chanting in
unison . litany Of power to the great mod
srn god Of gasoline.
These things had been In his mind since
the motor industry started. He had lived
with them, wrestled with them during his
meals and taken them to his dreams at
night. Now they formed . rhythm. and
he heard them in his brain just before the
fainting spells. which had come SO fire.
quently Of Late He glanced at the secre-
tary and noted Owens gaze with some
thing of q start.
what are you thinking about, Ray
mond?" he Queried. with his customary
directness
"Your health. SIR" replied Owen. who.
like all Intelligent rascals. never lied when
the truth would do equally well. As .
matter Of fact. Owen had wondered
whether his employer would last q year
or q month. He much preferred q month.
for there was reason to believe that the
Marvin will would contain . handsome
bequest to my faithful secretary"
"Oh. bosh!" said the old man You
and DR.. Stevens would make q mummy
Of mo before I'm dead"
THAT reminds me. sir" said Owen.
smoothly. that the International Express
Company has delivered . large crate ad-
dressed to you from Cairo. Egypt pre-
sumo 1t IL the mummy you bought ON your
last trip. Where shall place ~
The Mummy Arrives.
Mr.. Marvin's eye coursed around the
walls Of the handsome library. which had
eesa his Office since the doctor had for
bddden him to visit his automobile works
and steel-stamping mills.
Take out that bust Of Pallas Athene."
~ ordsred. and stand the mummy up I'm
~ place"
owsa nodded. poised his pencil and
You were Just debating about the nov
Doston rings"
IT. Marvin drew his hand across his
Gyes and looked out the window. Within
the range Of his vision was one o. the
0pst charming sights In the world
handsome youth and q pretty girl, arrayed
a white dannels. playing tennis.
'Never mind the letters. Tell Harry and
Pauline wish to see them"
Alone, the old man opened . drawer
end took . dose Of medicine. then he un-
Anal paragraph. which prescribed .
change Of climate, together with complete
and permanent rest or II will not answer
for the consequences"
There was little doubt that no prime
mover in q great industry was better able
to leave its helm than Stanford Marvin.
His lieutenants we're able, efficient and
contented. The factories would 90 Of
their own momentum for q year or two IT
least. and then his son. Harry, just out OF
college. should be able, perhaps, to help.
His lieutenants had proved Marvin's un.
erring instinct in judging character. Not
enc single case came to the old employ
er's mind Of q man who had failed to turn
out exactly as he expected. Yet the most
trusted man Of all. Raymond Owen. the
secretary, was disloyal and dishonest.
This one exception was easily enough
explained. When Owen came to Marvin's
attention. fifteen years before, he was y
Nne, honest. faithful man. 1t was born
ana bred In him to be straight. During
the irst nve or six years In the Marvin
household the older man took pains tc,
keep watch ON this quiet. tactful youth
until he knew all hts ways and even his
that Owen was a. upright and clean rs
the old man himself.
At the age Of forty the devil entered
into owen. II came in the form Of IN
somnia. Loss OF sleep win make any
man irritable and unreasonable, but hardly
dishonest. with the sleeplessness. how.
ever, came the temptation to take drugs-
Gwen shifted from one narcotic to IN.
other. fnally settling down upon NOR
phine. Five years of the opiate had made
him its slave. Every physician knows
dat morphine nends become dishonest.