Charlevoix county herald., 1914-08-15
Mr.. Bliss and the
Highway Man
BY Montague GLASS
COeyrighf. The Frank A. Munsey Co.

To the commuters of the South
Shore Railway the name of Dingle-
wood was one to be spoken with
bated breath 1t conjured up Wis
ions of broad, green lawns, and
stately mansions with foyer halls and
libraries and two copies of the $50
cial Register" this years and last
years, on the revolving bookcase
next to the full morocco encyclope-
dia in twenty volumes and an appen-
dix.
The Dinglewood station was a
mastery example of the railroad ar
chitect's skill, being constructed of
trap rock in Tudor style; and togeth-
er with the host Of automobiles and
glittering horse-dl avn vehicles that
blocked the station plaza it was the
envy of hatred of every patron of
tn line hailing from less fortunate
localities.
On either side of Dinglewood were
such places as Dinglewood Heights
and Dinglewood Park, which as much
approached the elegance of that
fashionable borough as near-silk and
silkoline resemble the genuine arti-
Gle of commerce.
1t was the proud boast of Dingle-
wood that not factory darkened its
precincts save an establishment de-
voted to the production of an artifi-
cial ice, the entire output of which
was consumed by the Dinglewood
Golf Club in Scotch highballs alone.
Dinglewood's women were the
most correctly attired, if not the
fairest, of their sex. Their sons and
daughters, to the last fair-haired
youngster, were educated privately
by tri-lingual governesses, while its
solitary public school was scantily
attended by the children Of its re-
tinue of servants and tradespeople.
Dinglewood's male residents mi
grated to Wall Street daily, and the
unit of their monetary system was d
million dollars. 1t is difficult to say
what might have happened, in view
of the temper of the other commut-
ers, had the club car been attached
to later train than the four-twen-
ty. At that unreasonable hour the
inhabitants of Dinglewood Heights,
Dinglewood Park, and the remaining
parks and heights of the South Shore
Railway, were still occupied with the
cares of the dry-goods, hardware,
and other businesses than the
wrecking of insurance companies
and railways. They were not on
hand TO sec the social elect of Din
glewood SWING aboard the fOur-twen-
ty, and take a hand at bridge, or
highDall or so, in the club car that
brought up the rear of the dlngy
coaches provided tor the ordinary
travelling public.
One september afternoon, it was
within three minutes OF train-tlme
that Mr. Frederic b. Porteous
climbed ponderously up the steps of
the club car and sank putting into
wicker chair. Mr.. Porteous occupied
two entire pages In the directory OF
Directors" lie had graduated from
an il surance office to railroad re-
organization, and hence to a metal
trust; ana, live as eXtravagantiy as
he might, he couldn't even scratch
the surface of his tremendous IN
come. having no pronounced views
on religion, art, or Literature, he laV-
lished the whole OF d none too al
fectlonate nature on MS only daugn-
ter, l. Ia fOrreous, and on the Dor
ough OF Dlnglewood, or which he
was the president.
Mr.. Porteous, heaved a quivering
sigh, which reflected no worried con-
dition of his mind, but merely
slight oppression from rather too
hearty lunch. Then, adJ ustlng a
pair o gold glasses to the proper
angle, he took from his pocket d
conservative evening paper. lie was
oh 70 financial
when a harlng headline on the outer
cover arrested his attention.
Heaven bless my soul" he ejac-
ulated for the benefit OF the entire
car. what a shocking occurrence
What's a shocking occurrence Z"
Dwight FINLEY inquired with ms US
ual levity.
Dwight had been Porteous's espe-
cial aDominatiOn ever since, in the
conduct of an official correspondence
with the borough of Dinglewood, ne
had spelled its presidents Christian
name with final ok" Mr.. Porteous
elevated his eyebrows and. glared at
the )ung man in what the million
are himself would have described as
a whitening fashion.
"If you find anything amusing IN
the fact that your own mother and
sisters were held up at the point of a
revolver this mOrnlng"-and he indi-
Gated the column under the fiaring
head line with a trembling finger
"all | can say is that your sense of
humor u somewhat distortedw
Lets seew said Dwight, grab
bling the paper unceremoniously from
under Porteous' nose. He read the
account carefully, and then whistled.
Its all right" he said shortly.
"They weren't hurt, and the fellow
didn't get much"
Porteous snorted.
"And how about tn shock that an
old lady like your mother would sus-
tain ?"
Dwight laughed.
"I'd like to see you call the mater
an old lady to her face, that's all %
he cried. However, if there are
hold-ups in Dinglewood, it's up to
you, as president of the borough, to
prevent them"
Portecrs grew crimson with in
dignation.
"You know very well, sir" he
roared, chat under the present bor-
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