Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-01-01

I ed. to err--especlally when dealing
with infinite distance and the mysteri
Ii laws Of space. But Of course al
we a do Is wait and see how Il
turns out. And that makes me thinl
OF another matter. Miss Fulton Is 60
ing to give a little lawn party tonight
at their home, Japanese lanterns ant
all that. and l had intended to be one
Of the also present. 1t suggests Itself
to me that one might rs we'll be out In
the open as cooped up somewhere In
case your mysterious wanderer ar
rives, therefore / shall go as I had
originally planned"
by all means. In case there was 9
collision anywhere hereabouts II
would probably make little or no diff
ference where one happened to be
Even II the world withstood the shock
an area as large as several states
would be buried miles deep in the
debris, and how far beyond that area
life would be destroyed no one can
say"
Then I would suggest this. In the
face Of such an event we might as
well be az resigned as people can who
half expect to be hit on the head by
a world at any moment-especially for
the women's and children's benefit
We don't want any panics. at. least be-
fore we are hurt. Personally speak
ing, / believe l can make my peace
as well when I am mingling with my
friends as l could alone in a garrett
and upon my knees. and I imagine you
can do the same. Therefore I wish
you to come also. Doris will vel.
come you. and l have no doubt but
that the timid ones will regard you
something In the light of a protector
and be more at ase Will you conner"
They paused in front of the hotel
for which Desmond had been bound
and he ran his eyes over the face and
figure Of his friend as he debated as
to accepting the invitation. mentally
commenting for a moment on the Wig.
orous strength and strong, handsome
face Of this young civil engineer who
was SO rapidly winning fame and for.
tune by his %skillfulness and level
headed judgment. And as for Miss
Doris-he had often thought her to
be the prettiest girl he had ever met,
Doris of the hazel eyes and wavy
chestnut hair. and he really did want
to see her again. And while at any
other time he would have accepted
with alacrity, now with his threat
hanging SO heavily over them he was
uncertain as to whether he could
with propriety place himself In their
midst. Also, there would be those
whom a friendly name to be sure
yet who al rank skeptics would be
certain to poke ridicule at him, at
last until the premonitory disturb
ances which must to q certainty usher
in 80 momentous an event began. Yet
on the other hand to sit alone In some
obscure room with four blank walls
surrounding him. r%etreating like an
animal to his cave, upon this night
which he believed would he the most
eventful Of any since the dawn Of
the earth's history, or to wander at
random amongst strangers and be
pointed out on every side by vulgar
fingers and be compelled to run the
gauntlet Of their derision and abuse
seemed still more undesirable. He
cleared his throat, still uncertain as
to what he should say.
while I thank you, I cannot prom
Use now as / am uncertain 10 to Just
what my movements will be during
the next few hours. But I still bear
1t in mind and II l decide to come
I will make my appearance some
where between eight and nine. In
any event, convey my best wishes to
the company-especially to Miss Full.
ton-and tell them all that I sincerely
hope that I have suddenly become en-
tirely irresponsible for my sayings.
As for you personally, / hope to see
you in the near future, whenever and
wherever that future may be-" He
grasped Alan's hand, pressed 1t for
a moment and then walked quickly
away, leaving the other gazing after
him with meditative eyes. Then with
a shrug OF his shoulders which might
have indicated either doubt or resig-
nation to the inevitable March went
his way.
Scarcely had Desmond taken his
seat in the dining room Of the hotel
than he became uncomfortably aware
hush ,a,, sanaraI m.,toua