The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-01-01
CHAPTER Ix-contInued.

Hello! Where's Ford? lie gave
me ticket to the theater tonight, and
want to punch his head What's
drama coming to, anyhow? Cigarettes
and booze and mismated couples.
Can't thew find good enough things
out Of doors? Oh ! know They cater
to 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 off and chuck It
into the slops Life? Plfe!"
What's 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 Copernlcus never dreamed OF. Ships
going down to sea, ferries swooplng
dlagonally hither and thlther. the
clockwork signs; but he took no note
OF these marvels OF light.
Not at home!" he muttered.
lie 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 Perigoil
woman. Had she played a trick? Had
that fainting spell been buncombe for
bis benefit as well as Forence's? But
he had not a shadow of q proof The
thing that puzzled him equally with
this was that all attempts against his
life had miraculously ceased; no safes
Numbered down In front OF him, and
no autos tried to carve him In two.
The only thing that kept him active
was the daily call of Jones by wire,
Miss Florence was well that was all
Jones was permitted to say.
Restlessly Norton spurned his chair
and walked over to the telephone
booth, 1t was midnight He might or
might not be able to get Jones. But
almost instantly voice said What
is it?'
"Jones?"
Yes. Who is it,"
Norton"
"Why. you called me up not ten
minutes ago"
mot II"
1T was your voice, as plain as day
what did want?" keen all at once.
The reply did not come Immediately.
"You are certain it was not you?"
"Wait a moment and I'll call the
editor. He will prove to you that I've
been here for an hour, and that this
is the first call I've made. Some one
has been imposing on you. What did
they ask you to do?"
you asked me to come down to the
office at once, and requested you
TO come to the house, and you said you
could not. declined to stir"
What did you think?"
Exactly what you're thinklng-that
they have come to life again"
Jones, is Miss Florence awaken"
NO"
do you think there Is any hope of
having her understand what really
happened?"
81 am here only to guard her, can
not undertake to read her thoughts"
You're not quite in favor of rec
onciliation?"
"oh, yes. II 1t went no further,
Young people are young people the
world over"
What does that mean?"
"That they would not create imagi
rative heartaches II they were moi
young. Better let things remain ex
actly as they are. When all these
troubles are settled finally. the lesser
trouble may be talked over sensibly
But this is not the time. There is nc
news. Goodnight"
Norton returned to his chair. gloom