Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1915-07-09

rot, plain rot. It's merely the scum
ON the boiling pot And any old house
wife would skim it off and chuck 1t
into the slops. Life? Piffle!"
Whats the grouch?"
looking for the dramatic job?"
'No. 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 Copernicus never dreamed of. Ships
going down to sea, ferries swooping
diagonally hither and thither. the
clockwork signs; but he took no note
of these marvels of light.
''Not at home!" he muttered.
He 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 Perigoff
woman. Had she played trick? Had
that fainting spell been buncombe for
his benefit as well as Florence's? But
he had not shadow of proof The
thing that puzzled him equally with
ithis was that ali attempts against his
life had miraculously ceased; no safes
thundsred down In front Of him, and
pao autos tried to carve him in two.
EThe 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 Merton 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
lis it?"
"Jones?"
Eyes. Who is TT"
Norton"
"Why, YOU called me up not ten
minutes ago."
mot II"
TT 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 your"
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
ito come to the house, and you said you
could not. I declined to STIR
What did you think?"
Exactly what you're thinking
they have come to life again"
Jones, is Miss Florence awake?"
mo"
do you think there Is any hope OF
having her understand what really
lhappened?"
II am here only to guard her. l can
mot undertake to read her thoughts"
You're not quite In favor Of rec
onciliation?"
ooh, yes, If 1t went no further.
Young people are young people the
world over"
What does that mean?"
"That they would not create imagi.
native heartaches if they were not
young. Better let things remain ex-
iactly 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 no
news. Goodnight"
Norton returned to his chair, gloom
fer than ever. With his feet upon the
window sill he stared and stared and
dreamed and dreamed till hand fell
upon his shoulder 1t belonged to one
of the office boys.
Mote FIR you, sir"
Norton read it and tore 1t into little
pieces. Then he rose and distributed
the pieces in the several yawning
waste baskets which strewed the aisle
leading to the city desk.
I'm not wanted for anything" he
asked.
mo. Clear out!" laughed the night
city editor. THE sight of you is put
ting everybody In the gloom ward"
Norton went down to the street. At
the left of the entrance he was quietly
joined by a man whose arm was car
ried In a sling. He motioned Norton
to get into the taxicab. They were
dropped In deserted spot in River
dale. On foot they went forward to
their destination, which proved to be
the deserted hangar of the aviator,
William Orts.
Il want you to tell Jones that tug
and several divers are at work on the
spot where he threw the chest. That's
all. Now, DOCTOR, rewind this arm of
mine"
The amateur surgeon made very
good job of it; not for nothing had he
followed fighting armies to the front.
"Did they find anything?"
Mot up to date. But we might II