Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-08-28

Luduenl SInlle, ndQ appraised MS laleSl
guest in the moment of book-signing.
the Olive street furnishing house. Next
to the genuinely tailor-made stands
the quality of verisimilitude. and the
keynote of the clerks greeting was
respectful affability
Glad to have you with US, Mr.. Girls
void. Would you like a room. or a
suite?"
Neither; If have time to get my
supper and catch a train. Have you a
railway guide?"
But possibly / can tell you what you
wish to know Which way are you
going?"
Without stopping to think of the
critical happenings which had inter
vened since the forming of the i'm
pulsive resolution fixing his destina-
ton. Griswold named the chosen field
for the hazard of fresh fortunes, and
it's direction.
North; to a town in Minnesota
called Wahaska. Do you happen to
know the placer"
The clerk smiled and shook his
head.
Hlenty OF time, is tnere. 6rlSWOlQ
asked.
''Oh, yes. Your train leaves the ter
minal at eleven-thirty; but you can
get into the sleeper any time after
eight o'clock
Seated at a well-appointed table in
the Chouteau cafe, Griswold had ample
time to overtake himself in the race
reconstructive. and for the moment the
point of view became frankly Philis-
tine. The luxurious hotel, with it's
air of invincible responsibility; the
snowy napery. the cut glass, the
shaded lights, the deferential service;
all these appealed irresistibly to the
epicurean in him. 1t was as if he had
come suddenly to his own again after
an undeserved season of deprivation,
and the effect of it was to push the
and perils of the preceding
weeks and months into a far-away
past.
He ordered his supper deliberately,
and while he waited for it's serving,
cleared the stage and set
the scenes for the drama of the future
That future, with all it's opportunities
for the realizing of ideals, was now
safely assured. He could go whittier
he pleased and do what seemed right
in his own eyes, and there was none
to say him nay.
In this minor city of his hasty selec-
ton he would find the environment
most favorable for a rewriting of his
book and for renewal of his studies.
Here, too, he might hope to become by
degrees the beneficent
sod-in-the-car of his worthier ambition.
-aising the fallen, succoring the help
ess and fighting the battles of the
oppressed.
Further along, when she should have
lutte forgotten the Belle jules deck
land, he would meet Miss Farnham
IN an equal social footing; and the
conclusion of the whole matter should
De a triumphant demonstration to her
by their irrefutable logic of good deeds
md a life well-lived that in his case,
1t least. the end justified the means.
The train of reflective thought was
broken abruptly by the seating of two
,ther supper guests at his table;
,ig-framed man in the grizzled fifties,
md a young woman who looked as If
she might have stepped the moment
before out of the fitting rooms of the
most famous of Partisan dressmakers
Griswold's supper was served, and
or time he made shift to ignore the
couple at the other end of the table
Then an overheard word, the name of
he town which he had chosen as his
uture abiding place. made him sud-
lenly observant.
1t was the young woman who had
named Wahaska, and he saw now
hat his first impression had been at
ault; she was not overdressed. Also
lie saw that she was piquantly pretty;
| bravura type, slightly suggesting the
2ialto at its best, perhaps, but equally
of sophistication, travel and
serene disregard of chaperonage.
The young woman's companion was
her father. Gray, heavy
and with a face that was a
ife-mask of crude strength and ele-
mental shrewdness, the man had be-
no single feature to the alert
y beautiful daughter; yet the resem-
dance was unmistakable. Griswold
lid not listen designedly, but he could
lot help overhearing much of the talk
It the other end of the table. From
t he gathered that the young woman
vas lately returned from some Flori-
net her by appointment in ST. Louis;
md that the two were going on to-
sether; perhaps to Wahaska, since
hat was the place name oftenest on
he lips of the daughter.
1t was at this point that the apex of |
'hillstine contentment was passed and |