The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-03-18
CHAPTER ix--cortlnued.

Hello! Where's Ford? He gave
me a ticket to the theater tonight. and
I want TO punch his head. What's
drama coming to, anyhow? Cigarettes
and booze and mismated couples.
Can't they find good enough things
out OF doors? Oh, I know. They cater
to a lot OF fools who believe that what
they see is IN 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? Pime!"
What's 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
rammaging 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
aud sat down. staring at stars such
as CoperEicus never dreamed OF. Ships
going down to sea, ferries ~swooping
d%iagonally hither and thither, the
ciockwork signs; but he took no note
Of these marvels OF light.
mot 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 CO ncerning the Perigon
woman. Had she played a trick? Had
that fainting SPELL been buncombe for
his benefit as wnll as Florence's? But
he had not q shadow of a 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 al
Jones was permitted to say.
.Restlessly Norton spurned his chair
and walked over to the telephone
booth. 1t was midnight. lie might oil
might not be able to get Jones. But
almost instantly a voice said fWhat
Is IT."
".Jones?"
Yes. Who is it?"
Norton
"Why. o called me up not ter
minutes ago"
mot II"
1T was your voice. as plain as day
What did l want?" keen all at once.
The reply did not come Immediately
You are certain 1t was not your"
wait a moment and I'll call the
editor. He will prove to you that I've
been here for ar hour, and hat this
IL the first call I've made. Some one
has beenp imposing on you. What did
they ask yon to do"
You asked me to come down to the
ONCE at once. and I requested you
to come to the house. and you said you
could not. Il declined to stir"
What did you think?"
EXACTLY. what you're thinking-that
4hey have come to life again.
ZONES, is Miss Florence awake?"
NO"
do you think there Is any hope OF
having her understand what really
happened?"
II am here only to guard her. I can.
not undertake to read her thoughts
You're not quite in favor of a rec
o~nciliation?
"Oh. yes. n 1t went no further
Young people r young people the
world over"
What does that mean"
THAT they would not create imagi
ratiye heartaches IL they were not
young. Better let things remain ex
'actly az they are. When all these
troubles are settled finally. the lesser
trouble may be talked over sensibly
hut this IL not the time. There IL no
neurn. QO0d-night."