The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-04-06
THE MAN N The STORM
BY OLIVER GRAY.

2SSSe3S8$S&
Janet, dear, won't you please come
to the hotel with US and stay all night
We've stayed out SO late at shows and
things we can't let you go SO far alone
now"
NO, Sally, thanks just the same. I'll
take the subway and be home in no
time. l live SO near to the car, you
know
1T isn't near-it's several blocks and
you shan't go alone. Henry will GER
tainly go with you."
Henry certainly will not. You two
are SO tired doing New York now you
walk as If you were on pegs, and
Henry's eyes look like holes burned in
paper for want of sleep. We girls get
accustomed to going around alone, and
you needn't think I'm a martyr"
well, little sister, all right" acQui-
esced Sally. "You are too Independent
for comfort, though, sometimes. This
musical career In the first place is
all"
Janet laid her hand over her sisters
mouth. Hush Here we are at the
station. Now goodnight"
She had been just long enough In the
metropolis to get over the wonder Of
1t, then over the disgust OF it, for there
Is always reaction, and to take the
philosophical view that is best. Her
music and little else really interested
her. She had her wagon hitched to
the star of a musical career and she
was willing to work and sacrifice ev-
erything for its sake.
Hartley Howard had insisted that
his love for her counted for more than
music, and it had been a long, hard
fight to convince herself that he was
wrong. She had asked her sister about
him that night SO indifferently that
even Sally's sharp eyes were deceived.
Hes doing pretty WELL Janet" she
had answered "They say he's going
with Mary Porter, but don't know for
sure. Think how funny it will be some
day, sister, when you're away up in
grand opera and just home from the
courts of Europe to have Hartley pre-
sent you to Mary, fat and forty, and
with family of six to cook and sew
for !" She had meant 1t kindly, for
she thought Janet was looking a bit
white and peaked, but her words had
brought no answering smile.
ut seems good piece ahead" sighed
Janet.
She thought 1t all over now In the
car and she was very close to the line
which separates will from weakness
Was she getting homesick? Then she
thought of the European courts and OF
darning stockings and cooking. The
brave color came back to her cheeks
and she sat very erect. She had chos
en- a career and she was going to make
good.
The train stopped at her station and
she got off. Others got off other cars
and went up the steps of the subway
exit to scatter at the top in different
directions. A fine sleet had started tt
gale sent the fine, icy particles into hel
eyes. She turned up her fur collar
frightened her veil, and, burrowing hel
face into her muff, started up the
street.
At the same time a man started af
ter her. At first Janet paid little at
tention to him, but as she left the light!
behind and plunged into the darkness
ahead she felt. uneasy. She walked
faster but the man soon overlook her
walking beside her and suiting his steI
to hers. Janet kept straight ahead
never so much as glancing asides Blu
she knew that he, too had his heat
down against the wind and the COLA
of his great overcoat was almost touch
ing his hat.
III you're afraid l shall be glad t.
take you home" he said finally, hi
voice coming in fitful jerks as the wine
caught it.
mo, thank you! I'm not afraid,
said Janet as firmly az she could witt
her teeth chattering.
But I'm going to the ferry and II
just walk with you, If you don't mind.
No answer, but he was not discour
aged. He kept right beside her.
I'm not accustomed to being GU
so late !" She decided it was best t.
let him know that she was proper
law-obiding person. Il was with som
friends from the West and wouldn'
let them bring me home" She though
he would go then, but he didn't.
I'm from the West, too" he said
''This isn't very far West" sh
amended. ITS only in western Penn
sylvania !"
"Why, that's where I'm from y
us that so?" Janet was interested
'What is the placer"
mot far from Pittsburg. A tow
called Lockton."
"Why, that-whom do you know II
Lockton?"
"Oh, everybody. Do you know any
one thereY
''Yes."
"Do you know the Moores?" b.
asked eagerly. "Do you know Jane
Moore?"
Janet caught his sleeve and turne'
him sharply. Hart p she cried. Don
you know met"