The Press., 1920-07-15
COLD FEET
By R. RAY BAKER

or the DOllivef home dt nve minutes to three he fully expected that within the next two hours Marion would be- gin spelling her last name with capi- tal R. The arrangements were all made. The minister had been engaged. Dexter had his license and honeymoon railroad tickets and was dressed and groomed for the ceremony-but Ma rion was not at home.
 Under Dexter's light brown over coat were his best clothes They were not full dress. because 1t was going to be an informal occasion and because Dexter had no such outfit. He had never found time to get measured for formal afternoon clothes. His stock business occupied his attention every waking minute and he was almost tn- clined to begrudge the halliday needed to have the connubial knot tied
 But things were going to change. He had resolved to slow up his nerve racking business pace when he be- came established in his new home. Not only had he resolved 1t. but Ma rion had served an ultimatum that de- mRnded it.
 I'm going to have my share of your time whether we get rich or starve," she had said. Its not only that l won't be neglected. but this intensified activity of yours Is making you absent minded. It wouldn't surprise me If you forgot the date of our marriage"
 But Dexter had marked the calen- dar and he had not forgotten. Early that morning he had wired: twill leave New York on Il 80 train" This gave him a good two hours leeway. in case the train was late, for Marion's home city was only 60 minutes run from the metropolis But the train had been practically on schedule, 50 Dexter had time to spare.
 AS he pushed the bell button beside the Deliver door he felt that he was shedding his business cares. No more frenzied finance for him. He had in- stalled an able manager in his office and now he could take things easier.
 And Dexter had slowed up" In an- other way-in the matter of caution. Inasmuch as his shoulders soon would be bearing the responsibilities of pro- viding a livelihood for two, he had huoRltu POiACy ioon AAC first consequence of the new policy was a decision to back out of deal in new motor stocks for which ar engagements had been made in De troit-
 It looked like an opportunity to reap big profits.- but there was also a chance of going financially flat. Under the old policy he would have taken chance; under the new one, he was afraid So this very day he had sent 6 wire to Detroit reading:
 Gall off the deal for & while. I've got cold feet"
 The bell was not answered. 90 he pressed 1t again; but still there was no response It was queer that Ma rion's father had not met him at the station with the automobile. but the fact that no one answered the bell was strange.
 However. he reasoned probably Ma rion was busy dressing, and the rest of the household occupied with other matters attending the marriage. There were no servants
 He tried the door. but 1t was
 
 but encountered no more success there. Furthermore. the blinds were down. a fact he had not noticed when he approached the house. His mind had been too occupied. Now 1t was occupied fully as much. but less ab- stractedly. A very concrete problem confronted Dexter.
 Finding all the doors locked. he went to the garage. The door was fastened. but through a window he as- certalned the car had been removed. on an overnight trip. else the garage door would have been left open.
 Dexter. for all of his lifelong resi- dence In New York. had never seen the whirlpool of Niagara but now he had an idea of how 1t would feel to he caught In the seething vortex. for his brain had been transformed Into a maelstrom. He was dazed as he turned from the garage and started back along the cement driveway. A call from the house next door brought him to halt
 "Mr. and Mrs. Deliver and their uAukuIcE Wcut d~uy liiS III their car," said a man In a smoking jacket. looking out of window. "They had trunk fastened on behind. SO l suppose they're going for tour."
 "Thanks." returned Dexter. weakly, and he staggered from the premises and wandered afmlessly down the street. suffering from a wide-awake nightmare.
 He obtained a room In a hotel and sat down to study the problem: but the more he thought the worse the situation appeared and the less he could make head or tail of It. Marion had left him In the lurch. there seemed no doubt of that. but if also seemed that she might have gone to the trou- ble to let him know that she had changed her mind. Surely there must be some good reason. and he was re solved to find her and learn what it was.
 He could think of no more probable destination for the Deliver motor party than Rochester. where Mir. Dol flyers brother resided. Dexter had visited the brother in company with Marion and a mutual liking had de veloped between the two men.
 Dexter went to the telephone. and after half-hour wait got in connec- ton with Marion's uncle at Rochester and asked whether he expected a visit from his brother.
 Yes" was the reply over the wire. "I received a telegram this morning that they were coming by automobile. but they haven't arrived"
 Dexter was not long In acting on this information, and a half hour later found him in taxicab running at high speed along the road to Rochester.
 Although the car was travelling at a forty-mile clip 1t seemed to Dexter to