The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-02-09
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Episode Two.
By II, LOUIS RAYeolp.

dCTOSS lue ldWn warren bEauleN
, ! sprinted will, all the speed which
had, in days gone by. made him rre-
quent victor in college meets. This
time, however, he was running for
something more valuable than loving
cup or his name c1grayen on bronze
tablet. Quite possibly he was running
for his life.
He had been walking unconcernedly
down street crowded with idle
strikers when some one with pointing
finger had indicated him as "the man
who done the trick" The hundred or
80 morose looking men, seeking for
trouble and glad OF an outlet for
energy accumulated from severe.
days without work, had started in
pursuit. lie
= There was no time to stop and ex-
plain that it was a case Of mistaken
identity. Bradley, as former super
intendent of the largest wooden mill
in the state, had handled men suffi-
GENTLY to understand the strange vag-
aries of mob psychology. He recogniz-
ed instinctively that his cue was
flight first and explanation afterward.
so far he had eluded his pursuers.
But an approaching murmur, undoubt-
edly hostile, warned HIM OF the nee
essity for doing something else than
standing in the center Of large
treeless lawn. II he could only get
inside the house. There was no time TO
ring the bell and wait on the possible
delay Of the people within.
Suddenly, easily accessible from the
yerenda roof, an open window upstairs
caught his attention. He wasted no
time in rejecting that he was about
TO assume the character OF second
story man, but climbed the yeranda
pillar, crawled through the window
and closed 1t behind MIN. AS he did
so an evilzfaced man parted the hedge
and looked through. Then the crowd
swept by.
Obviously Warren might now de-
scend by the way he had come in. Yet,
once safely in, he shrank from being
detected in the act Of coming forth.
Furthermore there was no guaran-
tee that the baftled mob would not
swing back and pick him up on its re-
turn.
Deciding that TO remain in the rry-
ing pan was preferable to jumping in
to the fire, he turned to hunt up the
occupants of the house and tender his
explanation.
The room in which he found him
self was evidently lady's bedroom,
nletamCrphesed for the time being in
to the likeness of an anteroom of a
modiste. ever the cretonned, cushion
cd chairs, across the bed, and even
suspended from the mirrors above the
dressing table were feminine gar
merts of every dissertation
But. Warren did not stop to admire
the elaborate display. Finding the
stairway, he descended and parted, the
heavy draperies which apparently
curtained the living room. Three wo-
men uttered screams. The fourth
superbly decked in bridal gown
paused in the act of slowly circling
before a. huge pier glass and looked
at him in establishment. Even as he
told his story, Warren decided that
she was the loyeliest girl he had ever
Z seen.
Two of the women were evidently
seamstresses, the third her aunt Mu-
tual acquaintances was presently es-
tablished and Warrens explanations
. suggested that he summon a taxicab
the incensed men.
As Warren turned to go, the aunt
said as one who proclaims fact
which all the world should know,
sWe'er all upset, because my niece is
to be married tomorrow
Indeed" said Warren, mentally
congratulating the wonderful blessed
1 bridegroom. 81 wish her every hap
piness".
ITO William R. BRISTOL" added the
aunt in evident pride.
William Bristol! That beautiful
radiant girl! Why, he supposed every
body in town knew who and what
Billy Bristol was. Could it be that in
this secfeded spinsterly home there
had never penetrated tales of the de-
yious ways in which that dissolute
man squandered his fabulous fortune
He hesitated. The two seamstresses
had gone to another room whence is
sued the dull purr OF sewing ma
chine. He looked gravely into the
girls clear eyes.
Miss Stoddard,' he began, until a
minute ago l. did not know your name
shall never see you again, for to-
morrow leave for the West. In way,
you nave been the means OF very pos
sibly saving my life today. In return,
j am going to be very presumptuouS
and advise you. AS you value your
future happiness, waltz know the
man you are planning to marry
have knoYn him all my life. Don't
marry that mani"
Forestalling the exclamation he saw
rising on the indignant lips of the
AUNT, and carrying away with him an
Inforgettabie picture of the girls
lifted eyebrows and affronted look,
Warren Bradley turned on his heel
and left the house.
1t was on the surf washed beach at
Santa Barbara that they met again.
Warren, pacing, the sands moodily,
was wondering what the years held in
store besides the golden fortune they
seemed bent on bestowing.
Startled at the sound OF his name
spoken in soft contralto unwestern ac-
cents, he turned abruptly. Before him
stood, as radiantly beautiful as he re-
called her five years ago, Medelaine
Stoddard-or was she Mrs. Bristol
No, she said shaking her head in
answer to his inquiry. 81 didn't do it.
was furiously angry with YOU, but ]
made investigations. / didn't have far