Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-09-24

t9. 1920, by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
When Dexter Runnels scampered
blithesomely up the brown-stone steps
of the Dolliver home at five minutes
to three he fully expected that within
the next two hours Marion would be-
gin spelling her last name with capt.
tai 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
rlon 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 In
cllned 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
rachng 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-
manded 1t.
I'm going to have my share Of your
time whether we get rich or stave,"
she had said. TITS not only that I
won't be neglected, but this intensified
activity Of yours is making you absent
minded 1t wouldn't surprise me IL
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: "Will
leave New York on II 80 train" This
gave him 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, so
Dexter had time to spare.
AS he pushed the bell button beside
the Dolliver 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-ln the matter of caution.
Inasmuch as his shoulders soon would
be bearing the responsibilities Of pro-
viding a livelihood for two, he had
adopted a policy Of look twice" The
first consequence of the new policy
was O decision to back out Of deal
in new motor stocks for which ar
rangements had been made in De
troit.
1t looked like an opportunity to reap
big profits, but there was also a
chance of going financially fiat Under
the old policy he would have taken
chance; under the new one, he was
afraid So this very day he had sent
a wire to Detroit reading:
"Call off the deal for while. I've
got cold feet"
The bell was not answered, so 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 It was
locked. He went to the rear entrance,
but encountered no more success
there Furthermore, the blinds were
down, 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 abb
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
certained the car had been removed.
It looked as If the Delivers had gone
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 It would feel to be
caught in the seething vortex, for his
brain had been transformed into n
maestrom. He was dazed as no
turned from the garage and started
back along the cement driveway. A
call from the house next door brought
him to a halt.
"Mr. and Mrs. Dolliver and their
daughter went away this morning in
their car" said q man in q smoking
Jacket, looking out Of a window
"They had a trunk fastened on behind,
SO suppose they're going FOR tour"
"Thanks," returned Dexter, weakly,
and he staggered from the premises
and wandered almlessly down the
street suffering from wide-awake
nightmare.
He obtained a room In 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 II. Marion
had left him in the lurch, there seemed
no doubt Of that, but It 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 1t
was.
He could hlnk Of no more probable
destination for the Dolliver motor
party than Rochester, where Mr.. Dol
iIyer's brother resided. Dexter had
visited the brother In company with