The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-07-08
KIDNAPPED
BY REREccA r. FARNHAM.

$50. by Mcclure NewSpaper Syndicate

w ASsVs y AASSANAS
Grant Fisher a%nxiously glanced at
his watch and %quickened the speed Of
his car as he swept IN toward the
lights of Greenville showing in the dis
lance. AS he entered the town the fig
ure Of a girl walking along the side
walk caught his eye. Suddenly sweep
ing down beside her he stopped the
car.
"Do you sing?"
She turned and stared somewhat
dumbly. Then she nodded.
slump in then" And before she
knew exactly what had happened she
was sitting by his side as they rolled
on nearer and nearer the center of the
town.
Finally the car stopped before a
building with the words "Greenville
theater' in blazing letters above 1t.
The girl gave a sigh of relief rs she
saw that this was her captor's destina-
ton. A few minutes later she had
passed with him through the stage en-
trance into the theater and was lis
tening to the explanation of his mystic
rious conduct.
"It's a vaudeville act-singing. My
sopranos gone back on me. I can't
sing alone tonight. It's something out
Of the ordinary, and I've got to make
a good impression. Can't change my
program low. Do you know all these
songs?"
She glanced through several sheets
of music thrust into her hands. Cali
right" she said calmly. II know them
all."
Good! Here's the costumes and
makeup. Wear the Irish one. Green,
you know. -Four minutes"
Grant had cause to be excited. Out
there in the audience, as he had scarce
ly "a hours ago learned through
roundabout means, a scout of a IA
nous opera company was sitting. He
had come there to hear him sing with
his soprano. Suddenly Grant felt a
chill of horror and fear creep over
him. What If this girl were really in
competent, after all, and caused the
act to be a failure? What, chance then
would he have Of making a good i'm
preston upon that scout and becoming
a singer in opera instead of a mere
vaudeville artist? He turned to the
!, girl with some vague idea of telling
: her that she wasn't wanted. after all.
> But just then the curtain went up and
> he heard the piano begin the opening
measures of the song.
He forgot all about his fears in the
: next moment as her strong, thrilling
voice rose with his. Man alive! Had
, he ever thought he had a good SO.
prano before? The applause rose in
volume of sound as the last encore was
finished. Behind the scenes Grant
found words very inadequate to ex
press his emotions.
"You can't know" he began, "what
you've done for me tonight. You have
a wonderful voice. You ought to dc
something with it. Have YOU ever
thought of it,"
"Yes, l have thought of it," the Cir
answered slowly.
Suddenly Grant realized that the fig
ure in clinging green was a most ador
able bit of girldom.
II don't ever know your name vet
he said. "N1y name is Grant Fisher
IF you don't mind" replied the girl
Il think l will! get dressed"
"1'm a fool" he exclaimed. "Yo,
had some important engagement ant
I've made you break it. Is it some
thing that can still be attended to-"
II was only coming here" she an
swered with a little smile. II was too
late, anyway, to see but half tho
show, and I had the rare eXperienc,
of taking part in the vaudeville. Thanh
you for that"
She bowed in farewell and wen
j. away, leaving him in a state of Devil
|. derment.
6 For the next few days Grant spen
? half his spare time in securing thu
. streets Of G%reenville in his roadster
anxious for another glimpse of the girl
The other half he was riding bacl
from Greenville to his headquarter
in the city, always on the watch TO
the longed-for message from the oper,
company.
At last the m came and a
the appointed hour he was being ush
= cred into an Office where were tw'
= desks. at one Of Which sat the might,
a parsonage.
"Mr. Fisher" said Mr.. Townsend
. I should first like to introduce 70,
J to my right-hand man, Miss ElOis
Radlin."
Grant turned toward the other desl
and-there sat the girl. Somehow h
!. managed to pull himself out of hi
amazement long enough to make tn
necessary polite remarks. Mr.. Town
send went on:
Miss Radlin is the chief cause 0
your being here, Mr.. Fisher. We neel
another tenor. and when I heard 0
you sent Miss Radlin as a scout. Sh'
has informed me that we can't d.
without YOU: - and as she herself is al