The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1920-07-23
By R. RAY BAKER

When Dexter Runnels scampere,
o~llthesomely up the brown-stone steps
OF the Deliver home at five minutes
TO three be fully expected that within
the next 1--WE hours Marion would he
gin spelling her last name with a capi.
tai K. The arrangements were All
made. The minister had been engaged.
Dexter had his license and honeymoon
railroad tickets and was dressed amt
sroomed for the c~eremony-but Ma
rio was not at home.
Under Dexter's light brown over.
coat we're his best clothes. They were
not full dress, because It was going to
be an informal occasion and hecause
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 hegrudge the halliday needed
&c have the connubial knot tied.
But things were going to change. He
mad 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 thut de
manded il.
I'm going TO have my share of your
time whether we get rich or starge,"
she had said. ITS not only that |
wont be neglected, but this intensified
activity Of yours is making you absent
minded II wouldn't surprise me II
you forgot the date Of our marriage"
But Dexter had marked the calen
dar and he bad not forgotten. Early
that morning he had wired: "Will
leave New York on II 80 train" This
gave him a good two hours leeway. IN
ease the train was late, for Marion'S
home city was only 60 minutes run
from the metropolis. But the train
mad heen practically on schedule. 50
Dexter had time to spare.
AS he pushed the hell button beside
the nOlliver door he felt that he was
shedding his business cares. No more
frenzied finance for him. He had in
stalled nm able manager In his office
and now he could take things easier.
And Dexter had Slowed up" In an
other yay-in the matter of caution.
lnaSmuch MS his shoulders soon would
be bearing the responsibilities Of pro
vidtng a livelihood for two. he had
adopted a policy Of 'look twice" The
first consequence of the new policy
was a decision to back out of a deal
In new motor stocks for which ar
Engagements had been made in De
uoit.
II 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 a
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 a while. I've
got cold feetf'
The hell was not answered. so he
pressed Il again; but still there was
no response. 1t was queer that Ma.
rion's fnther had not met him at the
station with the automobile, hut the
fact that no one answered the bell was
strange.
However, he reasoned probably Ma
rlon was busy dressing. and the resi-
Of the household occupied with other
matters attending the marriage. There
were no servants.
He tried the door. but II was
locked. He went to the rear entrance.
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 il was
occupied fully as much. hut less alb.
stractedly. A very concrete problem
confronted Dexter.
Finding all the doors locked. he
went 70 the garage. The door was
fastened. but through a window he as.
certained the car had been removed
It looked MS II 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 hut now he
had an idea Of how II would feel to be-
caught In the seethlng vortex. for bis
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 brough,
him to a halt.
Mr.. and Mrs. DOlliver and their
daughter went away this morning IN
thelr car" said a man in a smoking
Jacket. hooking out of a window
"1bey had o trunk fastened on behind
50 suppose they're going for a tour. F."
Thanks" returned Dexter. weakly.
and he staggered from the premises
and wandered almlessly down the
street suffering from a w~lde-awake
nightmare.
He obtained . room In a hotel and
sui dowa 10 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 lGrch. there seemed
no doubt Of that. hut Il also seemed
eh.t .h. ..fwht hn..a t,p. a.. -.