The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-08-18
AN
phflp,
S7ORY>>
DAY
AuSfOR PNTHOS
ROMANCE
The Shocks
of Doom


q Co.: psbsished hv special ar
rarecmens testh the Wheeler svn-
dicnfc. Inc.
There Is an aristocracy OF the pub
lie parks and even OF the vagabonds
who use them Cor their private apart.
ments. Valance felt rather than
knew this. but when he stepped
down out OF his world into chaos
his feet brought him directly to Mad.
tson Square.
Raw and astrfngent as school
Efri--of the old ordcr--young May
breathed austereiy among the bud.
ding trees. vallance huttoned his
coat. lighted his last cigarette and
took his seat upon bench. For three
minutes he mildly regretted the last
nandrcd Of his last thousand that II
had cost him when the bicycle cop
put an end 20 his last automobile
ride. Then he felt In every pocket
and found not a single penny. lie
had given up his apartment thai
msrning. His furniture bad gone TO
ward certain debts His clothes. save
what were upon him. had descended
TO his man-servant for back wages.
As he sat. there was not In the
whole city for him bed or a broiied
lobster or n street car fare or n
carnation for his buttonhole unless
he should obtain them by sponging
son his friends or by false prctenses.
iThercfore he had chosen the park.
And all this was because an uncle
had disinherttcd him. and cut down
his allowance from liberality TO moth
ling. And all that was because hts
nephew had disobeyed him concern
s1ng . certain girl. who comes not into
This story--thercforc. all readers who
brush their hair toward Its roots may
- warned 70 read no further. There
was another nephew. of a different
branch. who had once been the pros
pective heir and favorite. Being
without grace or hope. he had long
ago disappeared In the mlre. Now
dragnets were out for him: be was
TO be rehabilitated and restorcd- And
10 Valance fell grandiy as Luc,fer
!. TO the lowest pit. Joining the latter.
u ghosts in the little park.
Then arose one from a seat near
The lcaping fountain. and came and
sat himself at vallance's side. He
was either young or old: cheap lodg
ing houses had favored him mus
fffy: razors and combs had passed
him by: In him drink had been bot.
tied and scaled in the devils bond
He begged a match. which Is the
form OF introduction among park
benchers. and then he began 10 talk.
You're not one OF the regulars"
he said TO Valance. II know tailor.
ed clothes when I see EN- You just
stopped for a moment on your way
thru the park. Don't mind my talk
ing 10 you for a whiie2 I've got 20
- with somebody. I'm afraid--I'm
afraid. I've told two or three OF
those bummers over there about IT,
They think I'm crazy. Say--Iet me
tell you--aii I've had 10 eat today
was couple Of pretzels and an ap-
pie. Tomorrow IN stand In line TO
inherit three millions: and that res
taurant you see over there with the
autos around 1t will be too cheap
for me to eat In. Don't believe II,
do your"
without the slightest trouble"
said Valance, with a laugh. II
lunched there yesterday. Tonight
couldn't buy five-cent cup of cof
fec"
you don't look Ike one Of us.
Well. guess those things happen.
used to be a high-flyer myself
some years ago. What knocked you
out OF the gamer"
~I--oh. lost my Job" said Val
rance.
"It's undiluted hadcs. this city"
went on the other. "One day you're
eating from china; the next you are
eating in CHINA chop-suey joint.
I've had more than my share of hard
luck. For five years I've been little
better than a panhandler ! was
raised up 20 live extensively and do
nothing. say don't mind telling
you've got to talk to somebody.
you see. because I'm afraid 49, I'm
afraid. My names Ide. You
wouldn't think that old Paulding,
one Of the milIionaires on Riverside
Drive. was my uncle. would your
Wen. he is. l lived in his house
once. and had all the money want.
ed. Say. haven't you got the price
OF couple Of drinks about you-cr-
whats your name"
Dawson" said Valance. NO:
I'm sorry 10 say that I'm all in
financially"
i've been living for a week in n
coal cellar on Division ST." went on
Jde, with n crook they call Blinky'
Morris. ! didn't nave anywhere elise
10 go. While was out today
chap with some papers in his pocket
was there, asking for me. didn't
know but what he was fly cop, so
I didn't go around again till after
dark. There was a letter there he
had left for me. Say--Dawson. 1t
was from a big downtown lawyer.
lead. I've seen his sign on Ann
st. Paulding wants me 10 play the
prodlgal nephew-wants me 10 come
back and be his heir again and blow
in his money. I'm TO call at the
lawyers office at 10 tomorrow and
Qurn 10 Page 4. Column p