The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-07-01
So -
COLD FEET
r.
=
~ a. RAY BAKER

/ o. ssss' BY -Aeclurs Nswspspsr s,.ass.ss-J
When Dexter Runnels scampered
blithesomely up the brown-stene stepa
Of the Dolliver home ut Ne niinptes
to three he fully expected that within
the next two hours Marion would be-
gin spelling her last name with a capi-
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 ceremooy-bur Ma
rion was not at home.
Under Dexter's light brown over
coat were his best clothes. They were
not full dress, because 1t was sgoing to
be an informal occasion and ,because
Dexter had no such OUTFIT. He had
never found time 70 get measured for
formal afternoon clothes. His stock
business occupied his attention every
waking minute and he was almost in
Glued to begrudge the kA,f-day needed
to have the connubial knot tted.
But things were aoing - change, He
had reselyed to slcwf up his nerve
racktng business pace when he .he-
came established In his new, Acne.
Not only had he resolved IT, bnf Ma
rton bad served an ultimatums that do
manded 1t.
I'm going to have my share OF your
time whether we srst ITCH tor, searve;"
she had said. ''Irs not only that !
wont be neglected. 9but .this intensifled
activity Of yours Is Masking you. absent
minded. 1t wouldn't mrprise me II
you forgot the dAfs bf 'our rnarTinSe."
But Dexter had marked the caien-
dar and he had not 6t'Ydf9otten. Early
that morning he had Wired: 's"Wm
leave New York On II 80 train. /" This
gave him a good two hours leeway, In
case the train was late. for ASrton's
home city was only 90 'mihhres' run
from the metropolis. Bot ,,thA train
had been practically on schedule, 30
Dexter had time to spare r''~' 80.
As he pushed the bell button beside
the Dolliver door he felt xkat he was
shedding his business cares. No more
frenzied finance for him. He had IN
stalled an able manager in hts once
and now he could take things easier.
And Dexter had slowed up" in an
other way-in 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 Took twice" The
first consequence Of the new policy
was decision to back out Of d deal
in new motor stocks for which. ar
rangements had been made in De
| tr0it. ' rag ,''-'
1t looked like an opportunity to reap
big profits. but there was 'also a
chance Of going financially nat. Bnder
the old policy he would hive thken a
chance; under the new ioiS. Ne was
afraid. So this very day he had cent
a wire to Detroit readinr:
Call on the deal for . while. I've
| ~, cold feet" s"' 1850 tr
- The bell was not ansWered, 20 be
pressed It again hut stfll slher6r vas
no rtsponse. 1t wiA Qrsar' .xbaf Ia
rion's nkther had mot met him Il. ~
station with me 'Suttmpod5e, but the
fact that no one answered ~ I'm was
strange.
However. he reasoned probably Ma
rion was. busy dressing, and, the rest
Of the household 'occupted With other
matters attending the marriage. Therc
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 mot noticed when
he approached the house. His mind
had been too occupied. Now 1t was
occupied fully as much, but less ab-
stractedly. A very concrete problem
confronted Dexter. - -'s-f.'
Finding all the doors locked, he
went to the szfase. The door wan
fastened. but through window he,m-
'certaihed the car had been rslncved.
II looked as II the Dollivers had eone
% an overnight trip, 'eise ths Earage
door would have been left Open. =
Dexter. for all Of his lifelong resi-
dence In New York, had never BeeA
the whirlpool Of Niat6FS' = but now Ai
had an idea Of how It would feel tt,1e
caught in the seethiHg vortex. for Ms
brnin had nbee6 n4nbf " led into q
maelstrom. He vas dksed as he
turned from the Karage and started
back along the ee1heilt driveway. A
call from the house hext door brought
him to q halt.
'Mr. and Mrs. Dolliver and their
daughter went away this Inorning in
their car" said man in a smoking
jacket. looking out Of window.
"They had trunk fastened on behind,
so suppose they're going for tour"
Thanks" returned Dexter. weakly.
and he staggered from the premises
and wandered aimlesslye down the
street, suffering from 2 wide-awake
nightmare.
He obtained room in a hotel and