The Lamar register., 1920-06-16
A PAIR OF
RUBBERS.
By GEORGE ELMER COBB.
Ixht. ls2o. W..tern N.wsp.per Union


pretty innocent Doris Blake, mad at
himself and feeling resentful toward
the world at large. Cyril Vance lifted
his hat resentfully as he passed the
home OF Miss Ophelia Blinn.
1t was also the home OF that lady's
adopted niece. Doris. and there the
cankering anxiety rested. She and
Vance had been something more than
friends for over a year. He had been
pretty exclusively In her company, and
he had fired up very forcibly when
close friend remarked to him:
II see that Rutgers fellow has
broken into the good graces Of the
Blakes"
THAT Rutgers fellow" was a dash
ing young man who had come to the
town week previous. He was look
Ing for a factory site, he gave 1t out.
and had plenty of money. good clothes.
''All flash and glitter" was the way
Vance set him down. and the next day
when Rutgers dashed by In an auto
mobile In company with Miss ophelia
and her pretty niece. there could be
but one construction to the present
ment.
Doris was, or course, the attraction.
for Miss Blake was confirmed old
mud. Vance paid no attention to II
casual suggestion he overheard that as
Miss Blake owned considerable prop
eTty about town the alleged factory
representative might be negotiating
with her for u building site.
g.As. ,y..d h..
lady In question seated on the porch
with Rutgers and her niece. he paid no
attention to d pleading. inviting sx-
preston upon the face OF Doris
"I'll drop her II she Is encouraging
that braggart fopl" soliloQuized Vance
hotly but at dusk the ensuing eve
ming strolled past the Blake home. Sc
cretly hoping that Doris would ap-
pear.
Victor. his faithful dog. ran up
ON the porch as II reminding the
young man OF his many past visits.
but Vance kept on. Beside the door
was pair OF rubbers. mans size. and
within the lighted room Vance caught
sight of his fancied rival.
He whistled to the dog and strobe
on, never noticing that the animal car
ried something between his teeth until
they came under a lamp post.
Here. what have you gotr' chal-
lenged Vance, and as Victor laid
rubber at his feet Vance picked It up
At once he comprehended that II was
one OF those he had noticed on the
Blake porch. As he turned 1t over he
observed casually deep brownish
stain where the instep curved. He
was debating II he should repass the
house and restore the rubber to its
companion when he was conscious that
a keen-eyed man Was at his side inter
estedly regarding the tilched rubber.
''Yoursf" he inslnuated.
no" retorted Vance curtly. My
dog took IL from a porch down the
street"
"where-whlch porchr" pursued
the stranger.
Second house back. Why do you
askr demanded Vance suspiciously.
The man mumbled something about
being an inqulsitiye sort of a fellow
and as Vance turned around and re
traced his steps flung the rubber over
the fence OF the Blake home. The
stranger watched Vance closely and
then disappeared In the darkness.
Later. through a cautious detour, ne
reached the Blake home. glided up TO
the porch and carried away both rub
bers and chuckled In a pleased though
sinister way
The town had been greatly stirred
up two days previous by the announce
ment that the great tannery at the
edge OF the town had been visited the
night previous, its Office broken into
and small fortune In cash and LIB
erty bonds secured from its safe. Of
! ficers from the county seat had been
sent for and Vance. thinking later OF
the inquisitive stranger. wondered II
he was not some detective attempting
to ferret out the perpetrators Of the
burglary.
II was the next morning that Vance
came face to face with Doris turning
a corner. He flushed with some EN-
barrassment aud she paled as though
under strain of some feryid emotion.
You have not been to the house
lately. Cyril" she spoke In a subdued
half reproachful tone.
You seem to have plenty OF com
pHny." retortsd Vance and then was