The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-04-08


Her voice came back to him from
very close as though her fare had
been pressed 10 the glass In an effort
10 make him ont. "At the corner Of
The Avenue and East Ninth street"
Ten Ialnutcs later he drew up his
eAb at the appointed spot and reached
back to throw open the door, but kept
his foot on the clutch release, leaving
the gears In mesh, first sneed ahead.
All his precautions we're In vain,
AS he opened the cab door his coat
sleeve was seized in very determined
grip and drawn Inward, catchlng his
elbow IN a jiu-jutsu leverage that left
him the Hobson's choice of either get.
ting out and facing his captor or lis
senlng to his arm break. He chose
10 get down from his seat quickly
.'well, Bobby" murmured Miss Van
+.
Mr. Randolph attempted no evasion;
he handed the lady to the curb and
guided her gently toward her own
door and MP the high steps. "Madge,"
he said. "you fought great fight to.
night and when you had won you felt
sorry for fremont and surrendered.
You were swept too high on the wave
Of the best that Is In yoH. Promise
me that you won't forget that You
have won. Promise ME TINT you will
wait and take fremont, all OF him,
with honor"
sWhat do you mean7 What did
you henry' cried Miss Van 4. angrily,
her pale face suddenly flushing.
'sFrom the start OF the ride to the
finish heard every word" declared
Mr. Randolph frankly "and more
aAnd morer' repeated the hard
pressed girl. ''what do you mean by
morer She still tried to browbeat
hini. bur remembering one Incredibly
long kiss, her eyes fell In the unequal
battle with Bobby's and attempted to
create diversion by staring at his gall
tered legs and heavily booted feet,
Look up. Madge Look at me-"
said Mr.. Randolph and waited patient.
~ until first her long lashes iiuttered
and then her lovely eyes swept slowly
up 10 his face. .srhat's IT, he con.
tInued as their looks met and locked.
Lets hold that SO we can't lie.
''Why should lie II you really heard
sysrythingf" asked Miss Van r., and
suddenly smiled.
.Madge, you little deyll,' said Mr..
Randolph, suppressing an impulse 10
shake her, scan you think Of what
you've been doing and laugh3n
aYes, I can. Just now" said Miss
Van r., In little gasping phrases that
10 man. especially one Of Mr.. Ram
do,ph's iirnpld nnture, carried only
their face value In words, but which
10 any woman would have read as
plainly M the red-weather signal,
Look out for showers OF tears fol-
lowed by storm"
-well." said Mr.. Randolph solemnly,
~ you really don't realize Just where
you have been. LEI me tell you. First
you few high Into clean air and you
took fremont with yon You were
possessed Of vision aud you made
him see Il, too, mirage OF those
lifted places that are the altar Of the
mind before love. Just mirage, an
illusion Of perfect happiness, which
cold reason tells us we can't ever turn
into reinforced concrete and plant In
the yard, hut which We must either
forever hold as vision or admit that
love IL a sordid and wingless thing"
Miss Van Teilier's eyes fell from
bis frank gaze. something seemed to
crumple within her; she put her arms
around Mr.. Randoiph's neck. chung
10 him, dropped her face against his
shoulder and sobbed. not noislly, but
as one who weeps to rest.
He held her close TO him and went
on. his face set as though 20 4 duty.
s'fhen what did you dor Because he
hesitated, merely hesitated al the high
door OF alteration, you promptly
slammed II and dropped plumb
straight down like that traitor arch.
angel Johnny out Of heaven Into the
arms OF hell"
Bobby !" cried Miss Van r., throw
Ing back her head aud struggling to
release herself. slow dare you say
thing like ti,at1 How dare you he
here. anyway l hate YOU. / don't
know how / ever could have Thought
. loved you. fell. but Il WAS into
Beachers arms, and wish was thcre
right now" More sobs, eonvulsiye
ones. that shook the slim body In Mr..
iandolphs embrace from twitching
shoulder to tired feet.
Lest the reader be startled hy what's
coming next IL win do well to remind
him that this poignant scene was
staged at three o'clock In the morning
90 the high stoop os the Van Teller
restdence in East Ninth street and
never left the perlmeter OF tho door
mat which IN itself presented an al.
nost feminine contradiction, IN that
bore, done In red on Its face, the