The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1921-04-21
The Prodigal Village
By Irving Bachelor
CpydNtrro hngB aham

low, make the most OF II. The chances
are against that, but let us hope for
the best. Above ALL I want you to be
gentle with Pauline. You are more
to blame than she is"
IL don't see how I can spare the
time, but I'll have to-" said Baker.
"rime! Fiddlestlcks !" the judge ex-
claimed. "What a darn fool money
makes Of mani You have lost your
sense Of proportion, your appreciation
Of values. Bill Pritchard used to talk
that way to me. He has been lying
twenty years In his grave. He hadn't
a minute to spare until one day he fell
dead-then leisure and lots of leisure,
1t would seem-and the business has
doubled since he quit worrying about
1t. My friend, you can not take cent
into Paradise, but the soul Of Pauline
Is n different kind Of property. 1t
might be help to you there. Give
plenty Of time to this job, and good
luck to YOU"
The spirit Of the old, dead days
spoke in the voice Of the judge-spoke
with kindly dignity. 1t had ever
been the voice Of Justice, tempered
with Mercy-the most feared and re-
spected voice In the upper counties.
His grave. smooth-shaven face, his
kindly gray eyes, his noble brow with
| its crown Of white hair were fitting
accessories Of the throne Of Justice
and Mercy.
"I'll go this afternoon. Thank you,
| judge!" said Baker. as he left the
| office.
Pauline had announced I'm her letter
that her husbands name was Herbert
Middleton. Mr.. Baker sent telegram
to Pauline to apprise her of his arrival
In the morning. 1t was a fatherly
message Of love and goodwill. At the
hotel in New York, Mr.. Baker learned
that Mr.. and Mrs. Middleton had
checked out the day before. No
body could tell him where they
had gone. One Of the men at
the porter's desk told Of putting
them In taxicab with their grips
and steamer trunk soon after lunch
con. He didn't know where they went.
Mr.. Bakers telegram was there un-
opened. He called at every hotel desk
In the city. but he could get no trace
Of them. He telephoned to Mrs. Baker.
She had heard nothing from Pauline.
In despair. he went to the police de-
partment and told his story to the
chief.
1T looks as II there was something
crooked about It," said the chief.
"There are many cases like this. Just
read that"
The officer picked up a newspaper
clipping. which lay on his desk, and
passed 1t to Mr.. Baker. 1t was from
the New York Evening Post. The
banker read aloud this startling In.
formation:
"'rhe New York police report tina,
approximately 5000 girls have run
away or disappeared from their homes
In the past eleven months, and the
bureau of missing persons estimates
that the number who have disappeared
throughout the country approxlmates
6S,OO0.'"
Its rather astonishing" the CHIEF
went on. "The women seem to have
gone crazy these days. Maybe IT..
the new dancing and the movies thai
are breaking down the morals of the
little suburban towns or maybe It..
the excitement Of the war. Anyhow
they keep the city supplied with run
| aways and vamps. You are not the
first anxious father I have seen to
day. You can go home. I'll put {
man on the case and let you know
what happens"