Evening star., 1921-05-15

| SID or paper III iboi
and every now and then he looked at
it. Then issued from his lips sort
| OF subdued cry or whine endihS IN
rising infection.
| A stunning girl raised her head.
I"Dick." she said. that's for you.
Aren't you important. though. since
you became a viper of the press.
Publicity is great thing. said
Richard Bibley Van kleeck. II do
this every day" He beckoned the
boy to him. A coin and the slip
| changed hands as IL by rehearsal; ana
Richard. with a murmured apology.
stared at it, puzzled.
! Not nv Office" he said. He read
| aloud: Call 1856 Rector at once. Inn
portant."
Fathers Office number" exclaimed
the girl. -,
Richard looked at her sharply. g!
! hope our meeting here hasn't caused
| any rumpus." he said.
'"Rumpus-over me? He prooaoiy
| wants to thank you.
For WHAT
A wisp Of a smile touched Helen's
| way. hurry up and TELEPHONE. she
! ordered And if it's father himself
! be sweet"
Richards face was so serious when
he returned from the telephone that
she rose involuntarily and asked:
rs he ill?'
NO. It's the newspapers
| Don't teas :" she fretted. surely.
he doesn't understand and appreci-
ate" She hesitated; her blue eyes
met his sQuarely.
! HE certainly appreciates it, He
has asked me to come down to mis-
| office at once" Richard said, soberly.
| Then I'll go, too" She began draw
| ing on her gloves.
| il did not daunt her when Richard
| protested that the journey could be
! made quickest by subway. She was
seated by his side as they roared out
! of the station. Richard picked at the
cleats on the car floor with his stick.
Presently he took a piece OF copy
paper from his pocket and wrote
something on it. Then he folded 1t
carefully and thrust it into his waist
coat pocket.
During the twelve minutes or less
that the express rushed toward the
James Josiah Randers stood by his
desk, watch in hand. He had ceased
to look at the ticker. There wasn't
any use. The last c. S. T. quotation
noted was forty-seven, drop of fifty
one points since the opening. There
had been nothing like it since the
Hooking crash. AS each succeeding
strip recorded further sickening de-
scents, Mr.. Randers spared himself the
tagony Of looking.
he SLOOQ ike q man lQe police ndu
put through the third degree. On his
desk was a pile Of afternoon papers.
He had combed them all. The name he
sought was missing. Ponderously de-
jected rather than infuriated. he be-
gan pacing up and down the room
The door marked Private" opened so
softly that he did not see Dick and
Helen enter, and he stopped only when
the girl ran forward with little cry.
Father" she exclaimed. you look
ill.,"
At the sound of her voice Mr.
then. turning. caught her in his arms.
Nonsense. my dear" he muttered
as he kissed her Are these wild
rumors to be credited by members of
my own family?
Helen laughed. wild rumors" had
no significance for her. She was re-
lieved; her father was not i'll. Il just
came with him." she said abruptly
irrelevant. She nodded toward Dick.
who stood aloof.
Mr.. Randers bowed heavily in en-
barra ssment.
Il asked Mr.. Van Kleeck to come
here on q matter of urgent business" :"
will excuse US. my dear"
II won't" pouted Helen. Il left a
perfectly good luncheon to dash down
here. Besides, / want you to thank
US for keeping your name out Of the
papers. I suggested it. you know"
cLAPPED with the suddenness of
~ this. Mr.. Randers blurted out the
nrst ill-chosen words that came to
his mind. You" he cried. why.
my poor deluded little daughter, sent
for Richard to get my name in the
papers" He looked at the young man
appeslingly. Richard" he asked
solemnly. what do you know about
this conspiracy? 1t will ruin me-"
ticker tape.
While Helen's blue eyes widened
Richard Bibley Van Kleeck replied
II wouldn't call it exactly a con-
spiracy. Mr.. Randers. AS l under
stand it. the editors thought it best
your we'll known antipathy to the
press"
And Helen?" Mr.. Randers looked
at his pretty daughter wonderingly.
Mentioned casually that you would
Of course be pleased to have your
flied" Helen nodded in naive ratifica-
! ton.
Mr. Randers big hands fell at his
sides. His mouth opened like an as
! founded youths. Then. all pride hav
ing fed. there was suddenly born to
him a sixth sense-humor. He threw
back his bead and laughed
Helen and Richard laughed. too. un-
til the great man laid a hand on Rich
| ards shoulder. Richard" he said.
| suddenly, II need a press agent. Need
him bad. Do you think you can get
statement from me in the next edi-
tions?''
| Richard drew from his waistcoat
pocket and handed to Mr.. Randers
a folded sheet of copy paper. 1t was
1.-the sheet on which he had written
in the subway. Here is a prelimi-
nary statement" he said simply,
which l believe will lift the quaran
ltine."
| While Helen. curious, looked over
her fathers shoulder. James Josiah
Randers read: "Mr. and Mrs. James
Josiah Randers announce the engage
ment Of their daughter Helen Eliza
beth to Mr.. Richard Bibley Van
Kleeck."
The girl looked up. face crimson.
/ Her eyes. caressing Richard. were
a blue he had never seen before
! James Josiah Randers looked grim
lily at his new press agent. There
twas twinkle in his eyes. IF both
parties have ratified this statement I
see no reason why it should not go
out at once" was all he said
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