The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-03-03


views of life and told her 50.
PART l-Continued,
=
On that day she had been Miss limo.
gene Pamela Thornton, petted darling
OF the gods and Mr.. Brewster Thorn
ton, banker and widower; two months
later had come Thorntons financial
smash and, Immediately afterward, his
spiritual, moral and bodily collapse.
Everything that had made for life in
him having been swept away, he died
as a matter of course, and was buried.
For sole inheritance, little Genie
thornton found herself possessor and
possessed Of one Maggie O'Rourke, a
nurse of long standing. of earnest and
faithful face, and a monster heart i'm
prlsoned in a pitifully thin chest.
1t had taken Genie's great-uncle
Asa Thornton, six more months to for
get quarrel of sixteen years. stand.
ing with his nephew. and by that time
child and nurse had been seeped into
that lower world which can't afford
morning and afternoon editions and is
too busy praying for daily bread to
look for a rain of mamma in the daily
press,
In short, Maggie and her charge,
traced down the ladder of reputable,
dlsreputable and impossible lodgings
had slipped ultimately from sight and
the ken of people with addresses and,
as a result, Mr. Robert Hervey Ran
dolph, whose relationship to Mr.. Asa
Thornton is Of no import whatever to
TINS tale OF cause and effect, came into
ten thousand year and a string-the
string being the possible temperance
of Miss Imogene Pamela.
"Bob," had said old Asa, on the
verge of tardy demise, I'm not in.
PRODUCING you to a war between con.
science and self-interest. There's no
silly story-book test about my money:
you are under no obligation TO look
for lmogene or to shout if you step on
her by any twist of chance. My law.
yers have all the instructions neces.
sary along those lines: they are to
make every reasonable effort, and If
they succeed, why, you're man enough
to look out for yourself. lit isn't
going to make a devil of a lot of differ.
ence to me where the cash goes So
long as l die with--die with tho
credit"
With that last sentence, his mind
had stumbled and wandered off TO
memories of his nephew Brewster
Looking back from the vantage Of
twenty-sfx years, Randolph caught
for the first time, the full import of
Asa Thornton's farewell words to him
and to life: die with the credit"
They held the kernel of the old mans
measured amend
"Great old top!" murmured Mr.
aloud, and half unconscious.
" turned to the left at Forty.second
street. Five minutes later he was
caught in the maelstrom of the
Thanksgiving crowd milling around
Times square.
Presently he found himself on the
edge Of a human sea, banked up TO
give passage to a honking empty taxi
lab. Here was another question for
inquiring mind Where did
empty ones, 60 to in such
hurry? The door of this one was
swinging open, and the proof Of how
intent the crowd was on its myriad
Individual goals IS evidenced by the
act that a dozen voices did not in. ,
Orm the driver that the season was
IF for fans on wheels. ;
The cab was moving more slowly :
han Mr. Randolph's subconscious
mind, which led him to step into It and
uietly close the inviting door. Upon
eating himself, he tried to analyze ,
he impulse that had lifted him from :
he curb. He decided that it was not 3
much the curiosity as to the desti. :
alton Of empty cabs as a natural and
ncient dislike for being pushed. and 9
bowed by people. :
1t was not long before the cab IN. .
'ittingly loaded for bear, drew ,up,
18th final honk at the stage-door of 4
ne Crocodile. Immediately came a !,
asping voice that was vaguely ia. -
liliar to Mr.. Randolph.
SWELL" it said, you sure took your -
WI time getting here" The driver. :,
Spert in aggravating repartee with. 10
ut words, pressed the bulb of his
trocious horn three times. "Cut It "
it," said the rasping voice. "There D
MT any hurry now" -,
1t was incredible, reasoned Mr.. Ran. :,
,lph with himself, that anyone should >,
rget that voice once heard, and he n I,
as right. He remembered II. It was :,
e voice of Mr.. Duke Beamer, whom a
, had had the distinct pleasure OF -
ackballing for one club in college =.
ID three in town. Mr.. Beamer, to his :,
NEST mind, was the best living * I,nl
nple Of animated slime in tailor.
ade clothes. =,
Mr.. B. was not alone; Mr.. Randolph
uld just see his companion through p,
e slant Of the half-raised window. an
ass, and even that distorted glimpse M
Is very close to q vision. The eirl -
9 young, beautiful, and troubled ri