Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-17
What Is Father Spencer's
Important Mission?

| SolnetninS III my 1atlleI 5 appear
ance as he walked toward us made
me look at him curiously, brought
back wildly to me the days when
| had first seen him, not knowing
that there was any tic OF blood be-
| tween US.
Then he had been called "the
Quester of Broadway" a mysterious,
melancholy, yet commanding figure,
which much intrigued the interest
OF that volatile thoroughfare. That
his constant, conscience-stricken
quest had been for me, whom, as
we'll as my mother, he had deserted
when | was but 4 years old for the
lure of another woman. | had long
ago learned from his own lips. That
beneath his mask OF the polished,
dilettante man of wealth lie at that
time had been dominant figure in
his country's secret diplomatic serv-
ice, l knew from Allen Drake and
Lillian Underwood. Illness and
financial misfortune had come to
him during the stressful days when
in South American country he had
grappled with. and frustrated plot
which menaced the very heart OF
the government.
In the years since l had become
accustomed to think of him as a
gentle, somewhat broken figure, who
had lost most of his wealth, and
whose prestige was but a memory.
But during the few months preceding
the sale of the Marvin horse had
been conscious that, with distinct
improvement in his physical health,
had come a rejuvenation of his
mind and spirit-that he was becom-
ing once again a figure with which
to reckon. And his mien now was
that of dominant, poised person
ality, perfectly conscious of its own
power.
"A Message"
At any time during the years he
has lived with me l would have run
to him, at sudden unexpected ap-
pearance such as the one he had
just made, asking what he wished.
But there was something vague,
elusive about him, something that
seemed to set him apart and make
him less my father than q man-who-
must-be- -obeyed. Therefore, l walked
sedately to meet him, evincing no
curiosity as to his errand.
"Ah! Daughter, dear! Enjoying the
new place, | see" His voice was as
calm and unhurried as if he had just
steppd over to view our happiness in
our new home. His very leisureli-
ness made me suspect that some
thing momentous was on foot, for |
have seen in him and in his CO.
worker, Allen Drake, the same
tendency to affect deliberation in a
moment of great stress. 1t was as if
they paused and fixed their mental
muscles for the effort ahead of them.
"Just looking over my new studio,
dad" Dicky indicated the corncrib
with a gesture. Glancing at him, 7
saw that behind his carless express
sion his eyes were watching my
father intently, and realized that
he shared my intuition as to the i'm
portance of my fathers errand.
"Ah! Yes. 1t ought to make a
good one" my father replied. will
it interrupt you too much if I ask
you to run me over to Speonk? |
find | can get a train from there at
4 o'clock, and l wish to get to New
York as soon as possible. l have
had message which demands inn
mediate attention"
An Embarrassing Offer.
| looked at my watch and made a
mental calculation. If I accom-
plished the trip without speeding /
should have to start at once. The
thought OF Grace Draper's letter OBJ
sessed me. Would there be chance
to mail it? Suppose there were an
accident to the car and l was de-
layed in getting back? | assured
my father that | could make the trip
with him if we started Immediately,
then turned to Dicky and spoke
without reflection:
Better come with us, and then
you can mail that letter at Speonk."
what letter." Dicky demanded
quickly, with an edge to his voice
that brought me up standing men
tally. With a furtive glance saw
that with an adroit movement he
had turned enough away from my
father to enable him to glare at me
significantly.
"Why, the letter that but
Dicky interrupted me.
"To the insurance agent in Mar
VIM" asked Dicky with well-simu-
lated indifference. 81 had forgotten
speaking about it. Sure, I'll bring
it. But we'd better start pronto II
we're going to make Speonk by 4.
You're all ready to go, aren't you,
Madge? We had gas, water and
oil put in this morning, so the car