Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-02-25


p
On that day she had been Miss ImO-
gene Pamela Thornton, petted darling
Of the gods and Mr.. Brewster Thorn
ton, banker and widower; two months
later had come Thornton's 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 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
prisoned in pitIfully thin chest.
II had taken Genies great-uncle,
Asa Thornton, six more months to for
get a 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
700 busy praying for daily bread to
look for a rain Of mama In the daily
press
In short Maggie and her charge,
traced down the ladder Of reputable.
disreputable and impossible lodgings.
had slipped ultimately from sight and
the ken Of people with addresses. and
as result. Mr.. Robert Heryey Ran
dolph. whose relationship to Mr.. Asa
Thornton is OF no import whatever TO
this tale OF cause and effect. came into
ten thousand year and a strlng-the
string being the possible temperance
OF Miss 1mogene Pamela.
Bob" had said old Asa, on the
verge Of tardy demise, I'm not in
Producing you 10 war between con-
science and self-interest. There's no
silly story-book test about my money A.;
You are under no obligation to look
for Imogene or 10 shout II 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 II
they succeed. why. you're man enough
10 look out for yourself. lit isn't
going 70 make devil Of lot Of differ
ence 10 me where the cash goes so
long as / die with-die with the
credit"
With that last sentence. his mind
had stumbled and wandered of TO
memories Of his nephew Brewster.
Looking back from the vantage of
tweuty-six years. Randolph caught. |
for The first time, the full import OF |
Asa Thonton's farewell words TO him |
and 70 life: die with the credit" |
They held the kernel Of the old mans 4
carefully measured amend.
Great old topi" murmured Mr..
Randolph aloud. and half unconscious
~ turned 10 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 n human sea. banked up 10
give passage 10 a honking empty taxi
'ab. Here was another question for a
suddenly inquiring mind. Where did
empty ones. go to in such a
iurryf 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
orfn the driver that the season was
m for fans on wheels.
The cab was moving more slowly
han Mr. Randolph's subconscious
nlnd, which led him TO step into It and
uietly close the inviting door. Upon
eating himself, he tried 10 analyze
he impulse that had lifted him from
he curb. He decided that Il was not
0 much the curiosity as to the desti-
alton, Of empty cabs as a natural and I
ncient dislike for being pushed and
bowed by people
II was not long before the cab I'M
loaded for bear. drew up
it'll final honk at the stage-door OF {
lie Crocodile. Immediately came
Isping voice that was vaguely IA [
liar to Mr.. Randolph. I
"Well," 1t said, you sure took your
yn time getting here" The driver,
pert In aggravating repartee with
1t words, pressed the bulb Of his | +,
rocious horn three times. "Cut it
said the rasping voice "There
ut any hurry now"
II was incredible, reasoned Mr.. Ran
lpE with himself, that anyone should s