Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-09-09

eXterminatin equality Of it. Bancroft pursued
his affairs to.a happy conclusion. lie found
himself more OF less comfortably situated. lie
would have his meals across the way, begin
ming with tomorrow. Tonight he would not
have time To dine, dress, and get uptown in
time to avoid standing during the perform.
ance, for, he knew that for the next half a
dozen nights his particular amusement would
consist in listening to and watching Nancy
Bowman. He reasoned that by tamiliarizing
his eyesYand ears, his pulse would be less
likely to Jump when the inevitable meeting
came. : <'.e .T'
Thus, dinnerless, the young analyst arrived
at the box office in time to purchase a single
Chair in o. behind Il supporting post. He
was happy, but he could not analyze this hap
hN&.
He studied the men in the audience, par
ticularly those who We're young and dressed
as lie was. Did this! one know her? Had
that one the freedom of her conversation?
He fell to reconsidering his resolution not to.
seek the stage entrance. and finally decided
that there could be 10 harm in watching TO
see if she walked or rode away with any one
after the performance III
With much difadence, to. which was. added
q NEED of self-scorn. he stationed himself at
one side OF the stage door and waited. Sew.
ernl closed cars stood invitingly at the curb.
When he arrived there was no one about; the
stage door remained shut. u.
BY and ny women come out, in pairs and
tries. Some Of them walked away. some Of
them entered the cars and were driven away.
There followed another perfod of i%laction;
then Nancy Bowman appeared. She i1nme-
diately turned toward Broadway, alone and
afoot. Bancroft was delighted. but he was
also puzzled. The most attractive young
woman In the operetta, and none offered to
see, her hpnae! Perhaps by this time they
knew the futility Of approaching her: she was
the butterfly on the stage, Nowhere else.
He gave her three minutes Roadway, then
he followed, all the way across town TO the
Elevated. as she ran up the stairs and van
is1ed he recollected that he was hungry. He
entered the first restaurant lie came to and
ordered an oyster stew, r.. a.
4, When the stew CAME on The Shadow babe
Bancroft a knocking" goodnight through the
window. go
Bancroft walked from the restaurant ali
the way, down to Ninth street. He was con
scious Of Weariness only when he arrived at
the marble steps. Phew! He entered the
silent house and went up the first flight.
At the end Of the hall was a bathroom. He
remembered seeing a typewriter slip Of
naper.taeked al one side of.the door, and he
approached inquisitively. SONG rules to be
conserved probably. Instead he was informed
that the bathroom was" divided up for the
mornings. that each tenant OH this floor had
priority rights at a certain hour. Thus, No. 3
had the boa tl1room at eleven. No. l at eight,
and SO on. His own number, being 4, was fol-
lowed by six O'clock That was satisfactory.
No names appeared on the slin; simply the
room numbers and the allotilents OF time.
He heard an automobile in the street, heard
it semi de tachedly: but when the hall door
below opened and closed he rushed to the
stairhead. Why? Notif his head had de-
pended upon itHcould} he have explained his
aetion. For the present he had no interest
OF curiosity in the. comings and soings of his
tenants. Still, with. the i~mpetuosity of a
doubtful husband, hefhad dashed to the stair
head. He arrived int as a young woman,
blonde, handsome, turned the elbow of the
shalajsters. aYTableau, denoting mutual aston \
~ishnlent. Almost at once, Baneroft's turned
into horror, while the young woanan's express
sion became cold and.determined. She caught
hold Of the banisteF rail, not for support.
however. She was making a barrier against
This unknown young. maps departure. His
presence here had to be explained. ~.
Too late Bancroft started to, turn back.
VT Just a minute,7 pleased" said Jenny NAL
10y. {" Who are you an what are you doin'
in this hall after one o'clock? Shoot it quick,
or III holler"
BY the look of her the evidence was, con-
elusive that she would do exactly as she
threatened.
I beg your pardon!' he STAN.
mered.
rNe old stuffg' Jenny interrupted. Come
across. never saw, YOU before. an ! live
here. Who are you?" {.
"My~.name is CollingsWood. I
zane late this AFTERNOON"
II that So! Why tn hurry when YOU
heard me?"
II was going for a walk" He knew the
moment the defense was uttered how infer
5nally lamc it was.
Jepny MHghed contemptyeusly. HIlit say
YOU was goiH' for Q walk gil tn way
Y Trey! I.aen't know; I guessIM holler.s
'"ism the. new tenant ip Ne. 4" he said
desperately. sa