Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-19

away. his throat .runbled with grim, ironic
chuckles. HIS wine. his books, hts chairs 4
and vases! Z. And silas Bancroft had
owed no debts! X
three minutes later the sedan ratified down
the village street. Bancroft heard this sound,
andvit broke his reverie; but, he still remained
In the chair. held there by a new and sinister
thought. The doorbell rang, but with a tir-e
kle SO light that it did not break through /
to. his CONSCIOUSNESS. The Great Adventure \.
company: surprising a hidden menace. sdi-
>retted at himself, lay behind this seeming =
no1sense?. Snell's letter, his fathers. note
regarding the man named Kennedy; sup. 4
posing these linked up In some manner with
this rnockipg seller ct adventures Again
the bell rang, this time with its customary
s jangle.
He jumped up, undecided whether or, not
he wag grateful for this. interruption. Who
could this late visitor. be? Not the adven.
turer, for ne was well upon his way by now.
He hurried to the door and opened It rather
impatiently. seg
On the platform Of the porch stood a
young woman, without ~raincoat or umbrella.
drenched, disheyelled. Such light as came
Though the library door-there was no light {
in the hall-exposed to his astonishcd; gaze a
face AS comedy as any he had ever seen. His
lively imagination, even in that moment, ,
= poN6HL W. IL III 1oou, dNA ACy ASCOAlSSlSu :.
the volume on italian Madonnas.
A city girl; he would have been a pumpkin.
indeed not to have discerned this fact. The
smart cut Of her dress, sodden though it was,
the modish tilt Of the har., despite its be.
draggled feather, p%roclaimed even to. his in
experienced eye. their origin, The ed-bro%n
hair had broken from its fastenings, and wet
strands lay against her rain spattered cheeks.
Very much acknowledgement in this night Of
astoniShf1onts-he waited awkwardlv. .. NL
Pardon me-" she began. in a spent voice.
!" but will you be so good as 70 tell me It
there is any possible way Of getting to New
York tonight? X *
Under her arm she carried an object which
resembled a cigar box, but which was not.
2 1t was Of metal, beautifully lacduered. . 1t
was Jaipur brass; but Bancroft was not t.
know this until after many strange contacts
with hfe. @
"A way to New York;" Suddenly Ban.
croft came out Of his pleasant trance.
Please come In to the fire. There is a way
to New York, but it WILL take some tee-.
phoning."
Its good Of you,">she said, stepping into
the hall. I'm a sight" "a
+" Right in here, he said. directing her
into the library. He threw some light wood
on the fire and drew a chair to the fender.
No; I'll stand. I'll dry quicker that ~ay.'r
Would yop likea cup Of hot, coffee?"
he| asked, his sense Of hospitality returning.
{ - Indeed, I would: 1 got mixed up all
around today. l haven't had anything since
lunch 8
20, Mrs. Horne!" he called Ais there
a cup Of coffee left? /" IM&5. .
There was; and while he went%to the .tele.
phone the unknown young woman remained.
= by the Ere, slipped, her coffee, and mu1ched
: the bread and butter sandwich. Little. POOLS
eG-e rv-otAt, <~arA@I 'ray $780, 49, l~;4y1 la ,<l>E ACl~
set the empty cup on the nlantel and, took
of her hat, cycling it %ruefully. Twenty dol.
lars for the, hat and fourteen for the shoes,
and both ruined. Her clothes could be dried
out, cleaned, and pressed, but her hat and
shoes were done for. She hung the hat on
the tongs, and built up her hair as best she
could, by instinct, as she could not discover
q mirror anywhere. Z
Then she gAzed about, and was somewhat
) excited in curiosity to note the luxury Of the
bookbindings and the exquisite modelling Of
- the vases. The rag carpet at her feet and
the ordinary plush and walnut chair which
had been offered her added confusion to her
curiosity. Here was Il queer house. Lucky
for her! II it hadn't been queer. everybody
would. have beef abcd. All the other houses
were dark, and she had reached the door Of
this one almost by will alone. Her body was
Of lead. ~.
Bancroft returned. There are two ways
You can SO, BY auto. but the man at the
garage says that the night is, SO bad he won't
make the trip under thirty" :
" CapcelcdI l haven't thirty. What's the
ether way?T What a clean, nice looking
country boy! was her inward comment.
"Well, you can take the auto twelve miles
across country to the Central. There's two
locals to New York, one at eleven and one at
twelve" s
+" How much will nd want fol, that trip? F."
Ten It's an outrage, but he won't lower
the price" 81 4.
- can do that nicely And many thanks
to you for your kindness. Will you order
i the car? Z. B = ~ 't ~ as4& ~ &Aa2...
"'Don't you believe it would be better for
you Is stay at the hotel for the night and
take the early morning train?" he suggested.
- But I've got to get to New York. rye
just got to-" with a gesture Of passionate
appeal. 45 z{
4" Well, of Course
Z" You see,'' she interposed. "it'si like this.
? IN my room there is a little dog. and he may
not have had a drink since ! left him. And
besides, he's an outlaw
. An outlaw?"
. Yes. Where / live dogs are not allowed.
For two weeks I've sgt BY with It; but If the
poor little puppy gats too lonesome, he'll
whinper: and the janitof is mean enough to
put the puppy on the street. That would
fairly break my heart"
And youth take llthis discomfoft for a
dogee'"
why not, II I love that dos?" she cried
: Indignantly, and smiled. }
He smiled, too, because his smile Of hers
possessed that enviable and irresistible magic
Of creating srniles: as water. must reflect the
sun, so one had to. smile back at hef.
g All right. III see that you make your
train" sS
'H Thank you shall always remember
your kindness ..& *
I'll have the man here In ten minutes.
But you're taking q big risk in those wet
clothes. You ought to have some kind Of a
change"
"But where could I get it this time OF
night ~
"Im ,swannped! Mrs,. Horne
" Mercy! They'd falloff me. Then where'd
i be2h She smiled again. %4EE