Evening star., 1922-08-11
Borrowed Transportation.

\dE LlnQSdyS J0nlOF were Aco'
ing the Lindsays Senior
where they had been visiting
for an eyentful ten days.
And though little Mrs. John Munro
Lindsay hadn't wanted to make that
visit and had lived through some try
ing moments and a really serious ac-
cident during her stay. she was genu-
inely sorry to go. however joyous
she might feel about the prospects
of getting back to her beloved
Pumpkin Shell. For Johns family
had shown their regard for her very
plainly during the days in which sne
was regaining her strength AFTER her
frightful experience.
One thing that delighted both John
and Merriam was the fact that they
were taking Rose Lindsay with them
as their guest. Merry gave Johns
arm a meaning pinch as they all piied
into the big touring car that kirR
squire's father had sent for them;
Kirk had sent the chauffeur back to
New York by train. But the adroit
Kirk professed a profound laziness
and refused to drive it himself, turn.
ing the wheel over to his friend
o Donald Ferry Merriam: am. .sns when bssIhn JGhn
Don, dragged him in beside her ana
winked back at Kirk as that astute
person nonchalantly helped Rose
Lindsay into the seat beside Ferry.
Merriam herself sat discreetly be-
side John and let Kirk go around to
joyously perched on the twin fold
ing seats in the center Of the car
with Ragsy. the Cairn terrier.
solemnly seated on the profuse lug
gage that was slowed in the bottom;
Kirk. you ministerins angel.
Merry chartered as they at last
started. however we would have got
US and our luggage and our new
toys into anything less than a circus
train. / don't know. 1t was sheer
burst of genius that made you oor-
row this car on your honorable
daddy"
John said nothing. He had been
most averse to accepting this cour-
tesy from young Squires.
Save for the ugly bruise on her
cheek and a pallor that was un-
natural Merriam really seemed none
the worse for her narrow escape
from death.
John was definitely older and even
more sober than he had been when
they had started upstate. He talked
very little on the trip back, which
none except Merriam noticed. For
love with Don Ferry and he with
her and the twins were falling into
and over everything else in that car.
And the insouciant host was trying
to make up to the charming Mistress
Merry for having almost drowned
her. All of them, save John, had q
frankly vacation air.
Merriam found herself stealing
slances at her very good looking
John. This was a new kind OF 81
lence. quite unlike his former teal-
Gus sufking.
ing with little thrill that was half re-
gret. half pride, 80 much more i'm
portant."
He felt more important. Some
thing curious was happening to slow
thinking-but clear thinking-John
to think his way through to some
thing that his Merriam. with her
quick feminine intuition and her
wider experience with men OF vast
affairs, had understood long before
he did-that one couldn't get very
far in this world by being con
tented wi little
Unconsciously John Lindsay had
been blundering about with a small
town chip on his shoulder. He had
small-town pugnacity. a small. i.
town scrupulous honesty, but coupled
Win II was an diiIiost ooS .ih
manger feeling that men OF wealth
and position were SO either by the grace
Of the goddess luck or because OF
lack Of business scruples: He hao
never expressed this feeling to his
wealthy employer. Thorne Blaisdell,
who was a very dear and loyal friend
Of Merriam: but he had bitterly re-
sented the fact that that gentleman
had tossed him a little Job as one
tosses a bone to small dog. He
didn't at all know that Merriam had
begged for that bone. or that BIAS.
dell was watching closely to see what
he would do with it.
So all the way down to New York
John sat beside young Squires. rather
resentinK the fact that he had been
forced to accept the courtesy of the
trip from that young gentleman.
For John was of a race that were
better givers than takers. but who
were, unfortunately, rarely in posi-
ton to give.
traordinary had happened to John
in those frantic moments when he
CHASTITY lake trying to find Merriam
That was the knowledge that. try as
he might. he could not get her out
without help from others-that he
had literally had to borrow strength
and courage and skill from young
Souires and Phil Sheldon. and even
from Or. Leonard, whom he had
always cordially hated. He felt very
much in debt to them for her.
His mind began to race along in
dangerous analogies. He had drag
sppointed life of leisure into 4 grub
.or< oP exfateOca. sOmefhinR