The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-29
The World Outside

III only ] hhd hhd sister llha
you. Jenny l wouldn't have
cared"
"weIl. I'll be your sister from
now on. Better toddle along before
Nancy has Mysteries"
An she saw the top OF his head
vanish below the floor level, she
leaned against the WAL aud let tho
flood OF tears fall-silcntiy. oh,
Jerry. Jerry! Suddenly she saw
herself. 10 years hence. wr.akled
and fat, and both jobs gone.
Bancroft jumped into the taxi and
slammed the door behind him. No
need Of asking the chauffeur any
questions Ms TO this or that or
whereabouts: the end of his Journey
would be ut Stewards door. wherever
that might be- As he settled back
against the cushion he sought the
feel OF the letter. lie had not left
X behind. Then he remembered the
copy OF the AFFIDAVIT stuck behind
the bow IN his hat band He would
not require this now; 80 ne toro
II up.
The mind has an odd way. of disbe.
having mt times. His thoughts now
should have been exclusively Of
Nancy---aDd were divided between
Nancy and Jenny. He was very
fond OF Jenny; no wanted to help
her In some way. The notion had
been In his head for some days.
nebulously, where he could not at.
tach II to a settlement. Now the
notion came into the clear. He
would purchase half interest In
tho dressmaking shop where Jenny
posed. lie would lend this half in.
terest to Jenny. II. by some stroke
Of bad luck the establishment should
fail, the loan would not become a
liability. but would automatically
cease to exist. On the other hand,
Jenny should pay him annually an
much as she could. until the loan
was wiped out.
lie chuckled. Despite the fact that,
by placing himself unreservedly in
the hands Of a mailman. he might
be rolling toward permanent In
jury or death, no could find come
thing to chuckle over. Jenny was
right. II he went on playing the
Good Samaritan to everybody he
took n fancy to his solvency would
be OF short duration. No matter. II
this nights business turned out
well, Jenny would have her chance
The taxi stopper 70 violently that
Bancroft was shaken to his knees,
The chauffeur opened the door.
First door to the right as You
go up, sir" said the chauffeur po.
litely enough.
Bancroft got out and brushed his
knees. The locality was utterly un.
familiar. As for that, there was a
good deal Of New York unfamiliar
to him.
Am I expected to pay your
mo sir. The gentleman who sent
me for you paid me In advance lie
said Mr.. Bancroft. room 4. He
said You expected him to send for
you"
"1'hat's tolerably correct"
None Of my business, but nobody
lives in this house. You can take
that for what it's worth"
The chauffeur jumped back into
his seat and whizzed away into the
deepening night.
Thoughtfully Bancroft proceeded
into the house and began slowly te
mount the trembling stairs. A dusty
smell suggested vacancy. The house
was tenantless; Stewart had Dor
rowed n room In II. Bancroft hat
decided upon one phase OF his con
duct: ne would offer no resistance
to any physical encounter. Thi,
passiyity would serve to lessen any
violent intention on Stewards part
All that was required OF the fate.
was light and straight look Int,
Stewards face.
The upper and lower hallway:
were lit by thin, wavering gas Jets
The air was chill. almost ns chill al
1t was outside. First door to tn,
right, the obliging chauffer had said
Bancroft could not rescribe his emo
tons as he laid hold OF the door
knob. He did not feel particular,
courageous: neither did he sens,
any large panic. He was vel
armed. but woud he be given tim.
to use the one formidable weapon
he posaessed--his fathers letter
Madmen-one could never antici
pate them: and Stewart waa mad
as any man Ia mad who has fostere,
an ohesslon for years 10 poin
where II becomes murderous tneli
nation. And yet Bancroft could onl!
reiterate In his thoughts: ''rh'
poor. unfortunate devil"
Wen. there must be no dosiaerlnE
lie turned the knob and opened thi
door. Utter darkness Within.