Evening star., 1922-05-07
THANK you and congratula-
tions." said Partlow. the man,
(. aging editor. "You did the

TONS" said Partlow. the man
aging editor. 1"You did the
job well and We all appre-
c,ate II. incidentally, the business Of
ace II not ungratsful." He pushed .
cneck across the desk.
rarieton blinked. The check was
for q thousand dollars.
Pardon me, Tarlston.. but you don't
look fit" continued Partiow, frown-,
s ing.
aGuess I am a little under par"
Tarleton assented. IF you won't think
me an awful ass, I'll make confess
sion. With q Thousand bucks in hand,
If could pack up my typewriter
and go into the woods. ! believe
could pound out something"
what sort OF . tale 10 teasing
your
well, it's going to be . solid Ameri-
can thing-no jaSsy stun. Eve had
some hard knocks myself and I'm not
going to spare my characters.
Sounds cheerful" laughed Part
low. But you may be little shy on
heart interest. So far as know.
women haven't figured much in your
scheme of life"
"rve been too busy" Tsrleton ad-
mitted, ruefully. 80 can't pose as
the original man who understood
women"
Partlow rummaged in his drawer
and flung out photograph.
How does.that strike you?
"Not bad" Tarleton replied. care
lessly; and then, giving the picture
closer attention. Yes. there's some
thing pretty fine there. Now go ahead
and tell me she's the newest d.
vorcee."
Don't be cynical. The face grows
on you; or it has on me; sort o sym
bolizes the thing you'd like to De-
Tarleton turned the photograph ana
read on the back:
Miss Millicent Shields, daughter.
George B. Shields. embezzler. See ME
index under G. B. s.
ttp EMEMBER that case" asked
N Partlow. 1T was first page stun
two or three years ago. Shields was
state treasurer and q man OF consider
able influence all through the corn pe't
states. He waited until the coners
were full. then dumped quarter OF
9 . million into q trunk and skipped.
gracefully eluding all the checks and
counter checks that presumably safe-
guarded the public funds. The theft
was not discovered for 2 coup}e OF
weeks. He was a widower. but mao
this one child-she was about nine
teen then-and he took her with
him. That's the story
ut comes back to me now. II the
story develops in the usual manner q
brief cable will presently announce
shields death from too much rum IN
Paraguay. Or possibly he will add
himself to the list Of those who shoot
themselves quite decently after blow
ing In their last franc At Monte
Carlo"
IT see your imagination isn't equal
to disposing o. the girl" laushed
partlcw. 'aTen thousand reward oner-
Cd for shields arrest by the bonding
company still stands and the state
added something more"
Partlow put out his hand.
~1 suppose you haven't chosen your
destination" >
"Yes; I'VE got an ideal spot in mind.
Four years ago spent month with
4 Chicago artist in northern Michi-
sap. His pictures made hit and ne
moved to New York. He told me the
other day his studio was stfll standing
at Arrow Head and think I'll 30 out
and inhabit 1t. It's twenty-five miles
from the nearest post effice, 50 / can
be as lonesome as please
'Good-bye and good luck! And
bA,4'-lie turned to his desk-"take Miss
shields picture with yeu! You'll hnd
that roSuisf, smile spirit-Iifter."
Afhank you for everything, replied
rsrIeton, thrustins the photograph
into his pocket ''P1sase dent tell any
body; Il I don't bring back real
book wen let the dead past bury its
dead"
rarleton arrived at Pepperton in
mid-Ausust and spent q few days
btsyine supplies and arranging Tor
their transportation to Arrow Head.
Nobody bsen over there since your
artist friend quit comine. Yoa'n nnd
Il lust as quiet as you left It." saie
tho storekeeper.
Ta,Ieton rented 4 rowboat that
wnuld Garry q sail ana q canoe ana
had them transferred WITH his SUP
,,ses to Arrow Head on. decfepit
tramp" ..s
A rough log dock had Seen built
n Arrow Head. While his freight
wss being landed Tarleton ran
through the woods to the cabin. 1t
was not only intact. but the place
seemed to have grown in charm
since his visit. He ripped the board
ing from the wide studio window
and viewed the single big room with
satisfaction. There was lean-to
Kitchen at the rear and ne found
enmeh wood and kindIing to start
him housekeeping.
He ste supper as the light died iii
the west and the Stars stole into
their places His burdens slipped
from him and he experienced a
sense Of luxury even in his unusual
Bodily fatigue as. his pipe afisht,
No yielded himself to reverie. j.
The days were long. but he settled
into q routine that hastened their
digit He wrote and rewrote IN q
.