The Omaha morning bee., 1922-11-12

Murdoch"
i've got some Scottish friends
who arc Murdochs. The name IL
rather common, though"
'IIcr fathers isn't. Hes A. A.
A Murdoch"
"a. a. A." repeated Archie
Sounds awfully like wireless
signal"
II turned out that Archie liked
Rola after ALL
I'm usually expected 10 be bril-.
liant" he conGded TO her IN relief.
after few minutes. 1T happens
that ] can never think Of an cpl.
gram except when I'm alone. and
I'm n rotten recontcur and all that,
you know. Not like Bennett here"
IIc eyed her questloningly. She
and Bennett laughed
"Rola In on to me-" Bennett In.
formed him.
You and Gregory resemble each
other In appearance, anyway" Rola
observed.
I'VE look alike, and that's all"
replied Archie. ITS wonderful
gift he has. lie spoofed me at first
when ! met. They'd sent me home
for three months. and he hadn't got
TO France yet. so we had goodish
bit OF time together. ] remember
how he used TO nit. cool AZ bottle
In bucket Of Ice. and improvise n
shilling shocker that convinced.
everybody"
But his romancing doesn't do
him any good" countered the prac.
tlcaI Rola. Ills stories serve no
purpose. They don't mean any.
thing"
ITS gift" insisted Archie, "and
every gift serves purpose. I'd
like TO be there when Bennett tells
a story that comes In the jolly old
nick Of time to save somebody's
life and 80 forth. Eh?"
The twcnty-ninth.
"rhe battle will be over at mid.
night" Bennett told himself exui-
family at 10 In the morning, az he
looked at his watch for the 18th
time that day.
His schedule for the remaining
IA hours seemed to assure safety.
All day at the office. Lunch alone.
A tight curb on his Imagination
when he dined with Archie. Taking
Rola TO Archie's lecture. Taking her
home. Midnight. Victory!
II only the time wouldn't pass
80 fearfully slow!
lie wondered what Archie was
doing. At breakfast Archie had
confided that II was time he began
gathering material for novel Of
American life. 1t ought to go well,
his publishers had told him.
Archie was intelligent. He knew
well his limitations. He knew that
he had not yet seen all OF American
life, In his dotted line from lecture
hall TO lecture hall. All In all, Archie
considered that two weeks wouldn't
be two much for him to devote to
a first hand, unchaperoned study of
American commercial and Industrial
life, Of the conflict between town
and country, Of the domestic prob
lens Of the natives Of all classes. OF
the war between capital and labor.
Of the bombings and the husband
murders, and OF the operations OF
the great melting pot.
tive weeks wouldn't be too
much" Archie declared positively.
Not every hour Of two weeks. OF
course" Archie modified. But
certainly my unoccupied hours for
two weeks. I'll start today.
That evening, as Bennett strode
into the Drake lobby, brisk, apple
checked man hurried up TO him.
Have you seen Fellows?' asked
Mr.. Harris anxiously.
mot since breakfast. Anything
the matter?"
Il can't find him." Mr.. Harris
whispered. Hes never wandered
around before without my knowing
where he went; he hasn't even
seemed to think there's anything
worth seeing"
Don't worry. He changed his
mind. that's all: told me this morn.
ing he was going on an observa-
iion trip to study American life"
"But he was to meet me here at
T." Mr.. Harris insisted. And here
it's $50"
Well. the lecture isn't till $50"
Yes. hut he was TO meet me at
A."
Bennett shrugged and passed on.
AT Archie was still missing; and
Bennett dined alone. To his sur
prise his appetite was poor. Some
thing OF the appie-cheeked mans
anxiety had infected him.
Dinner over. he found Harris
awaiting him. The mans voice
shook and his rosy checks were