Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-03-12
THE
THORNY ROAD
TOPARADISE
By MAUcHLINE MUIR
.a By shor, story Pub. Cob


n ton after departing train is
always an interesting spectacle
TO casual observers. Probably Rev.
Markham Brown was aware of this,
for, when he had swung himself and
his suitcase to the rear platform OF
the last car, he looked back at the
dwindling depot 10 frown down an!
signs OF untlmely leylty, mopped hi
heated face with kerchIef. and dis
appeared with dignity into the car.
Markham Allerdyce Brown, rector,
battered himself that he practiced as
well as preached the gospel of dignity,
leisure and mental adjustment, and
therefore 1t was peculiarly annoying
to him to be perturbed over so slight
a thing as catching a train Besides,
he had not wished his temporary leave
taking to be so conspicuous, as he
meant to keep the matter of his we'd
ding as quiet as he had kept his en-
gagement
However, he soon dismissed the mat
ter from his mind and fell to reading
al bn AaNC Va
Authority in the Evolution of Religion"
and, as he read, his irritation dlsap-
pesred in a warm glow Of enjoyment.
Such an article, so strong, SO convinc-
ing, so eloquent, must be an anchor to
many a poor soul being swept into the
rapids of free thought by the assaults
Of an irreverent age upon authority.
Indeed, he had written the article with
that end in view.
Twenty-four hours later the train
drew into the apparently endless
suburbs of Chicago, and the porters
whisk broom and sunny smile became
very much In evidence. Markham
Brown methodically put away the mag
aEine he was reading, donned his over
coat, and gathered together his be-
longings.
1t occurred to him that he had better
consult Helen Mosbys letter to learn
her address. She was a teacher In
a suburb, and, since she was an Or
phan, she was to be married at the
home of an uncle in Chicago, where
she was visiting during the vacation.
An examination OF his breast pocket
failed to discover the letter in which
she had mentioned her new address.
ut is ridiculous. l certainly have
that letter with me. l could never
have left 1t at home. must make an
other thorough search"
He did, the beads of perspiration
standing on his forehead. but when the
train drew up at the Rock Island depot
It found him still searching among
shirts, cuffs and socks for the letter be
knew he must have left at home. He
hastily flung his things together, worked
his suitcase shut with q mighty effort
and started for the door.
The porter had been lowering over
him solicltOusly. Have yo' forgot
somethin', sah2' he asked, with the
proper note of anxiety.
ut is nothing, my good man." an
swered the rector Of st. Luke's with
a stupendous calm as he hurried out
But the porter's crestfallen face
seemed to suggest that 1t was fifty
cents.
Markham Brown deposited his suit
case on a seat in the waiting room and
thought desperately. Why had he not
taken the trouble to remember the ad-
dress instead of trusting to the letter.
1t seemed to him that the address was
seven hundred and something of some
street or other, and he was sure that
her uncle was a lawyer-or was 1t a
real estate man7-whose name began
with II or s. But this seemed hardly
definite enough to go on. All, he
would consult the directory He did
so, but as there were several closely
printed pages devoted to residents
whose names began with either r or s,
he soon realized the futility Of his
effort.
He must try other means. He hus-
ried to the nearest telegraph Office and
sent message to the people in the
suburb with whom Miss Mosby had
boarded. Then he went to a hotel,
leaving word that he would call for the
answer in an hour. He refreshed him
self with bath and strolled back to
the telegraph station in pleasant
frame of mind. He was assured he
would find waiting him there the ad-
dress he needed.
young woman who chewed gum
greeted him in the friendliest way.
Nothing doing, sir. Those parties
are out Of town"
Markham Browns face was a pic
ture Of CONSERVATION He drummed
with his fingers aimlessly on the coun.
ter Suddenly his face frightened
He seized another blank and dashed
of a message, this time to the post
master at Hollywood:
Please wire, my expense, what
address mail of Miss Helen Mosby
is now being forwarded
Markham Allerdyce Brown
81 do not really need TO he at all
excited" the rector assured himself as
he returned to his hotel. 81 have eight
hours yet, and of course the postal au.
thorlties will be able to tell me exactly
where she is staying. Some men would
not have known what to do under the
circumstances. II only shows that O
man should remain calm and digni
fed"
He continued to remain calm and
dignifed by walking into the hotel
room Of maiden lady of mature age
Of whom he had vision of hairpins
switches and dishabllle, as he hur
'ledly retreated before her astonishet