The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-11-19

N the veranda of the Gloss
1V1 Country club and slipped his
soda. He was thinking hard
so hard that pretty Mrs. Lydia EN-
mons, at his side, tapped him playfully
upon the arm.
"What is the matter that you are
20 silent, MortyT she asked.
II was thinking" returned Mortimer
Strange, gulping down his drink.
He had been thinking extremely
hard. He had been thinking over his
past. At the age Of thirty-fve, four
years ago, he had suddenly found HIM
self transformed, through a mixture
Of luck and ability, from hard-work-
ing clerk in the war office to manager
of the Ginever powder factory, at
salary of fifteen thousand. The pow
der factory was In intimate touch with
the government at Washington and
was the only maker of the famous new
thermolite powder.
AS clerk, Mortimer Strange had
lived contentedly with his wife, who
was couple Of years older than him
self, in their pretty cottage outside
Washington. Doris had worked hard
for him; at thirty-seven her beauty
was a little faded. But they had cared
sincerely for each other.
Then had come the removal to
Gloss, and Strange found himself In
an entirely new atmosphere. For the
first time in his life he realized that
evening clothes were an indispensable
item in mans wardrobe. Then there
was the social life, and the country
club-and, in short, he had come into
the world Of which he had often spec
ulated but which he had never thought
to enter.
Doris had tried to keep up with the
new life. But the motherly little
woman had hated the glare and gilt
ter; she pinned secretly for the kitchen
;. and the Preside. At last she had
given up the. attempt to live Morti-
mer's life. Gradually they had drlfted
apart. The wistful look on his wife's
face was the hardest thing that Nor
timer had to bear.
And the friends that had grown up
around him as If by magic were Of the
fast set. There was Mrs. Lydia EN-
mons, for instance. Nobody knew
where Mr.. Emmons was, but she had
money and spent it royalty. Nobody
thought it strange that she and Nor
timer were always together.
i The man had lost his head in his
surroundings; they were too big for
him. He was little statue on a
mighty pedestal, the important man.
lIagership of the powder factory. None
of his business acquaintance entered
into the social whirl. A staid lot, he
left them at the factory door at four
o'clock. His life thereafter was his
own.
whats the use of thinking? in
Quired Lydia, pouting.
s'No use" cried Mortimer hilarious
~, starting up. "Come in! They're
going to dance"
In the dance his enigma seemed to
resolve Itself He knew that he had
outgrown the old life. It had become
impossible. He had won high post,
but he had given hostages to fortune
In the shape of his little, neglected
wife. The dance with Lydia Emmons
seemed to cap his decision. He drew
her outside.
''I've been thinking things over,
Liddy," he began.
$50 have I, Morty," answered Lydia
Emmons, looking curiously into his
flushed face.
'This can't go on. I want you to
come to Europe with me and let us
start in new. With my knowledge of
the manufacture Of thermolite / can
command any price. The Reich COM
pany, who are the agents for another
government, would pay me million
dollars for the process. They have
been trying to work me for a long
time. And it isn't government Sc
cret altogether, remember. 1t Is the
factory's property, and improved it.
Why should we slave here when we
can have palace abroad?"
"Morty, you've been sleeping" an
swered Lydia lightly, trying not to
let him see how his words agitated
her.
Il love you, Lydia. Why don't you
believe me?"
Because you haven't proved it."