The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-03-26
Alabaster
Lamps
~
By Margaret Turnbun
THE STORY

THE STORY
CHAPTER With n strange
whom he introduces as his nephew
Ned Carter, Claude Melnotte Dabbs
returns from New York to his gen.
eral grocery at Peace Valley, Pa
To aunt Llddy," his housekeeper
he explains that Carter is a chance
acquaintance, veteran Of the World
war, whom he had met and taken q
liking to.
CHAPTER II.-Carter tells Aunt
Lyddy he has broken with his
family and his sweetheart because
Of his resentment of their ultra
pacific tendencies. With Dabbs Ned
visits Cloper HollSw,' abiding place
Of a collection Of good-natured
cranksi according to the grocer.
They almost run over a dog be-
longing to q girl whom Carter ap-
parently recognizes. Ned delivers
a grocery order and in his absence
the girl, Dorothy Selden, reveals
that she knows him to he Ned
Carter Rangeley, son Of Loren
Rangeley, New York banker.
CHAPTER III. = Next day Ned
commences work. rs "grocer's
boy. At a residence, the "White
House." he delivers an order marked
Johnston" There he meets gifl
who tells him she and her mother
are alone in the house, the servants
having left them because of the
loneliness He promises to try to
procure household help. Arrange
ment is made for cook to 60 to the
Johnstons'.
CHAPTER IV-The cook being un-
able to begin work at once, Ned Wis
it's the White House to inform Miss
Johnston of the fact. Explaining
the situation to her. mother, the
girl. "Mary," Is astonished by that
lady's emotion at the mention of
Dabbs' name. The cook arrives, and
Mary. with Ned, goes to the village
for groceries. They are seen by
Dorothy Selden.
CHAPTER Where is something
about Mary vaguely familiar to
Dabbs, and he is highly interested in
village gossip concerning the mother
and daughter. Mrs. Johnston nc.
companies Mary to an inn for lunch.
con. Dabbs sees Mrs. Johnston" Is
his wife, Polly" and is disturbed
He informs Ned he has something on
his mind that he would like to tell
him. 49,
CHAPTER VI.-Claude reveals ia
Ned romance of his early life. He
had married, while at college, and
under peculiar circumstances, and
his wife left him the day after the
ceremony. He is convinced "Mrs
Johnston" is his wife. polly" and
naturally wants to know, who is
Mary?
In his Office. c. NJ. Dabbs, once
more embarked on his difficult task
Of composition. wrote. tore up and
rewrOte all Afternoon. When he
finally ceased writing he had com
pleted u short note. which he
thrust into his pocket. carefully de-
strOying the others. He still could
not decide whether or not to send
II.
Dorothy Selden, having waited
In vain for some sign Of just anger.
or at least indignation. from Ned.
had again the privilege Of seeing
him ride by happy and cOntented,
with Mary Johnston seated serene
~ beside him. It was not to be
borne. Dorothy threw herself sud-
denly, but gracefully, into the chair
ut the writing desk, and seixing a
telegraph blank and pen, wrote rap
Idly. When she had finished, the
message read:
Med here under assumed name.
What shall ! do?
dorothy Selden."
It was directed to Loren Lorimer
Ranseley 9! 49,.
The village saw Ned and Mary
ride by and snickered: "nabbs'
nevvy was chasing round after n
settlementer." The smoker was
meant to call attention to Ned's
folly and presumption. but 1t was
also z jlbe at Mary "She must be
hard up for q man." was the COM
ment. =.
uS DdlE WuUGEs VU0CU = 0lIOuIs VII
gagged in the most absorbing game
in the world. hastened toward
Great Cold spring, one Of the
beauty spots of the countryside.
Although the road was as new
to Ned as to Mary, he dlscoursed
learnedly on Its history. it's Indian
name, which he was compelled To
admit he had forgotten and
couldn't pronounce anyway. Mary
listened. interested and amused.
especially rs Ned informed her that
he had just "boned up on the subj
ject this morning. Uncle Claude
supplied me with the local color"
he told her honestly. ut isn't at
all in my line, but l thought Mrs.
Johnston might expect something
from her hired man, ~
"Mr. Carter" asked Mary bud
denly. was your mother Mr..
Ned started. "Oh, no. Claude
Dabbs Is really no relation to. me
Mt all. I'm fond Of him, and
call him Uncle, that's ALL"
'Oh. forgot y0u told me you
were adopted" and Mary lapsed
again into. silence. She saw only
one thing very clearly, and that
was Ned's profile. She liked 1t.
The Great Cold spring. Ned told
her. was just . quarter OF a mile
away. AZ. he spoke they came In
sight Of placid little lake, fed by
the spring. .
Some distance up the road, be.
yond the lake, was q great old
farmhouse which appeared desert
ed. AZ they. neared the spring.
Mary. exclaimed with pleasure. 81.
nultaneously the rear tire blew
out.
Ned's exclamation was not one
Of pleasure. He stopped the ma
chine, ct the side Of the road and
made ready with. Jack and wrench.
Mary went toward the spring. The
DOOl was deeD. but did not look N