The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-03-29
Alabaster
Lamps
THE STORY
By Margaret Tuznbun
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
oepySigAA 1875. ~ Nargasse 1OsaS0ll
WNU Service

THE STORY
CHAPTER With q strange
Ned Carter, Claude Mclnottc Dabbs
returns from New York to his gen.
eral grocery at Peace Valley, Pa.
To "Aunt Llddy," his housekecper,
he explains that Carter is a chance
veteran Of the World
war, whom he had met and taken
liking to.
CHAPTER II.--Cartcr tells Aunt
Lyddy he has broken with his
family and his sweetheart because
Of his resentment Of their ultra
pacific tendencies. With Dahbs Ned
visits Clopcr Hollow. abiding place
of Il collection Of good. naturcd
cranks!' according to the grocer.
They almost run over dog be-
longing to "a girl whom Carter up.
parently recognizes. Ned delivers
grocery order and in his absence
the girl. Dorothy Sclden, reveals
that she knows him to be Ned
Carter Rangelcy, son Of Loren
Rangclcy, New York banker.
CHAPTER III. - Next day Ned
commences work as "grOccr's
boy. At a residence. the "Whitc
House," he delivers an order marked
Johnston" There he meets a girl
who tells him she and her mother
having left them because Of the
"loneiincss.' lie promises to try to
procure household help. Arrange
mcnt is made for u cook to go to the
Johnstons'.
CHAPTER lV-Thc 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 astonishcd 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 arc seen by
Dorothy Selden.
CHAPTER Where is som cthing
about Mary vaguely familiar to
Dabbs. and he is highly interested in
village gossip concerning the mother
and daughter. Mrs. Johnston ac-
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.
CHAPTER VI.--Claudc reveals to
Ned a romance Of his early life. He
had married, while at college, and
under peculiar circumstances, and
l,fk l. In. Stnss ka
ceremony. He is convinced Mrs.
Johnston" is his wife. Polly and
naturally wants to know, who is
Mary?
CHAPTER VlI.--Mrs. J % m 0 II
tells Mary they are practically pen
nilcss, through II trustees dcfalca-
tions. She plans an appeal to Loren
Rangclcy, her banker. and Mary en-
deavors to dissuadc her. While with
Ned. Mary falls into a pool. Ned
gets her out, unhurt, but the Incident
reveals to him the real nature Of
his feelings toward the girl.
CHAPTER VlI1.---ln an attempt to
clear up the situation, Dabbs sends
Mrs. Johnston $500, which he had
from her when they were married.
She keeps the money. satisfying
Dabbs she is his wife, but, who is
Mary? Mrs. Johnston and her daugh-
ter go to New York, on Dabbs'
money. Dabbs tells Ned he knows
he is Rangcley's son. and the two
men arrange to follow the women.
Polly" informs Loren Rangelcy she
and Mary are going to Europe at
once.
"All the same" Ned continued
reluctantly. II will tell you some
thing I've noticed about Mrs.
Johnston. She has little black
mole on the lobe Of her car. Rath-
or fetching, like the dark stone Of
an earring. And behind the same
ear she has single lock Of pure
white hair"
"A bit like a thumb mark and
just behind the carr
"Yes."
Claude rose, excitedly. then sat
down suddenly. "Polly-or I'm a
Dutchman! Do you suppose she's
got her suspicious about me, and
came here to verify emp demand
ed Claude.
Never heard her mention your
NAME" Ned declared. Certainly
never asked me any questions"
"All the same. I don't like the
way things look" Claude said dog
gedly. "1here's something behind
1t. I'm going to be on the safe
side"
Ned looked at him curiously, and
a little uncomfortably. What safe
side could there be for a man in C..
Ms position, II his utterly absurd
deduction that lovely Mrs. Johnston
was his ''Polly" had any founda-
tlon In fact?
"Tm going to send her back the
money! declared Dabbs. "Going
to send her back her cursed five
hundred and feel that my souls
my own. I scraped and saved that
money the first year l was clear
OF debt. and I've held 1t all this
time lust for-just for this
chance"
He opened q small drawer IN his
desk, and reached for 4 roll Of bills
with a rubber band about them,
wrote few words on a sheet of
paper, sealed It with the money In
an envelope, directed it, then went
to the store door.
4 Although the store was closed
and shattered, there was q light IN
It's dim recesses. Young John
Slater, an assistant, was there.
4 John" called Claude, take this
letter up to the White house. You
can take the car. don't care how
late you come back, II there's No
answer"
! Young John grunted assent and
disappeared with the note, whistlinl
1t the thought Of having the car
to himself ~ late as he wished.
! On Mary's bed lay two empty
tewel cases. Mary sat propped up