The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1927-03-17
The Abandoned
Studio
Rv DOROTHY DOUGLAS


4 N sanity vulgarly called "nosey.'
aIwsys wondered what the peo-
o az tables round about her were
pc nc and what shoppers had in
en- NJ numerous bundles. She even
las smIsed at sight of trunks and
uitcases just what their contents
sTt's q perfectly harmless amuse-
NV she always said. "And / get
ssaps of fun out of it,
n avon should be detective tn-
.sad of an EDITOR some of her
tieuds told her.
o. IN order to be nearer her edi-
10, chair Nora took small
artment in an old house down
! pwn. a..
"a floor with a large dressing room
0 ua,scting them and Nora had
.arcely decided on them when she
-, 70 wondering If there was any
.sIng in the cupboards that lined
40 wall above the ample ward
hos 4. They were so high that she
s~,red she would have to climb on
table top If she were to make use
= them. Soon after she had set
Mad in her new quarters she
s,imbed up on her small kitchen
table to pull open the old mahog-
any door.
ruch here. The former tenant
,ook everything along fine place
- mt away winter curtains and
soots and hats. What ho! / be-
seyp I've discovered something"
Che strained on tiptoe and dis
lodged a panel of wood that had
made the cupboard a few inches
more shallow than its mates. Nora
vas retting excited. She dislodged
the panel and exclaimed with sur
prise.
The little compartment so care
fully concealed was filed with pa
ners and a diary. Nora sat down
On the edge of the table, her feet
swinging animatedly, her eyes
swiftly scanning the pages of the
diary.
swell, of all things" she ex-
uloded, "this Is some poor strug-
ding writer's farewell to career
and oh!-how broken-hearted he
k" She re-read portions, with
the sealing up of this panel I am
hiding away all that makes life
vonderful-my soul and all the
best Of me is here-the rest is go
Ing into a world of business and a
hunt for the filthy lucre that en-
sbles one to live and-marry. /
am doing it for AMY regret she
could not give me a longer trial at
writing. know / should have won
out. However, there seems to be
penalties attached to loving So
sood-by-fair dreams" A tear
plashed down on the diary and
Nora dabbed her nose with her
handkerchief. She jumped up
swiftly and hauled down a lot of
he manuscripts packed in the cup
board.
For long time Nora read the
stories. When she had finished
about dozen and made inquiry
. to the previous tenants In her
Irom she got little information.
Sufficient anyway to make her fling
herself into her coat and hat and
IKE the subway up to Seventy
second street.
It was about seven In the eve
ming as she made her way to
most respectable boarding house
and asked If Mr.. Tom Weber still
lived there.
Us he in at present?" asked
Nora and being told to have a seat
% the reception room she waited.
She glanced up when a sort of
miserable looking young man came
questionably toward her. She told
him straight off that she wished to
nlk with him about some stories
and diary that she had found In
her studio.
The light that swept suddenly
over Webber's face brought swift
lump to Morals throat. He was
transformed from his misery into
iadiant life and interest. He sat
oown close beside Nora.
Mr.. Weber," said Nora severe
" you are very wicked and very
weak young man."
Weber had not expected any
ming like this and he looked his
surprise.
"Worse!" continued Nora. "You
nave deliberately tried to strangle
brain child-to cast If off for the
axe of some woman. You should
Ise thoroughly ashamed Of yousself
10 have knuckled down to a paltry
noney-making position when you
nave wonderful gift"
weber gasped, then laughed the
,ist hearty laugh he had felt since
savlng his old studio. There must
e lots to tell me-" he said swiftly
.ad eagerly, won't you come out
J" some quiet place with me for
snner! I'm so fed up with this
Intentional : boarding house with
@ three square meals day / feel
viii bust-if I don't get out"
Nora laughed in complete SYM
patny and wondered how a fine
.ldniy man like Tom Webber had
s y let himself be stepped on by
selue female. Love-" she thought.
= funny thing"
a good idea," Nora said. $50 get
,Our hat. I can hardly wait to tell
'Ou now good your stories are"
weber snatched both her hands