The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-11-08
THIS HAS HAPPENED
NOW BEGIN THE STORY
CHAPTER XIVIII

~ know, Markham, our so-called
civilization is nothing more than the
persistent destruction of everything
that's beautiful and enduring, and
the designing Of cheap makeshifts,
You should read Oswald Spengler's
Untergang dies Abendlands-a most
penetratin' document. I wonder some
enterprisin' publisher hasn't en-
balmed it in our native argot.*
''The whole history of this degen'-
rate era we call modern civilization
can be seen in our woodwork. Look
at that fine old door, for instance,
with it's beveled panels and orna.
meLted collection, and it's Ionic
pilasters and carved Intel. And
then compare it with the flat, film.
sy, machine-made, shellacked boards
which are turned out by the thou.
sand today. Sic transit. :"
Vance studied the door for some
time; then turned abruptly back tt
Mrs. Platz, who was cycling him
curiously and with mounting ap.
prehension.
"What did Mr.. Benson do with
Vie UOA VI JEWELS Wucu uc WcIL OUT
to Ginner?" he asked
Nothing. SIR" she answered nerv-
ously. "He left them on the table
there"
"DiG you see them after he had
gone q"
Eyes; and I was going to put
them away. But ] decided I'd bet
foy MT %na,cb Thorn -
"And nobody came to the door,
or entered the house, after Mr.. Ben
SON left?"
"No, sir"
you're quite sure ?"
"I'm positive, sir"
Vance rose, and began to pace
the floor. Suddenly, just as he was
passing the woman, he stopped and
faced her.
"Was your maiden name Hoff-
man, Mrs. Platz?
The thing she had been dreading
had come. Her face paled. her eyes
opened wide, and her lower lip
dro. ped a little.
Vance stood looking at her. not
unk IDLY. Before she could regain
contro, of herself, he said:
II had the pleasure Of meeting
Your charmin' daughter recently"
my daughter. 2" the woman
managed to stammer.
"Miss Hoffman, y know-the at
tractive young lady with the blond
hair. Mr.. Benson's secretly"
The woman sat erect, and spoke
through, clamped teeth.
"She's not my daughter"
"Now, now, Mrs. Platz!" Vance
chided Ter, as if speaking to a
child. "Why this foolish attempt
at deception? You remember how
worried you were when l accused
you of having a personal interest
in the lady who was here to tea
with Mr.. Benson? You were afraid
l thought it was Miss Hoffman.
But why should you be anx-
ious about her, Mrs. Platz? I'm
sure .he's a very nice girl. And
you really can't blame her for pre-
ferring the name Of Hoffman to
that Of Platz.
"Platz means generally a place,
though it also means crash or an
explosion; and sometimes a Platz is
. bun r yeast-cake. But Hoff-
man is courtier-much nicer than
being . yeast-cake, what"
He smiled engagingly, and his
manner had quieting effect upon
her.
1T isn't that, sir" she said, look
ing t him appealingly. II made
her take the name. In this country
any girl who's smart can get to be
a ,~dv, if she's given chance.
And,
X understand perfectly Vance
interposed pleasantly. "M'ss Hoff-
man is clever, ard you feared that
tie fact Of your heing . housekeep-
er, If It became known, would stand
n the way Of he success. So you
eliminated yourself, Is it were, fos
her welfare. I think Is was very
generous Of you. 49,. Your daugh-
eyes. sir-in Morninsside Heights
But / zee her every week" HsI
'oice was barely audible.
a0f course -as oftsn - You can
['m sure. Did you take the
position O. Mr.. Benson's house
ret'ry?"
She looked up, a bitter expression
in her eyes.
"Ycs. sir-I did. She told me "a,
kind Of mar he was: and he Cftel