White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-12-19
PA II A ID F.

starter was almost sure of that. Per-
haps the next chauffeur in line knew
something.
Brian found himself in taxi NOV
ing carefully over icy streets. These
fellows seemed to guess a lot. He I'M
derstood from their silence that they
knew more than he dared think. He
told the driver to follow the other cab
in the suspected direction, and know
ing that the moment of Overtaking 1t
meant everything to her and himself.
he found himself thinking less of that
and merely wondering if she wore a
warm cloak and If the icy sleet that
beat against the window pane could
find it's way to her soft cheek.
The cab careened, shivered and
stood still, helpless in its chains. The
chauffeur spoke doubtfully through
his tube.
"Shall go on. sir?"
go on
Where? The night was maze Of
gray streets, gray people, lamps
fiaring against icy wells of rain. Where
would he find her in that phantasma-
goria? But he knew that he must and
would, with the certainty that love
and wanting gives. Presently she
would be in his arms and that impos-
sible parting would be no more.
Strange thoughts rioted through his
mind, opening and shutting doors of
little cells where dwelt all the infinite
life of his past and the indefnable
nebulae of the future that was to have
been and the future that would be.
He had followed will O. the wisps.
Yesterday he had been boy worship
ing ideals clothed Enthusiastically in such
bodies as that of Converse But to-
day he was something else-not man
as he knew men, but a sort Of power
which, because he loved a woman
enough, could sweep q path for her
through the waste places where she
was lost.
All that he had wanted existed no
longer, except wherein it concerned
her. 1t was like the play Of children.
forgotten before greater shame. He
saw himself in her eyes. incomplete
She could put him aside because she
believed him too weak to defend her
or because she would not accept
defense that had been blind to her
need, but now that he knew, her con-
troll was over. Her decisions became
the plaintive cries of woman left
alone in the wilderness.
He was brought from this by the
swift flight of the car as it whirled
half around and came grooming to
stop beside the curb. 1t was impos-
sible to distinguished anything but
lights and moving mass beyond the
blurred windows, but he heard the re-
proachful voice of his driver calling
to him:
"You see that, sir? A bad accident.
1t amt night for dawg to be out in.
They've got the street roped off. TD
have to go around the block, sir"
Brian's hand moved to the door han.
die before his mind registered his in.
tention. His instincts were all awake,
carrying him upon fierce tide. He
sprang out of the car, telling the man
to wait.
The street was tumble of broken
things. A thin line of onIookers, shiv-
ering in the rain but kept warm by
their activity, pressed against one all
other forcing their way, inch by inch
upon the forbidden ground. Police
in cleaning rubber coats ordered them
back, threatening with clubs what
words. failed to effect. The front tires
of. an automobile udicrously elevated
were the pivot of this street war and
Brian, pushing his way through the
line, saw grotesque wreck of ma
chinery that seemed to be sitting down
ut last after thousands of weary miles
(TO BE CONTINUED.)