Evening star., 1935-09-01

hadn't ADDED anything about the sort
of weather they were having in New
Orleans.
As for Jack, / was not wholly sur
prised at not reaching him, for it was
after all highly improbable that he
would remain quietly on the ranch
with Marcia in danger. More likely he
was hot On the trail and if I knew
him at all, he wouldn't eat or sleep
until he was sure she was safe. And K
he ever caught up with the kidnappers,
hoped he'd have along those winning
dice Of his. Then Marcia would be sure
of getting back any ransom money.
Trying to cheer myself with this
family humorous angle. / went about
my days work, starting at our Offices
in the Penobsoot Building. and ending
with beauty talk before the Women's
City Club. And everywhere I went 1
heard people discussing Marcia's dis
appearance.
Next day I had full schedule, in
the brief intervals of which I snatched
at extras. but learned nothing more.
On the following morning l found
time to visit one of the great automo-
bile factories. No one can realize what
the machine age means until she has
had an inside glimpse into a big motor
plant. 1t is like Niagara Falls and the
Grand Canyon - there is no sense in
trying to describe the power and the
glory of a great organization which not
only produces an intricate machine
but which produces hundreds of such
machines for the purpose of trans
portation - which is the essence of
modern life. 1t made me fairly dizzy
to realize what this city really stood
for. what lay behind the stupendous
stream Of automobiles which poured
from it, week in, week out. Roads.
contacts, the knowing and reaching of
communities by each other - the
whole fabric Of family life had been, I
now reaiised, changed by automobiles.
They affected everything in the
scheme of living. They made American
life move! They brought us knowledge
and freedom and comfort. / had ex-
pected to be impressed. but l had not
dreamed of how overwhelming the
impression would be. I turned in my
little French roadster as part payment
on a swell looking medium-priced
locally made coupe.
As was tired and had to leave for
Cleveland next morning, had supper
sent to my room and, taking off my
dress. prepared to rearrange my lug
gage SO that I would not crowd g
scratch my precious new car. l had
long ago discovered that one or two
bags were more than enough for my
comfort, and so began a process of
elimination. would. l decided. throw
out half the clothing I owned, select
a few of my incest things and repack
them in such a way that I could lay
my hands on them instantly without
flimbling.
So very soon1my room looked like
badly run old clothes shop, with bed
and chairs heaped high as bag after
bag was emptied and its contents
elected. At last only one remained
intact - the one which had been
stolen. I dragged it from under the
bed, thumped it down on top of a pile
of discarded garments, and tried to
open it. 1t was locked, and with an
exclamation of impatience found my
keys. Then with another muttered
imprecation l discovered that this
particular key was missing. What, I
wondered frowning. had I done wis.i
it? Then I remembered slowly that
had not, after all, opened this bag
during the entire trip; that Marcia
had closed it and had not, so far as
could recall, given me the key.
"Drat the case anyhow!'I I said aloud.
81 don't need it. I'll bust it openr'
Five minutes later I had an open
bag. 1 flung out the clothes and
f1,ov, 6olt ;r, the x,r~~lrn<e <o ,,roLr, ,,,vo