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About The Alliance herald. (Alliance, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1902-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1921)
BIX Ti'JE ALLIANCE HERALD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1921 TAXI An Adventure Romance By George Agnew Chamberlain is. Oot jrtkh Tk lkibM Marrtll Ooapur ! SYNOPSIS. PART I. Robert Hervey Randolph, young New York man-about-town, leaves the home of his sweetheart, Madge VanTellier, chagrined because of her refusal of his proposal of mar riage. Wit it iiiH toprnn jHiisiwd binif on hi tioad, the en)s of his imifTler flylnjr loose, his overran t half unlnittonoil, lie swunjr up the deserted lower reaches of tlie Avnne. punctuating Ms thoughts wltti the sollil nip f Ms Stick on the junement. It nilght he supposed that he was thinking and mourning over the sudden drnilse of the Miss Van Tell r he had thought tie had known for muny yours, but urh was not the rnse. Mr. Randolph was not built on mourning lines; at the moment under review, he was thinklnc about himself find the at range fate that had made Mm a foster-child of fortune. He pro reeded to lonk ba'k ten years. Just a decade ago be had bad his otie meet ing with the voting lady whose disap pearance bad brought him an unstaMe ffluenre. It had taken place on this very avenue and less than forty short Mock away. He bad reason to re member the encounter, for It bad brought Into sudden conjunction a lovely Persian cat, a lovely wire-haired terrier.' a lovely child, and himself. The cat had dashed from a proud front door to rrtwn Forty-Mimetblng street under the nose of a tasl-eab; the dog bad flown In yapping pursuit and. In the art, yanked his young mls tnss off her pins. 1 1 . Mr. Ilnndotph. had seized one of her flying feet.. Mulled her and the terrier back to mfety, and no sooner placed her ni right and smoothed down her nlisunlly short skirts than he. she. and especial ly It, the dog. heeame the center and rlrcunift.ence of an animated pln vhcel. Her unshaken determination to hold to the leash, whatever happened, brought disaster. The said leash wound three times round her ankles end those of Mr. Randolph, bringing them both down kerplunk and facing each other. "My. what a bump!" she kad cried, In startled tonea, and then thrown back her curly head and laughed. It was ao that he remembered her a child of ten or eleven summers and no winters, merry as a sunny day, dark-haired, dark-eyed, pink-cheeked, pampered but unspoiled. She had risen and taken his hand, told him her name, thanked hltn, ordered a flurried nurse to thank him, shaken her finger at the terrier, and said. "Good-by" and "Come on, Maggie," all while he was still rubbing the seat of Ms first long trousers. On that day she had been Miss Into fene Pamela Thornton, petted darling f the gods and Mr. Brewster Thorn ton, banker and widower; two months later had come Thornton's financial smash and. Immediately afterward, his spiritual, moral and bodily collapse. Everything that had made for life In Mm having been swept away, he died A matter of course, and was burled. Tot sole Inheritance, little Genie Thornton found herself possessor and possessed of one Maggie O'Rourke. nurse of long standing, of earnest and faithful face, and a monster heart Im prisoned In a pitifully thin chest It had taken Gente's great-uncle, Asa Thornton, six more months to for ret a quarrel of sixteen years' stand ing with his nephew, and by that time child and nurse had been aeeped Into that lower world which can't afford morning and afternoon editions and Is too busy praying for dally bread to look for a ruin of manna In the dally press. In short. Maggie and her charge, traced down the ladder of reputable, !sreputable and Impossible lodgings, lad slipped ultimately from sight and the ken of people with addresses, and, as a result, Mr. Robert Hervey Ran dolph, whose relationship to Mr. Asa Thornton Is of no Import whatever to this tale of cause Hiid effect, came Into ten thousand a year and a string the String being the possible reappearance f Miss Imogene Pamela. Tiob." had said old Asa, on the Terpe of a tardy demise, "I'm not In troducing you to a war between con science and self-Interest. There's no silly story-book test about my money; you are under no obligation to look for Imogen or to shout If you step on her by any twist of chance. My law yers have all the instructions neces sary aloag those lines; hey are to make every reasonable effort, and If they succeed, why, you're rcn enough to look out for yourself. It It tsu't going to make a devil of a Ur ef (Ter ence to me where the eah so long as I die wlta die wltk ft credit." With that last sentence, his mind ld stumbled snd wandered eft te memories of his nephew. Brewster, tooklng back from the vantage f twenty-six years, Randolph caor&L tor the first time, the full Import of siea Thornton's ftirewell words to J&s a"m Vi TiTt"! TP C,fii TTir 'Ti'ctin. They held the kernel of the old man's carefully measured amend. "Great obi top!" murmured Mr. Randolph a1o:id. end half unconscious ly turned to the left at Forty-second street. Five tnlnnfin later be wn caught In the maelstrom of the Thanksgiving crowd milling around Times square. Presently he found himself on the edge of t human sea. hanked up to give passage to a honking empty taxi cab. Here was another question for n suddenly Inquiring mind. Where did taxl-mbs. empty ones, go to In such a hurry? The door of this one was swinging open, and the proof of how Intent the crowd was on Its myriad Individual goals Is evidenced by the fact that a dor.en voices did not In form the driver that the season was off for fans on wheels. The cab was moving more slowly than Mr. Randolph's subconscious mind, which led him to step Into It and quletlv close the Inviting door. Upon seating himself, be tried to analyze the Impulse that bad lifted him from the curb. He derided that It was not so mnrh the curiosity as to the desti nation of empty cabs as a natural and ancient dislike for being pushed and elbowed by people. It was not long before the cab, un wittingly loaded for bear, drew tip with a final honk nt the stage-door of the Crocodile. Immediately came a rasping voice that was vaguely fa miliar to Mr. Randolph. "TVell," It said, "you sure took your own time getting here." The driver. exx'rt In aggravating repartee with out words, pressed the bulb of his atrocious born three times. "Cnt It out I" said the rasping voice. "There Isn't any hurry now." It was Incredible, reasoned Mr. Ran dolph with himself, that anyone should forget that voice once beard, and he was right. He remembered It. It wu the voice of Mr. Ibike Reamer, whom he had had the distinct pleasure of blackballing for one club In college and three in town. Mr. Reamer, to his honest mind, was the best living ex ample of animated slime In tailor made clothes. Mr. R. was not alone; Mr. Randolph could just see bis companion through the slant of the half-raised window glass, and even that distorted glimpse was very close t n vision. The girl was young, beautiful, and troubled. Her check were thin and pale, her parted lips nqulver; her chin was atreuible. Of course she was very cheaply but neatly clothed. "Make up your mind," shM the rasp ing voire. "Ride with me or walk the streets by yonrs -lf. and don't forget that there's no Job behind you. You've said good-by to Mint door for good." ' The girl's wan face went through that contortion which says, "I won't cry," and doesn't, thereby achieving a pity beyond the meed of tears. The quivering of her Hps, the trembling of her chin grew more pronounced only to steady down as she swept up strick en and Imploring eyes to the face of the unseen man. "Oh, Iuke." she begged, "promise promise you'll be always good to me." "Of course, little one," said the rasp ing voice, promptly and much relieved, promising lightly to pay on demand. In full for a soul delivered In advance. "You'll never regret it, believe me." The girl tore her doubting eyes from his face am! stepped toward the cub. Mr. Randolph made himself ex ceeding small In the corner nearest the curb. An unseen agent opened the door; the girl slipped In and turned to seat herself; her escort made to follow. Then did Mr. Randolph suddenly lean forward and proceed to push In the face of Mr. Reamer with his open hand and the full weight of his shoul der. That astonished scion of a once gentlemanly house reeled backward and sat down on the pavement ker plunk. "My, what a hump!" spoke a keen young voice over Mr. Randolph's "My, What a Bumpl" shoulder, but he was too occupied to take note of It at the time. He leaned far out so that the driver could ret the full effect of his modish top nt and spoke cryptic words. r Ten dollars' wortk tf the park,- Is irhat he said. The driver welcomed the sudden apparition with a friendly grin, honked defiantly three times, and threw la the clutch. They were off, and trailing after them came such a string of slphemous utterances as made Mr. Randolph wince. . The pri "Wira 1irtin&. No longer did her eyes search for a gleam they thought tbev hnd lost forever. It was there within them, come back to rol lick In her pupils and spill Itself In reckless spending. "Oh! Oh! What a bump!" she gasted. Tunny, wasn't II?" said Mr. Ran dolph weakly. "Awfully." said the girl. Thereupon fell a long silence. The cab cut across the traffic, reached the Avenue, and eventually the dark park before Mr. Randolph found anything further to say. "Funny, wasn't It?" be remarsed. The girl cast him a startled look. "Why," she gurgleM. "that's wha' you said before." "So I did." said Mr. Randolph frowning thoughtfully. "So I did. By the way. what's your name?" The girl caught her breath and swallowed her laughter. . "Vlvlenne Vlvlerre," she said, after a pause. "How awfull" commented Mr. Ran dolph. "One of those deliberate al literations that go with the back row of the chorus." "Front row," Vlvlenne defended promptly, but unsmiling. Her Hps twitched down at the corners. "At least. It was front row." "I know," said Mr. Randolph. "You've been fired. I heard what Reamer said to you. How long have you known that snake?" "Not very long," she answered. "lie got me on. and I suppose he got me off." She drew a long breath and turned appealing eyes to Randolph. "Please." she said, "don't let's talk about him. I want so to be happy for a few tiilmi.cs. I love the park at night with Its border of lights. Let's play a game." '"A game?'" said Randolph doubt fully. "Yes. We'll guess which Is Central Park West nnd which Is One Hundred and Tenth street nnd which Is the ave nue. It Is not as easy as you think after you've been going round a while. I'm feeling d-dlzsv a-already." "You are!" exclaimed Mr. Randolph. "Well, let me tell you It Isn't from buzzing round a two-mile circuit What did you have for dinner?" Miss Vlvlenne shut her Hps tight "Won't you pi -use play my game?" she asked faintly. Mr. Randolph frowned as though considering the subject very seriously, but the matter that held bis attention was not the proposed guesslng-niatch. That would not have been fair nor amusing, as the deadlights of his own very comfortable apartment , blinked at hltn every time they enme to Fifty ninth street. He was Justifying to himself d very qrcstlomible move. He wished to feed this stray damsel and, at the same time, talk to her with a purpose. He could not see himself doing It In a cabaret, and everv hotel supper room had already become one of those things. He came to a decision and spoke. "I'll take a hand In your game, all right, but not Just as you think. Do you would you trust me?" Immediately the girl was on her guard. She looked Into his face and read It "I would never have thought of not trusting you If you hadn't asked that old, old trap question," she said gravely. "Forget that I asked It." said Mr. Randolph promptly, and leaned out to give the Crlver his address. A thln llpped and weary scorn was still on that Individual's face when he drew up before Mr. Randolph's abode and honked three times derisively to the world In general as seen from the front of a taxi. "Walt," said Mr. Randolph to the Jehu, as he handed out the girl. She paused with one foot half-way to the curb, but that single word directing anything as expensive as a taxi to stand by reassured her. Randolph preceded her to show the way and turn 'on lights. He never looked back to see If she followed, and this Implied trust In herself seemed to drag her after him up the single flight or stairs that led to his rooms. "Old-fashioned but cozy," he said, as he applied a latch-key and opened a door that gave directly on a large square sitting room. "I hate elevators In a place you call home." In an open grate was a dying wood fire. He proceeded to poke and feed It at once, saying over his shoulder: "Sit down anywhere, will you?" Facing the fire was a deep and much worn leathern couch, with a pedestal at each end carrying shaded lamps. They were the only ones he had light ed and their glow was so subdued that It blended with that of the fire without fighting It. The girl chose to seat her self stltlly In a corner of this couch. Mr. Randolph looked nt her rigid pose with marked disapproval, but said nothing. Having rejuvenated the tire till It leaped merrily to an attack on the fresh backlog, he left the room nnd was absent for a considerable time. When be returned. It was to place a smull table before his guest, and then he fetched n tray well load ed with those things wb'ch grace lp perpetuity a healthy bachelor's larder. He drew up a chair for hjmself and, with an Inviting nod, started to eat a great deal and very rapidly. "Get In on the lunch while there's time." he admonished. "I warn you there's nothing more In the house." The girl gave him a grateful look and proceeded to Oil herself with the most sustaining food within reach. Ehe did not fan to cote that there was nothing to drink bat water. When tly could eat no more, Mr. Randolph removed the table, and then seated himself In the opposite corner of the eouc.h. ...... (Continued in Next Issue) Herald want ads will get a buyer. ri:al estatk transfers Filed for record for week ending January 15, li21: William IJreckner to Maria Breck ner, lot 9, block 7, Second addition to Alliance, $1,000. Daniel Marks to Caroline B. Marks, part southwest quarter of northeast quarter section 22 and northwest quar ter of 22-23-48, $1. S. A. Miller and wife to Katie Wick man, lot 7, block 2, Hitchcock, Hills and Snedeker's addition, $G75. Karl L. Shamb'en and wife to Mari nua Nielsen, half interest of east half of 4-2G-4D, $U,f,K0. Alvin J. Simonson and wife et al, to v. 5 Imperial Theater Monday, January 24 jl Special Vaudeville DeLuxe ij The Orchestral Entertainers i ItvPfj, Ai' , a tyJ m ft & vf n 2 e if H 5 Stri 11 h-J' i "''S?' i ttti't k I ul St h ? ft 1 ; ij 9 y S ? Ir? tl ? ' ' ' e ' i st hi , AiJM,. . fSIIilIr , b'-i A Company of Artists which has no equal in the entertainment line, In addition to our regular Photoplay EVA NOVAK in "THE TORRENT" At a Give-A way Admission Night: Children 22c; Adults, 50c and ,, War Tax. 5 Ott e R. S'mon.on, south 50 ft of lot 1, block V, Sheridan addition, $3,000. N. P. Dodge Jr. and wife to Mrs. Maude Merritt, lots 200 and 201, Bel mont addition, $,150. N. P. Do Ige Jr. and w;fe to K. F. Sh'elds and wife, lots 100 and 101, Belmont add., $KiO. Frank D. Gilleran Jr. ct al to Saruh A. Gilleran, southeast quarter section 24, one-th'rd interest of northeast quarter 24-25-4S. $5,000. Edward S. Wildy and wife to Ed ward C. Green, lot 31, countv addition, $2,300. Ida F. Sweeney and husband to Alba B. Phillips, lots 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, tract 40, Duncan's Second addition a J. LEAKE AND ORCHESTRAL ENTERTAINERS h The Man Who Borrows The man who borrows gets the habit. And it's a bad habit. The chronic borrower is shunned by his friends, and soon becomes his own worst enemy. The best way to keep from borrowing is to have a savings account at the bank. Then, if you need money, draw it and you are under obligations to no one. Most men and women make a fizzle of saving, because they put a great deal of thought into earning of moneys and none at all into the saving of it rv- First State Bank to D. N. S. R. Trancts and part of northwest quarter of southeast quar ter 25-25-4S, $2,700. j HIGH GRADE PIANO AT ' SAUUFICE TRICE For quick sale will give big cut in price. This is one of our best pianos 'eft on our hands in public storehouse ;n Alliance. Examine it Easy pay I ments to responsible party. Write to ! day for full information to The Den ' t'er Music company, Denver, Colorado, i F12-22 Stock hogs wanted by the Ne braska Land Co. 103-tf 5