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About The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 1913)
&teWf$TZm orMADY♦ * ^^Gra^ce Liviiv^sfoivHill Lutz “author /"harcia scHUYLER/’TPHorer dcahe” * “DAWMOr THT HORNING" ETC. * ‘ ! ILLUSTRATIONS €ir TtW/ U)A(TiK$ ^COTYP/Cfij; j?/2. erJB. upp/ncorr ccwrurr CHAPTER I. He paused on the platform and glanced at his watch. The train on which he had just arrived was late. It hurried away from the station, and was swallowed up in the blackness of the tunnel, as if it knew its own short comings and wished to make up for them. It was five minutes of six, and as the young man looked back at the long flight of steps that led to the bridge across the tracks, a delicate penciling of electric Hght flashed into outline against the city’s deepening dusk, emphasizing the lateness of the hour. He had a dinner engagement at Beven, and it was yet some distance to his home, where a rapid toilet must be made if he were to arrive on time. The stairway was long, and there were many people thronging it. A Shorter cut led down along the tracks under the bridge, and up the grassy embankment. Under the center of the bridge a blight noise behind him, as of soft, I hurrying footsteps, caught his atten tion, and a woman’s voice broke upon his startled senses. ‘‘Please don’t stop, nor look around,” It said, and the owner caught up with him now in the shadow. • “But will you kindly let me walk beside you for a moment, till you can show me how to get out of this dreadful place? I am very much frightened, and I’m afraid I shall be followed. Will you tell me where I can go to hide?” After an instant's astonished pause, he obeyed her and kept on, making room for her to walk beside him, while he took the place next to the tracks. He was aware, too, of the low rumble of a train, coming from the mouth of the tunnel. His companion had gasped for breath, but began again in a tone of apology: “I saw you were a gentleman, and | didn’t know what to do. I thought you would help me to get somewhere Quickly.” Just then the fiery eye of the oncom ing train burst from the tunnel ahead. Instinctively, the young man caught his companion’s arm and drew her forward to the embankment beyond the bridge, holding her, startled and trembling, as the screaming train tore past them. The man's first thought was to get out of the cut before another train should come. He grasped his compan ion’s arm and started up the steep embankment, realizing as he did so that the wrist he held was slender, and that the sleeve which covered it was of the finest cloth. As they emerged from the dark, the man saw that his companion was a young and beautiful woman, and that she wore a light cloth gown with neither hat nor gloves. At the top of the embankment they paused, and the girl, with her hand at her throat, looked backward with a shudder. She seemed like a young bird that could scarcely tell which way to fly. Without an instant’s hesitation, the young man raised his hand and hailed a four-wheeler across the street. “Come this way, quick!” he urged, helping her in. He gave the driver his home address and stepped in after her. Then, turning, he faced his com panion, and was suddenly keenly aware of the strange situation in which he had placed himself. “Can you tell mo what is the mat ter,” he asked, “and where you would like to go?” The girl had scarcely recovered breath from the~!ong climb and the fright, and sho answered him in broken phrases. “No, I cannot tell you what is the matter”—she paused and looked at him, with a sudden comprehension of what ho might be thinking about her —“but—there is nothing—that is—1 have done nothing wrong.—” She paused again and looked up with eyes whose clear depths, he felt, could hide no guile. “Of course,” ho murmured with de cision, and then wondered why he felt eo sure about it. “Thank you,” she said. Then, with frightened perplexity: “I don’t know where to go. I never was In this city before. If you will kindly tell me how to get somewhere—I suppose to a rail road station—and yet—no, I have no money—and”—then with a sudden lit tle movement of dismay—‘and I have no hat! Oh!” The young man felt a strong desire to shield this girl so unexpectedly thrown on his mercy. Yet vague fears hovered about the margin of his judg ment. Perhaps she wae a thief or an adventuress. S The girl was speaking again: “But 1 must not trouble you any more. You have been,, very kind to get me out of that dreadful place. If you will just stop the carriage and let me out, I am sure I can take care of myself." could not think of letting you get out here alone. If you are In dan ger, I will help you.” The warmth of his own words startled him. He Knew he ought to be more cautious with a stranger, but impetuously he threw caution to the winds. “If you would just tell me a little bit about It so that I should know what I ought to do for you—” ‘‘Oh, I must not tell you! I couldn’t!” •aid the girl, her hand fluttering up to .her heart as if to hold its wild beating from stifling her. “I am sorry to have involved you for a moment in this. Please let me out here. I am not frightened, now that I got away from that terrible tunnel. I was afraid I might have to go In there alone, for I didn’t see any way to get up the back, and I couldn’t go back.” “I am glad I happened to be there,” the rannur manfarventb*. "l* would have been dangerous for you to eDter that tunnel. It runs an entire block. You would probably have been killed.” The girl shut her eyes and pressed her fingers to them. In the light of the street lamps, he saw that she was very white, and also that there were jewels flashing from the rings on her fingers. It was apparent that she was a lady of wealth and refinement. What could have brought her to this pass ? The carriage came to a sudden stop, and, looking out, he saw they had reached his home. A new alarm seized him as the girl moved as if to get out. His dignified mother and hie fastidious sister were probably not in, but if by any chance they should not have left the house, what would they think if they saw a strange, hat less young woman descend from the carriage with him? Moreover, what would the butler think? “Excuse me,” he said, “but really, there are reasons why I shouldn’t like you to get out of the carriage just here. Suppose you sit still until I come out. I have a dinner engage ment and must make a few changes in my dress, but it will take me only a few minutes. You are in no danger, and I will take you to some place of safety. I will try to think what to do while I am gone. On no account get out of the carriage. It would make the driver suspicions, you know. If you are really followed, he will let no one disturb you in the carriage, of course. Don’t distress yourself. I’ll hurry. Can you give me the address of any friend to whom I might ’phone or telegraph?” She shook her head and there was a glitter of tears in her eyes as she replied: “No, I know of no one in the city ■who could help me.” “I will help you, then,” he said with sudden resolve, and in a tone that would be a comfort to any woman in distress. As the young man let himself into his home with his latch-key, he heard the butler’s well trained voice answer ing the telephone. “Yes, ma'am; this is Mrs. Dunham’s residence. . . No, ma’am, she is not at home. . . . No, ma’am. Miss Dun ham is out also. . . . Mr. Dunham? Just wait a moment, please. I think Mr. Dunham has just come in. Who shall I say wishes to speak to him? ... Mrs. Parker Bowman? . . . Yes, ma’am; just wait a minute, please I’ll call Mr. Dunham.” The young man frowned. Another interruption! And Miss Bowman! It I Looked Backward With a Shudder. was at her house that he was to dine. He took the receiver, resolved to get out of going to the dinner if it were possible. "Good evening, Mrs. Bowman.” “Oh, is that you. Mr. Dunham? How relieved lam! I am in a bit of difficulty about my dinner, and called up to see if your sister couldn’t help out. Miss Mayo has failed me. Her sister has had an accident, and she cannot leave her. She has just ’phoned me. and I don’t know what to do. Isn’t Cornelia at home? Couldn’t you persuade her to come and help out?” “Well, now, that’s too bad, Mrs. Bow man,” began the young man, thinking he saw a way out of both their diffi culties. “I’m sorry Cornelia isn’t here. I’m sure she would do anything in her power to help you. But she and mother were to dine in Chestnut Hill tonight, and they must have left the house half an hour ago. I’m afraid she's out of the question. Suppose you leave me out? You won’t have any trouble then except to take two plates off the table”—he laughed pleasantly “and you would have even eouples. You see,” he hastened to add. as he heard Mrs. Parker Bowman’s preliminary dissent—“you see, Mrs, Bowman. I’m in somewhat of a predic ament myself. My train was late, and as I left the station I happened to meet a young woman—a—a friend.” (He reflected rapidly on the old pro verb, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” In that sense she was a friend.) “She is temporarily separated from her friends, and is a stranger In the city. In fact, I'm thev only ac quaintance or friend she has, and I feel rather under obligation to see her to her hotel and look up trains for her. She leaves the city tonight.” “Nov/, look here, Tryon Dunham, you’re not going to leave me in the lurch for any young woman. I don’t care how old an acquaintance she is! You simply bring her along. She’ll make up my number and relieve me wonderfully. _No, _don’t_ jrou * Woru. "Just tell Tier Giat~s"6e needn’t stand on ceremony. Your mother and I are too old friends for that. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine, and my house is open to her. She won’t mind. These girls who have traveled a great deal learn to step over the little formalities of calls and introductions. Tell her I’ll call on her afterwards. If she’ll only remain in town long enough, or I’ll come and take dinner with her when I happen to be in her city. I suppose she’s just returned from abroad—they all have—or else she’s just going—and II she hasn’t learned to accept things as she finds them, she probably will soon. Tell her what a plight I’m in, and that it will be a real blessing to me if she’ll come. Besides—I didn’t mean to tell you—I meant it for a surprise but I may as well tell you now— Judge Blackwell is to be here, with hie wife, and I especially want you to meet him. I’ve been trying to get you two together for a long time.” “Ah!” breathed the young man, with interest. “Judge Blackwell! I have wanted to meet him.” “Well, he has heard about you, too, and I think he wants to meet you. Did you know he was thinking of taking s partner into his office? He has al ways refused—but that’s another story and I haven’t time to talk. You ought to be on your way here now. Tell vour friend 1 will bless her forevei for helping me out, and I won’t take no for an answer. You said she’d just returned from abroad, didn’t you? Ol course she’s musical. You muet make her give us some music. She will, won’t she? I was depending on Mist Mayo for that this evening.” “Well, you might be able to per suaue her,” murmured the distracted young man at the ’phone, as he strug gled with one hand to untie his neck tie and unfasten his coliar, and men tally calculated how long it would take him to get into his dress suit. “Yes, of course. You’d better no* speak of it—it might make her de cline. And don’t let her stop to mak< any changes in hkr dress. Everybodj will undei^tand when I tell them she’s just arrived—didn’t you say?—fron the other side, and we caught her ot the wing. There’s some one comini now. Do, for pity’s sake, hurry, Tryon, for my cook is terribly cross when 1 hold up a dinner too long. Goodby Oh, by the way, what did you say was her name?” “Oh—ah!” He almost succeeded ii releasing his collar, and was about tc hang up the receiver, when this nev difficulty confronted him. “Oh, yes, of course; her name—1 had almost forgotten,” he' went or wildly, to make time, and searched about in his mind for a name—anj name—that might help him. The tele phone hook lay open at the R’s. H« pounced upon it and took the firs* name his eye caught “Yes—why—Remington, Miss Rem ington.” “Remington!” came in a delighted scream over the phone. “Not Carolyt Remington? That would be too good luck. "No," he murmured distractedly; “no, not Carolyn. Why, I—ah—} think—Mary—Mary Remington.” “Oh, I'm afraid I haven't met her but never mind. Do hurry up, Tryon It is five minutes of seven. Where did you say she lives?" but the re ceiver was huag up with a click, and the young man tore up the steps tc his room three at a bound. He*Was settling his coat into place when a queer little bulge attracted his attention to an inside pocket. Im patiently he pulled out a pair of long white gloves. They were his sister’s and he now remembered she had giv en them to him to carry the night before, on the way home from a re ception, she having removed them because it was raining. He looked at them with a sudden inspiration Of course! Why had he not thought of that? He hurried into his sister's room to make a selection of a few necessities for the emergency—only to have his assurance desert him at the very threshold. The room was immaculate, with no feminine finery lying about. Cornelia Dunham’s maid was well trained. The only article that seemed out of place was a band box on a chair near the door. It bore the name of a fashionable milliner, and across the lid was penciled in Cornelia’s large, angular hand, “To be returned to Madame Dollard’s.’’ He caught up the box and strode over to the closet. There was nc time to lose, and this box doubtless contained a hat of some kind. If it was to be returned, Cornelia would think it had been called for, and nr further inquiry would be made about tbe matter. He could 'all at Mad ame'B and settle the bill without his sister’s knowledge. He poked back into the closet and liscovered several wraps and evening cloaks of more or less elaborate style, but the thought came to him that perhaps one of these would be recognized as Cornelia’s. He closed the door hurriedly and went down to a large closet under the stairs, from which he presently emerged with his mother’s new black rain-coat. He patted his coat-pocket to be sure he had the gloves, seized his hat, and hurried back to the carriage, the hat box in one hand and his mother’s rain-coat dragging behind him. His only anxiety was to get out before the butler saw him. CHAPTER II. “I am afraid I have been a long time," he said apologetically, as he closed the door of the carriage, after giving Mrs. Parker BoWman’s ad dress to the driver. In the uncertain light of the distant arc-lamp, the girl looked small and appealing. He felt a strong desire to lift her burdens and carry them on his own broad shoulders. “I’ve brought some things that I thought might help,” he said. “Would you like to put on this coat? It may not be just what you would have se lected, hut it was the best I could find that would liot be recognized. The air is growing chilly.” He shook out the coat and threw it around her. “Oh, thank you,” she murmured gratefully, slipping her arms Into the sleeves. “And this box has soihe kind of a hat,,I hope,” lm, went or. “J nnrM t® have Tooked, but there really wasn’t time.” He unknotted the strings and produced a large picture hat with long black plumes. He was relieved to find it black. While he untied the strings, there had been a growing uneasiness lest the hat be one of those wild, queer combinatione of color that Cornelia frequently pur chased and called “artistic.” The girl received the hat with a grateful relief that was entirely sat isfactory to the young man. “And now,” said he, as he .pulled out the gloves and laid them gravely in her lap, “we’re invited out to din ner.” “Invited out to dinner!” gasped the girl. “Yes. It’s rather a providential thing to have happened, I think. The telephone was ringing as I opened the door, and Mrs. Parker Bowman, tc whose house 1 was invited, was ask ing for my sister to fill the place ol an absent guest. My sister is away, and I tried to beg off. I told her 1 had accidentally met—I hope you will pardon me—I called you a friend.” “Oh!” she said. “That was kind of you.” “I paid you were a stranger in town, and an I was your only ac quaintance, I felt that I should show you the courtesy of taking you to a hotel, and assisting to get you off on the night train; and I asked her tc excuse ms, as that would give her an even number. But it seems she had invited some one especially to meet me, and was greatly distressed not to have her full quota of guests, so she sent you a most cordial invitation to come to her at once, promising to take dinner with you some time il you would help her out now. Some how, she gathered from my talk that you were traveling, had just returned from abroad, and were temporarily separated from your friends. She is also sure that yon are musical, and means to ask you to help her out in that way this evening. 1 told her I was not sure whether you could be Looked at Them With Sudden Inspira tion. persuaded or not, and she mercifully refrained from asking whether you sang or played. I tell you all this sc that you will be prepared for any thing. Of course I didn't tell her all these things. I merely kept stil) when she inferred them. Your name by the way, is Miss Remington—Mary Remington. She was greatly elated for a moment when she thought you might be Carolyn Remington—who ever she may to/ I suppose she will speak of it. The name was tfic first one that my eye lit upon in the tele phone-book. If you object to bearing it for the evening, it is easy to set how a name could be misunderstood over the ’phone. But perhaps you would better give me a fey/ pointers for I’ve never tried acting a part, and can’t be sure how well I shall do it.’ The girl had been silent from as tonishmeut while the man talked. “B it I cannot possibly go there d iinner," she gasped, her hand going to her throat again, S3 if to pluck iway the delicate lace about it and give more room for breathing. “1 must get away somewhere at once. I cannot trouble you in this way. I bave already imposed upon your kind ness. With this hat and coat and gloves, I shall be able to manage juite well, and I thank you eo much! I will return them to you as soon as possible.” The cab began to go slowly, and Try-on Dunham noticed that another carriage, just ahead of theirs, was stopping before Mrs. Bowman's house. There wa,s no time for halting deci sion. “My friend.” he said earnestly, “I cannot leave you alone, and I do not see a better way than for you to go in here with me for a little while, till I am free to go with you. No one can follow you here, or suspect that you had gone out to dinner at a stranger’s house. Believe me, it is the very safest thing you could do. This is the house. Will you go in with me? If not, I must tell the driver to take us somewhere else.” “But what will she think of me,” she said in trepidation, “and how can I do such a thing a3 to steal into a woman's JtQuse to a dinner in this way! Besides, I am not dressed for a formal occasion.” The carriage stopped before the door now, and the driver was getting down from his seat. ' “Indeed, she will think nothing about it,” Dunham assured her, '“ex cept to be glad that she has the right number of guests. Her dinners are delightful affairs usually, and you have nothing to do but talk about im personal matters for a little while an? be entertaining! She was inbet Insistent that you take no thought about the matter of dress. She said it would be perfectly understood that you were traveling, and that the invi tation was unexpected. Tou caksay that your trunk has not come, or nas gone ahead. Will you come?” Then the driver opened the car riage door. In an Instant the girl assumed the self-contained manner she bad worn when she had first spoken to him. She stepped quietly from the car riage, and only answered in a low FARMERS, ATTENTION Save Money, Time and Trouble Arrange for Direct Tank Wagon Delivery of High Grade Perfection Oil 10c Per Gallon in Barrel Lots Bought through your local merchants but delivered direct by tank wagon along our routes, or special routes will be made where 6 or more barrels can be filled in one community Get Your Neighbors Interested and have your oil delivered to your farm. It will cost you no more and save you the trouble of Reliance Barrels, with faucet, for storage, $5. Telephone Your Local Merchant, or ^Standard Oil Co, Loup City wish "it." — Dunham paused fcr moment to give the driver a direct . • ibout car rying the great -.astelx ur 3 box tc his club. This idea had come as a sudden inspiration. He had not thought of the neossity of jotting rid of that box before. “If it becomes necessary, where shall I say you are going thfe evening?" he asked in a low tone, as they turned to go up the steps, sho summoned a faint, flickering smile. “When people have been traveling abroad and are stopping over in the city, they often go to Washington, do they not?” sho asked, half shyly. The door swung open before they could cay another word, and the young man rerjen be red that he must introduce his new friend. As there was no further opportunity to ask her about her ns me, he must trust to luck. The girl obeyed the'motion of the servant and slipped up to the dress ing-room as if she were a frequent guest in the house, but it was in some trepidation that T jron Dunham re moved his overcoat, ant arranged his necktie. He had caught a passing glimpse of the :«seirbled company, and knew that Mr. Bowman was growing impatient .or hie dinner. His heart almost fai’ed him aow that the girl was out of sight. What if she should not prove to be uccuetomed to society, after all. end should show it? Hew embarrassing fnaf. would be! H4 had seen her only in a half-light as yet. How had ho dared? But it was too late now, for he whs coming from the dfessing-rocan, and Mrs. Bowman was approaching them with outstretched bands, and a wel come in her face. “My dear Miss Remington, it is so good of you to help me out3 I can see by the first glance that it is going to be a privilege tc know you. I can’t thank you enough .'or waiving formal ities.” “It was very lovely of you to ask me,” said the girl, with perfect com posure, “a stranger—” “Don’t speak of it, dear. Mr. Dun ham’s friends are not strangers. I as sure you. Tryon. didn’t you tedl her how long v.e have known each other? I shall feci quite hurt if you huve never mentioned me to her. Nk«w, come, for my cook is in the hist stages of despair over the dinner. Miss RemiDgton, how do you native to look so fresh and .ovely after a long sea voyage? You must tell me your secret.” The young man look sd dowai at the girl and saw that her dress was in perfect taste for the occasaon, a, id also that she was v jry young and beautiful. He was watching her with a kind of prcrrletary pride as she moved forward to be introduced to the other guests when he eav her sweep one quick glance around the room, and for jus) an instant hesibite and draw back. Fier face grew white; then, with a supreme effort, she con trolled her feelings, and went through her part with perfect ease. When Judge BiackweR was intro duced to the girl, he loefced at her with what seemed to Dunham to be more than a passing ir teres*; but the keen eyes were almost immediately transferred to his owo face, and the young man had no further time to watch his protegee, as- dinner was immediately announced. Miss Remington was- seated next to Dunham at the table, with the Judge on her other side. The young man was pleased with the arrange ment, and sat furtively studying the Then, without any waning and ut terly against his will, this- young man of much experience and self-control blushed furiously, and-was glad enough when the door closed hdhind Mrs. Bowman. Miss Remington veaDced, into the drawing room with a steady step, but with a rapidly beating heart. Her real ordeal had now come. She cent about In her mind for subj-rcts of conversa tion which should forestall unsafe tonics, and Intuitively sough*:1 the pro This Is No Place for Me! These people have bought a Western Electric Fan Wherever there’s a Western Electric fan flies are con spicuous by their absence. In the dining room, kitchen, restaurant or store a Western Electric fan effectively rids you of these little pests. For the store—a ceiling fan outside the entrance is better than a screen door. It affords an unobstructed view of the interior and at the same time effectively keeps out the flies. An 8-inch desk fan on the table will give you a meal in comfort. •> This type costs only of a cent an hour to run. Every fan has a felt covered base. Can be used on the table, mantel, book case, without scratching. Come in to-day and let us show you the new fans we've just received. # For Sale by C.R.Sweetland ...Mil ■■mill I — I ■IIIMMIM I ! DAIRYMEN!! |--- 1 Be Independent | ---| If you are only a few miles out de liver your cream in person. If out too far to drive in, ship in from your nearest shippiug point, as rates are ^ very low, and cans and checks are g returned to you on the very next | train after cream is received. Don’t H pay somebody fifty to seventy-five cash to handle each can of cream for your—BE INDEPENDENT. 1 SHIP DIRECT. Write or enquire for tags and particulars. Ravenna CREAMERY Company fj