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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (May 14, 1916)
8 "hardly blue. Sunshine watm't yellow. 'And I laid it all to you ! So I said to myself, Tt won't stand for this. What can I do to heart on things up a bit?' I looked about, and there was Joe Damer at my elbow, with his softy ways I always did despfse, pretending I was a world's wonder. No body but a man that didn't know enough to kiss his wife would"" ever think Joe Damer could tempt a decent soul to mls betiaving! Tivit just you remember I felt lonely, Tom lonely down to the very heart of me, and tired of the way you sat around and never said a word. 'Sarah Dilley,' said I to myself, "maybe what yon want is a little spice to life, a little ro mance, if you can get it. Who knows but tt would freshen the world again?" "If you'd seemed to know whether I was alive or dead, Tom Dilley! But you didn't, and I got so desperate I was ready to try anything Some women would make eyes at the old Satan himself in that state at ivind and not mean a thing by it. wot; THE SUNDAY FICTION MAGAZINE, MAY 14, 1916. either. Didn't I know batter? Of course, have. If I'd gone wrong In my heart as 1. 1 knew better t But when you're dull and had In my head; but I hadn't. Nat for one lonely and a woman " 'I might try one kiss,' said I to my self. 'One ought to be enough to see if there's anything in it. What's one kiss, Sarah Dilley? Nobody ever went to jail single little minute! "And you never asked why I did it! You blundered along, you and Dan Max see. ' Your old courts and your old laws and your low-down suspicions! Had I for that! Sample the forbidden fruit that ever been anything but straight and square much. If you wunt to. Anything to come with you, Tom Dilley? Had I ever cheat- alive,' said I. 'Maybe 'twill wake Tom Dilley up!' "I'm not recommending that line of talk but why wasn't It your fault? I talked to myself like that .for a week be- ed? Hadn't I done "my part and carried my end? What business had you to go crazy in your head and think I was dif ferent from what I'd always been? If you didn't understand wfiat you saw, why fore I could get to the point where I didn't couldn't you have said so? I'd have told want to box Joe Darner's ears when he you then what I'm telling you now. Rut come into my kitchen. And I never did you never asked, Tom Dilley! You anything harder in my life than just to sneaked off to Maxsee, and, between you, stand still that one time and let him plant you tried to take away my home and my that kiss. 'Lubberly thing! I could have life and my folks! Did you think I would killed him! stand for that?" "Just that one time, Tom Dilley and She faced him, defiant, resplendent, you had to come in and see! It didn't The sun had come out at the close of a serve me right! No, It didn't! It would long, dull day, and its level rays through I OF A (Continued from Page !t, Senator's chest. His answer had a hint of amusement in its tone:. "The name doesn't matter. Undoubt edly the intrusion is strictly illegal un less you consider the force of arms a jus- mysterious intruder rankled in his, soul. His eyes went from the alert figure seated at the safe door to the grim old man above the mantel. In the steady gaze of the por trait he seemed to note a look of disap proval, as if the silent witness of events "tiflcation." The shadowy eyes studied the were disappointed at his son's easy capit pistol reflectively, then met the Senator's ulation. quizzically. "It's rather an interesting point for discussion, but unfortunately I can't afford the time." The Senator reflected Indignantly. It struck him forcibly that all the superior arguments were on the side of the stran- And then, breaking into the soft, rhyth mic click of the whirling knob, came the slam of a closing door and the light tap, tap of heels across the hall. With a bound the burglar was on his feet, the pistol in his hand nervously ger. His eyes stole to a push-button near swinging back and forth in front of the the door, unluckily several feet out of his portieres that closed the" entrance. These reach. His lips opened. "Help!" With a bound the intruder was upon him, and a rude hand muffled the half-uttered cry In the Senator's throat. The pistol-muzzle was jammed rudely against his ribs. "Here, this won't do!" spoke the vis- parted, and the figure of a young girl, slender and straight in her simple evening gown, stood on the threshold. III. S THE masked man recognized the character of the new arrival, the pis tol dropped at his side, and he warily A! ltor. a hint of sternness creeping into his drew back a step. The girl stood amazed voice. "Stand up!" in the entrance to the room, her wide The Senator studied the situation. The eyea staring at the menacing figure pistol covered him very effectually, and before her. Then she caught sight of the the hand that held it did not waver. He huddled body of the Senator, sprawled in could see a steely glint in the eyes under the big chair, and sprang toward him with the broad hat. He stood up. a little cry. "Now turn your back. tHands behind. Before she could reach him the Intrud please. Quick, Senator! I'm prepared to er wa3 between them, a hand raised in go as far as you force me to!" warning, the pistol creeping upward from The Senator obeyed. A quick hand bis Mp He studied the girl as her bewil snatched away the cord that held his aered eyes slowly took in the situation, dressing-gown about the waist, and a mo- "Now," he demanded, "will you be ment later he was neatly pinioned, with a quiet, or must I fix you like him?" skill which, he reflected, could only have He noaded toward the helpless figure come from long practice. A cover torn of tne Senator. whose eyes, above the from a near-by table effectively gagged mufned foids of tne gag shot wrathful him against further outcry. sparks of fire at him. He laughed shortly, "Now you can sit down," his captor an aimogt noiseless, quite mirthless laugh. suggested, falling back into his former easy manner. A vagrant breath of air sent the top "Geod girl!" He nodded approvingly. "No fuss. That's sensible!" His eyes roved over her appraisingly sheet fluttering from the pile of papers on and flxed themselves on the magnificent the table. He recovered It and, replacing rope of pearls tnat glowed against the It. weighted it with his heavy automatic. coo, background of her neck- He thrust A sardonic twinkle lightened his eyes. He glanced across at his captive. - "Interesting contrast, that," the com mented. "Senator Weston's speech on disarmament with a pistol for a paper weight!" He chuckled audibly. "And your reaching for the gun the minute I wasn't looking!. You don't always follow your own preaching, I'm afraid. Senator. Well, I must get to work." He bent over the prisoner, exploring out a hand and caught the pendant, brushing the girl's neck in the eager ac rTon. She drew back, flushing from the contact. Instantly his hand clasped hex bare arm. "Particular, eh?" he sneered. As 'she 3hrank from him and sought to disengage herself from the grasp, he" pressed closer. Finding her efforts un availing, she stiffened coWly, and met his eyes disdainfully. Only her color and the quickened movement of her breast be trayed the height of her emotion. Dropping his pistol on the table, the In truder, still holding her firmly by the arm, loosened the clasp with his free hand, and catching up the gleaming stream of jew els dropped them carelessly into an out side pocket. "We'll call it square. Senator, and leave the safe for the. next man." His glance flrekered about the big room, finally resting on the pile of papers on the table. Then his eyes shot to the author of the manuscript, trussed like a fowl in his big chair. "I wonder," he mused, turning to the girl, "how your peace-loving father would fancy this!" Very slowly his free artjj circled the girl's waist. Heedless of her struggles, he drew her close to him. The masked lips bent toward her averted face. For what seemed an eternity she" stood awaiting this last indignity. Then her captor's grip relaxed, his bent form straightened. He shot another lightning glance at the helpless Senator. "But I could have done it. Senator remember that!" he said slowly. With a sudden push he sent the girl whirling against the wall. With the same impulse, snatching his pistol as he wftnt, he flashed across the room to the closely drawn curtains before a French window opening on the terrace. He paused a mo ment to wave a derisive farewell with the gleaming string of pearls, then disap peared behind the curtain. His .flying fo6tsteps sounded on the terrace for an instant; then silence. The girl bent over her father, fumbling with the knots that held him helpless. As she loosened the last one, and freed his Mystery of Stoneheng'e v STONEHENGK. on Salisbury Plain, which has lately been sold by auction, was at one time counted among the four wonders of England. As long ago as the twelfth century his bonds with skillful fingers; then, cer- Henry of Huntingdon classed it thus, and tain that his captive was secure, he even ln thepe da"8 of marvels it still ranks dropped a cushion on the floor in front o.fas one of tne greatest "show places" of the big safe. Placing an attentive ear England, and one of the unsolved riddles close to the lock, he began delicately to of th world. twirl the knob of the combination back Why and how it was erected has al and forth. ways been a matter of dispute and puzzle Senator Weston, unheeding the discom- among historians and archaeologists. No fort of his bound condition, sat staring at one knows when it came into being or the man In almost ludicrous amazement, what people built it. The ease with which he had been trapped t It has been attributed to the Phoeni- fn the midst of his own house by this cians, the Druids, the Saxons, and the Danes, by Various authorities while the object of it is equally uncertain. It has been "recognized" as a temple of the sun, a temple of serpent worship, a shrine of Buddha, a gallows, and a calendar In stone for the measurement of the solar year. The general belief nowadays is that it was a place of burial during the bronze age. How these huge masses of stone--the largest stands about twenty-three feet out of the ground were in primitive times placed m position or brought the many miles which are between Salisbury Plain and the nearest seashore has never been satisfactorily explained. The labor in volved must have been stupendous. the western windows fell full on Sarah's fine, copper-colored hair, her flushed cheeks, her redrbrown eyes. She was con vincing, compelling, glorious! . Tom Dilley started toward her head long, then checked himself. "fc -"Sarah, did you like that kiss of Joe Darner's?" i "Lord, no! Dust and ahes are tastier. But I'd said I'd try it; so I did." ! ' "Oh, you red-headed woman!" he cried with a joyous shout that- was half a groan, His heart was suddenly unutterably light. It seemed as If it must burst his ribs. Lifting his foot, he stepped solemn-h ly over the insolent chalk-line. He set a heavy shoe upon the "Place of Peoxe. He caught his wife by the shoulders and looked thirstily integer deep eyes. t "Sarah, the divorce ain't invented that could stand between you and me,' said Tom Dilley. "You're going to marry tne tomorrow, and give me another showH oj-yright by The Frank A. Muasey Co. J hands, he snatched the improvised fag from his mouth, and with surprising agll Ity leaped to the desk telephone. His daughter stood amazed, almost as much? bewildered by the new personality before, her as by the events Just past. Gone was the placid, easy-going diplo-f mat she knew. The Jaw was tense, the busby eyebrows drawn, and Into the' transmitter poured a torrent of cold wrath the Icy, deliberate speech of a cool fight-; er roused to action. Concisely Senator. Weston detailed to police headquarters. the events of the evening, and hurled a: parting volley of action-compelling epl thets after them. He hung the recetvetri up swiftly, and gathered his daughter into his arms. As the tension broke, and Dorothy sobbed herself into comfortable relaxa tion in the haven of his embrace, . he soothed her tenderly. His eyes met the steady look of his father's portrait. "No; you wouldn't understand, old dad! You were wiser than,; I, sir!" f A heavy hand fell on the manuscrlptl The Senator crushed the sheets Into s shapeless bundle, tore the crumpled mass, to shreds, and fed the fragments to thej smoldering fire. The dancing flames cast queer, flickering lights about the room The features of the portrait seemed t( soften for an instant in a smile. -' h An answering smile a grim, tight-'! lipped smile lit the Senator's facet From a drawer in the desk he drew an' old frontier revolver. With loving finger he caressed the rust -stained barrel anx spun the cylinder. He looked up again atT the portrait. "4 "But you'd understand this, old dad'f He held up the ancient pistol like a votlv-j offering. " 'Millions for defense!' Thaf was your motto. You were right. Com--, child, let's go to bed ' , - - ij IV. j T.t; days later, in a cheerful glow 01 morning sunshine, the Senator sat ai his desk, opening his mail. He clipped th ' string that bound a small parcel and re- j moved the cover of the box. Wondering; ' he lifted from its nest a string of pearl.' that gleamed In the sunlight. Pinned tt them was a newspaper clipping, which th Senator slowly straightened out and read with a curious expression on his face. ' "Amazing Scene in the Senate," th . headlines announced. "Senator Westoi urges an adequate defensive program au thor of disarmament bill electrifies his au dience with eloquent speech in favor or preparedness for war-Trillions for de fense' his plea." V .', "Dorothy," called the Senator, "Iv . something for you in the library." Musing, he toyed with the pearls! watching their changing colors flicker I tf the sunlight. He smiled up at the portrait'' "I think, old dad, we owe our mysterif ous visitor a vote of thanks!" he said. ICopy right by The Frank A. Munsey Co.l . fslr
