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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 1915)
PAGE SEVEN" DAILY EAST OTIEOONTATT. PENDLETON. OftFGON. WEDNESDAY. MATCCTT 3. MIS. EIOTIT PAGES 0rv(M, U1S, kr bU rklkafaa OSrssraUsa, FIRST EPISODE The Man With the Black Vandyke CHAPTER I. TUB quivering ccuter of all th Intense agi tation In Brynport was Bouncer. That energetic collie ceuld remember no occa sion so eicltiof 1 as this In tbe Moore household; but, aa every one seemed thoroughly satisfied. Bouncer helped Id tbe bapplnese until bia tall ached. Once, and once only. Bouncer bad been table to get paat old Aunt Debby. Tbls time be caugbt that coal black cook with ber bands full or enow white dough. She lost ber dignity and ber center ot grat ify and aat down on tbe door wltb a plump wblco Jarred tbe bouse aa Bouncer piuoged beneath ber Baring skirts, but abe aared tbe dough! Bouncer meanwhile was up tbe bark stairs, and a brown and white stresk bad Sashed Into tbe daintily err tonned room of bla friend, mistress and playfellow, ' pretty June Moore. Here all was billowy confo- - slon. June herself, standing by the long, low row of flmily curtained windows, was tbe nucleus ot sll the frothing white, tier girlish cheeks were duMbed and her cyea were wide and shining, and 4 fat dressmaker, wltb ber Hp iu ber mouth and a niste of diabolical wrinkles in ber brow, wus on her knees completely encircling June with pats and pulla and twitches. A browbeaten dressmaker's helper, wltb a flaming red spot in euch cbeek, and her yellow hair drsggiug to denote her repressed sgony. and wltb ber Umom stuck full of plus and needles snd things, wms standing rigidly to one side holding an orange bloomed veil. June's mother. In a very special dress and with her hair done In tbe most painful precision of which a Frenchman was capable, stood Just In front of June, wringing ber bsnds and helping wltb ber eyea In all the sacred ceremouica. Marie. Marls of th broom and duster, black hair ed and red gummed, waited near, with a wide grin and moist eyes, to bare things bung npon ber when there was no more spnee upon tbe little white bed .nor any of the chairs. Over ty the door, talking in cessantly, wis Iris Blethering, aa black haired aa Marie, aa tall aa tbe dreinaker's helper and more eiclted than all of them put together. She waa the bosom friend. Tor only a roomeot Bouncer was permitted to gsse npon this pusxllng scene. When he sprang too arar the central figure of It all. with the perfectly sstoral and commendable Intention of leaping npon ur to show bis nudylug slTetlou. there was a com bined shriek from sis women, sod Ave of them put aim out Well. It wss s strsnce work!, and by way of sot ting his mind st ease Bouncer ran sll times around the bouse and chased a cut up a tree nud exchanged loud lew with all the iielghlH.rbood children who bung opon the feme waiting to see the bride. There were pink brldcMimWM st every window, and nice, regular father. gardenlad and silk batted and Prince Alberted, walked up and down the porch, looking at hla wstch until eternity drugged by, but when the end of time whs tome the llniou sines begsn to move, and Bouncer, with a yelp ot welcome, sprang to bis regular seat by the side of tbe Orst driver. Jerry poind Bouncer's ear and shot the long pointed niuxxle in gasollned fist and gar him other rough tokens of friendliness; then , tbe door opened and there came out a fleecy vision In whom tbe neighborhood children found It difficult te recognlte June Moore, but fllmy robes and pale cheeks were no disguise to Bouncer. j "Bonneerr June Moore. In all her Important Un ary. Mooped swiftly down and took hla bead be tween ber white gloved bands and looked Into bla wistful eyea and touched her cheek, tor an Instant, j npon bla ellken ear and whispered to him, of all the world, her very last girlish secret Then-Aunt Debby. now divested of dough, dragged Bouncer j back and locked him In the shed, while June Moore rede away never to be June Moore agulnt What waa this new world whk-b abe waa ap- . preaching? No bride knows and no woman. June ' ailed contentedly. ' Ned-bow ' be bad Blled ber . world! And how happy tbey were to bet Why, they were at tbe chapel, the pretty little gray chapel loaded with Tinea.' And there was Ned , at window of the Sunday school room and looking so atrained and uncomfortable. ' And there were the Mbers In tbe doorway. She hardly knew bow she waa auddenly transformed Into a procession, Wby, bere wss Ned, close beside her, snd trenv bUngl In a mist tbey kneeled and said respouses. aud Ned put a ring on her fluger. Hla own Angers were cold and clammy, but hla voice was clear and earnest as be promised te love, cherish and protect ber aa be bestowed opon her all his worldly good. Borne one In the church was crying sortly-lrls Blethering, the bosom friend. Husband Bobble was -onifortably patting her band. There was a general tabbing of handkerchiefs. Bright eyed little old Grandasa Moore smiled and amlled through it all, a gay little grandma, with aa smart a gown aa any there Ned's father, a strong faced, handsome man, sat stolidly with hie anna folded and went over tbe ceremony with hla Hps, word for word. Bouncer trotted down the aisle, wagging hia taU, hla blue ribbon torn and the marka of tbe earth under the eked npon bla fluffy coat Then the organ peale again, and beneath the vine awung portals, which June Moore bad entered en tbe arm ef her father. June Warner, on the arm of her husband, now emerged Into the world. Then tbe bustle and confusion began again th mad ecramble Into traveling clothe, and the going war amid ahowera of rice, and the earnest god needing of frienda, and the aemlhysterla of Irta Bletterlng. with Bouncer barling his Indignant pro test eemewbere In the muffled distance, Jost before Jane came UownaUlra In her trta little traveling suit C Mo, ber mother bid slipped ometblof UU th hud of the daughter. It was tbe symbol of every woman' tragedy. It waa a purse stuffed wltb crackling bill. At laat tbey were alone, launched opon tbe sea of life! Tbey were In tbe tiny drawing room with a white toothed porter atowing thlnga Into racks and banging things on hooks and sticking flowers everywhere. Ned bad clasped ber In bla anna and bad covered ber blushing face with kisses in that first realiza tion, and bow ah eat by tbe window, her bead pil lowed contentedly npon bla shoulder, and outside tbe world tbey hsd known up to this point In their live was alipplng past them. A tiny cinder darted Into ber eye. Iler first instinct waa to grab ber handkerchief, and tbe search for that resulted In a little cry of dismay. ' "My purser she gasped. At that moment her mother, returning home to a bouse which bad suddenly grown lonely, picked up from tbe table In the library tbe little purse. "Too bad!" Ned'a voice waa full of aympatby. Anything In itr "My money." she replied In concern, with all at once a panic springing Into ber heart "Is that aiir be laughed. "Well, little wife" and be laughed again at ber swift blub "why am I here?" "I know." she fsltered, "bur She stopped, con fused, and cast down ber eyea at ber Interlacing finger, "I'm Just tbe same ss your purse, eicept thst yon can't lose me." be told ber, dwelling with fond eyes npon ber long lashes, ber smooth, round cheeks, her red Hps. tie reached Into bla pocket with bluff When be tried to shift ber, she slid Into his anna without a flicker of ber eyelids and lay there steep ing like a baby, ber long lasbea curving on ber cheeks, ber red Hps half parted. ne lifted June's feet Into the other end of th sest She gave herself one pretty shrug, which settled her Into tbe graceful line of perfect rest put a pink palm ander ber round cbeek and alept straight on. Ned covered her wltb a cloak, kissed ber cautiously on tbe outermost surface of her cbeek and strode out to tbe smoker. II wss back In five minutes to see bow she was resting. The pretty little bride bad not tbe rosy flush of sleep which be had expected to see. Her face bad the pallor of weariness and ber beautifully curved browa were knotted as If In distress, lie thought that tbe light In ber eyea disturbed ber and drew down one of tlye blinds. Tbst troubled knitting of June Warner beauti fully arched brows bad not been due to the light shining In her eyes, but to the lurid flame which had sprung up In her mind, and that flame danced Itself Into the flgurea of weird dreamt. She ssw Ned tipping the white toothed porter: then she saw Ned. with equally beany generosity, giving ber three bills. Tbe difference wss fjtf! Ah! The tantillzlng frsgranre of fresh cooklesl She was In ber mother's kitchen and old Aunt Deb by. black as midnight snd round ss a barrel, wss drawing a pan of the delicious cskes from the but oven.' Wondprful cookies, those! June was Just reach ing for one when, much to ber disappointment they were not there. Aunt Debby wss not there. Tbe was she, and not tbe wan Ilttl boy, who stood there plteoosly begglngl What wonderful Ken waa thiaT A. bleak, wild country with huge, strange bird flying ever it and no human habitation in eight There were human creatures, though, two of them a big, ponderous Jawed aavag with matted balr wbo carried aa enormous club over one shoulder. Behind him trudged a smaller figure, a woman, with matted balr banging to ber waist In ber nose wss a ring, and to this ring wss attached leather thong, th other end of which was la the man' band. H waa taking borne bis bride! Music, the wedding march, tbe tittle gray. Ivy bung chapel at Brynport Waa that Ned coming down tbe aisle? Was that June Juat behind him? Waa there a leather thong In Ned'a bsnd? Obi Waa the other end or that tbong There was a sudden Jolt snd screeching noise, a rattle and a bang aud the 'sound of hissing steam. June Warner Jumped wildly to ber feet and gated around tbe tittle compartment There were tbe flowers, the boxes of candy, the scattered rice. Com prehension came to her slowly, for abe wss still half In ber dream. The train bad atopped. She auatcbed up her cloak, Jumped np on the scst and brought down the paper bag whkb contained ber prim little traveling but; then she Jerked optn the door. In tbe opening she stopped Vltb a suddeo flash of memory. Ned's money, tbe flrst or nis gpnerous bounty, tbe first of ber pay for being Ned'a wife! She Jerked it from her belt threw the three bills on tbe seat rsn down tbe steps. Jumped to the ground snd sped across tbe tracks. r . Sw-; ' V- j-:- - f -r FYttJ''" - , 4 1 - -- , f vV V'-i 'Cv- '".fia..'i t ' ;v.-.. . ED. THE WEDDING OF JUNE AND N heartiness snd produced a roll ot bills Just aa tbe porter came in with two snowy pillows. "Good work. Ueorge!" approvea Ned. and, catch ing two bulging eyes fixed upon the roll of bills be held in his bsnds. Nod strtpM off a dollar. "Tbls la my letter of Introduction," be observed as be passed it over. ' ' Ned turned to June, smiling, as tbe porter went out of tbe door and took three bills from the roll. "I think you'll feel happier carrying this around." Be stuffed the bills into her clasped band. She tried to' Close her bands ugnlnst It with a sudden Instinct which she could not futhom. tried to draw away from the, money, but hla bngers were tbe stronger, and, laughing, be kissed her and straight ened np to put the balunce of the mouey In hit pocket She looked at the bills, while a alow ttusD of crimson came up over her face. Why should this barf embarrassed and humiliated ber? It seemed absurd, for this was a part ot marriage. Ned sat beside ber and put bis arms around ber, and she held up ber lips to be kissed. Suddenly she burled ber head on bis shoulder aud cried. Something had been swept sway from ber. some thing bsd been broken. Tbe man bad given and she bud received. CHAPTER II. THERE was a shtidow on the Palisades, tbe gruynesg of a cloud wblcb hud not been there as they hud started upon tbls Jour ney. Money the woman's money. It bad been all right for June to coax her mother and wheedle her father, but they were mummy and daddy. Yes, Ned would give her all be could afford, but that was It be would give It to berl 8he would be the recipient of his bounty, or, worse still, would be paid for being hla wife I Bhe aud denly arrived at the stsrtllng fact that this waa the tatua of every wife. It waa a moat disquieting thought destructive of self respect It was un bearable, Ned Warner felt the precious bead on his shoulder become besvy. Poor little girl. - Getting ready to be married was wearisome work. Well, little wifey's terrible tribulations, such ss separating from bom and friends and Bouncer and being made to give an account of heraelf, were all over. Ned braced himself against tbe arm or tbe aeat for fifteen min utes, while the tired head drooped lower and lower. I'oor Uttl glrL Her neck would be stiff from that trained position. II moved ever so gently, but tb gentleness wai an unnecessary precaution. familiar old kitchen waa not there. Wby, tbls wss tbe kitchen of tbe new aparuuenta. the nest which was waiting for Ned and herself after tbe honey moon! June was in a big white and blue dotted apron, struggling in the baffling art of making cook ies. Home one came In. Ned bis eyes sblulng aa the fragrant cakes were drawn from the ovcnl June turned them over on a white cloth. Ned burned bla flngere on one of the cookies and he burued bla tongue, but be was highly pleased with the taste and he gave June some money. He pat ted her on the shoulder. Agln she saw her mother paying Aunt Debby snd pnnlng that valuable cook approvingly on the shoulder. In her dream June saw Ned's otllce, a stiff, prim place, as stolid ss the elder Waruer. There was a nice looking stenographer, quite obviously great friends with s nice looking young secretary, and there was a nice looking otlloe boy. it was evi dently Suturday nlgbt, for Ned presently rose from his desk snd walked over to tbe nice looking steuographer. Ue handed ber the envelope ouu talnlug her pay and they exchanged a frank smile and a few pleasant words. I'retty good pay the stenographer received. She earned It Ned handed tbe nice looking secretary sn envelope. They ex changed a few pleasant words snd u frank smile. Ned handed the nice looking otttoe ly an envelope and laughingly squeezed the boy's chin and rumpled hla hnlr Tbe boy grinned delightedly and popped the envelope Into bis Inside pocket TDen Ned walked over to June and bunded her nn envelope, it wss larger thun the others, lie bowed to her very courteously as be presented it He spoke a few pleasant words, but did uot smile frankly, and she cHst down ber eyes. There seemed to be a dis tinct understanding that she bad not earned ber envelope! A poor, shivering old woman sat huddled In a doorway. Ned stopped, looked st tbe old woman a moment and then walked across to her and band ed ber a cola He was very magnltlceut about It in spite of bis compassion. Ue broadcued his chest wltb tbe exhilaration of the good deed, then he smiled down at bla wife most geuerously. Yes, nis wife, for tbe old woman waa gone and June, In luxurious furs, but uuddled, was in tbe doorway, it was she to whom be had given the coin I A wan and uttered, pinched and hungry looking little boy stood mutely beside them, piteous appeal in bit upturned eyea, aud held out bis clawlike tittle palm. Ned, beaming with kindly good win, placed coin In tbe outstretched palm and put hla hand In benediction on the head of June, for It As tbe train atarted to pull out abe bad a mad Impulse to run after It to have It atopped, to call Ned, but there waa no movement In ber. Across tbe tracks In front of tbe station a msa. tall, splendidly groomed, black Vandyked. stood watching ber intently. CHAPTER III NED WARNER, as tbe train pulled out from that momemoiis station, was in the wash room of the smoker, wiih a plessant smile on bis Hps. making tbe niont elaborate toilet of bis existence. He was to bsve the honor of dining alone tor tbe first time with bis charm ing wife. Thoroughly complacent be strolled back through the car to awakeu the sweetest girl lu tbe world. "June!" he called, snd turned to bend over her seat She waa not there! lie hurried out to tbe vesti bule. Not therel And uow for the first time he saw the three ten dollar bills on the sest One of them was slightly torn; sll of them were crumpled. Frantically be rang tbe bell; tiieu be rushed out to meet the white toothed porter on tbe wsy. "Where's my wife?" be demanded. The porter's eyes wldeuid until they made his teeth look gray. "'Deed I dou't know, boss!" be 'replied, as scared by contaglou alone as If he had been accused of throwing tbe pretty little bride out of the window. "Honest to the Ixrd. I dou't know!" Tbe delirious search tHan from that Instant In about two minutes the couductor, the brukemen, all tbe porters and half the passengers were search ing for June Warner. Ned, in bis most IKely vision of all, saw her dropping off the train, crushed and mangled beyond all recognition. No vision, however, portrayed to him his bride slowly crossing tbe tracks towsrd the black Van dyked man! As she approached, the man gave ber a sharp scrutiny, smiled and strolled across th station platform to the bulletin board. New York local was due st 4:10. An express was due at 4:31 Juue Warner waa helpless and bewildered. 8b bad no money, no friends. Phe could not even tele graph. Wby had she done this foolish thing? Her dreamt She saw herself sgaln standing In th pos ture of plteoua beggar and accepting Ned's gift. She saw Ned tipping the whit toothed porter a dollar, and then, with the same Jovial generosity, banding her thirty. Tb touch of that money still burned her fingers I Foolish as her revulsion might b. It waa keen and naJ ncverthe!, tad a aril 821 had thrashed out tbJ question with th womaa which bad suddenly grown op In bar ah coold not mak of ber marriage with Ned th sacred relation ship whkb sh bad held aa ber Ideal Tb bJach Tandyked man passed quit near ber, gaming at br wlth a smil. 8b walked aroand hla Where should ah g7 Home? So could e bt father and mother plying her wltb question opon question, driving ber U tear with their worried to alstenc and their otter lack of understanding. How could they understand a. problem which had grewn op since their yonth bad passed? Not horn, thsa. If not bom, wber then? A if from th setting ran the snswer cam to her. Jost New York, to big and so Intent npon Itself that friends may dwU around tb corner for year snd never know. Ned at that moment waa extracting slow in re tion from a bslf desf snd totally dumb old with a cross grained disposition. Yes. she bad a young woman get off tbe train at a station back there. She didn't know If tbe station was Farsv ville or not but the girl bad rice on ber bat June Warner, alone on the station platform, bad grappled meantime wltb the first problem of her In dependence. Tbst problem bsd to do with th means of getting to New York, and It was con cretely expressed In ber beautiful Uttl gold watch. In the meantime Neds train bad drawn op at tbe next atop, and he had tbe station master In Farnvllie n a minute and was Inquiring for a lone ly bride. "Wby, yea." huskily shouted the ststlon master at Farnvllie. "A young person of that description bas been loafing around her on the platform and ahe's Jiii-t getting on tbe down local." reported the station msister. "She's with a tall fellow wltb black whUkera. He's helping her on the train." A black smirked stranger! Ned almost reeled. Eo that was wby she had left the train! "Stop them." be yelled. But the phone wss dead. Station nicKters are busy people. A train thundered In a down train. Ned looked at the bulletin board. The New York express. It arrived In New York at tbe same time as the local. Tbe first passenger to board that train was s per spiring faced young man, awluglng four pieces ot white riliLoned luggage. June, paying but little attention to the msa who bad belpcd her, tumid nervously Into the car, a day couth, and viewed the Interior with despair. In that ouch there were only two passengers, a man and a w oman, sitting toctber. "Wohld you like to buy a wtch7" Invited June in ber smallest voice as sbs confronted tbe rigid woman and be.d out ber OmichjcJUe. "No," returned1 the woman without moving a muscle. Only ber feather wabbled. The man cast at the merchandise a look of contempt "It's a very nice watch.' urged June. "It's a so Id gold esse and I don't know bow many Jewels. I only notd money enough to get to New York and hire a taxL Then I must find some work." The black Vandyked man's eyes lighted.. "I don't want it" observed the woman., looking straight ahead, while the man s glance of contempt strayed from the merchandise to the vender. "Very well." nodded June, and a sraln of rice fell from tbe brim of ber little blu hat and bounced iu the rigid woman s lap. Tbe woman turned sharply, then she half rose and looked at tbe top of the hat There wad more rice on 111 "Let me see that watch." abe said icily. On Ud contained a picture of Juue and ber dog. aud tbe -other tbe date of the gift aud ber name and sdiiress. "How much do you need for t liter" "She wants atout $10, ma am." This whs from the pale factd conductor, wbo was so bniad snd stuffy that be wss an offence In uarruw aisles, but bid eyes were full of twinkle. The rigid lady snapped tbe watch shut and tnrt to ber husband. "Dan." It did not aeeiu p--w r. that her vote could take on a wheedling tot., i It did. "I want IU" The man turned to her wltb cold 'fle' '.te produced $10 from a tight Donur! u j m atantly Into June s mind there Ontn.i U- f picture of ber standing before Ned .im ' vA:.rt The ruuaway bride took a -y oy jerlf and waa presently given tbe dl.-H.xui''-; of knowing that the man was grumbiUis; at . r. woman Inces santly for having iHingbt the watt a. The black Vandyked man went over to them, and she saw htm pay some money, and then he came back to June wttb the watch In bis band. "Of course you won't permit me to present you with this?" he pleasantly oterved. "If you cars to send for It later, however. I wilt be very gad Indeed to give yoo my card." "Thank you." sbe accepted, and, taking tbe card, put It In her belt "You are very kind." It was not until tbey were nesting the station in New York that be spok to her again. "I'ardon me," b said, bending over her. "If I can be or any service to you on your arrival 1 aball be very bsppy Indeed." "There Is nothing, thank you." she replied, smil ing up st him. "You are very kind." At that particular moment the New York express overtook the local snd slowly forged ahead, and Ned Warner, peering feverishly Into every passing window saw the suave, black Vandyked stranger bending gracefully over his wife, aud June wss smiling up at him! Then Ned. against bis will. . passed on. The express, however, was delayed a moment, and the local pulled Iu ahead of It Ned was the first passenger out of tbe express, and be land-d ou the platform Just In time to see the Vandyked man aud June going through tbe gate side by side. Ned rushed after them, but It ss not uutU he reached the VsuderbUt avenue stairway that be saw them again. Juue was darting through the door and Just behind ber wss the man. IU smiting. Wltb a rush Ned rounded the balustrade aud went op three step at a spring. He arrlreo only In Urn to ae June speeding sway In a tun cab and to see the blsck Vsudyked msa startliiL after her In another. He Jumped Into a third on. and shouted "Chase them!" "Hold on tbarr gasped a breathless voice, snd s panting porter piled Ned's white rlbboosd lug gag n top of him. Away through th tangled traffic, across Forty fourth street and up Fifth a venue rtisUed the tbrer taxis st breakneck speed. to ss ooa hjuxuxJ i.i
