Evening Star Newspaper, May 15, 1921, Page 75

. the’ THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON. THE OMITTED NAME Showing That the Poor Rule Still Works. MAY 1 1 921—PART %~ By Frank B. Elser - g™ Lardner Writes of the New York Game of Bridge % e o , face. he S o i s!the Young man's mouth. Apparently|the color returned to his — " Kipl o1 thought we was all equals asd AMES JOSIAH NDERS had | Mr. James Josiah Randers, one of)luncheon at which an amused, albeit preferred 125" mused Mr. Randers, as 't | s 0 & editor thtlaE: | ondi dccaliicd what folks dometimiss | U8, Jottest litle interviews ever|determined. set of editors vou-d,be entered his office, “we'll put out the ';‘(:..'.'-1";: “,?.'T‘..:fi';"lfi him with Euw‘ca%xr'['ce]:?'{‘::g'h? i";- ’;’u?-g..:fi_m. fools ! Hade the dradic. thut! east 1a ?;':'r:,m‘." bridge no matter where pand pulled o y a New York reporter.” {unanii v o print the name | bond ci s 8 v 4 4 3 3 5 i . J call the apex of finance. He| “What! You got away with i of F:fl::'l.svo;;:; Randers, nor his| He ‘“»ii.‘é‘t{rmm to the stock ticker. 'k""-\lflilr his huxed rixhllflm‘ unlul r:elfla‘fl atem ‘o':_f,,fl.',‘“f:' ('1“-“:3::1"’:,',‘, “',‘.: east and west is west mean- lvn»‘n fnendl.ll h‘nd.:\,l u0 more tnn: @ reached that a le by| “I got away." W . nor his stocks | . S. ad Sit 8. His Knuckles popped protestingly. he | millions. oy ing that they's little in com-|Seét down to the table when I see PA eached that sl Y] “With any facts at an> no‘x{ci i) AR e Mg, that was bm?wT' had opened strong at 93, HI% i lisged over to the stock ticker. C.[lips, he reached for the telephone. Yet; : 4 4|that 1 and N. Y. bridge was alien means of his own ladder. which he| ¥ i or his bonds. nor an | TS had been instructed to P! WS A e D emtated. The bonds—what a black [mon between the two of them and | et 1 456 N ¥, DrICEe wos 400 ith the fact that I'm queered |his. The plan went into effect forth-up to par before the close. At wash . was ree points. ' he e bonds e e ey riek D i o e vs ¥ purposed to drag up after him, silent- with the Randers.” with, a decision happily timed. foT | sales they wers exmerte Mr. Randers was on the point of |eye for them! e = f“_ el i nking a spec 3 {is ax much like our old game out i 7. 7€ e chose he would up-crd the | “Shucks'"" Rrumbled the cits edi [ That nikht Sirs. Rangers gave at hor| “3E RS NETE CPUIS o qoun | rusting T {he Telephone to demand 4t the root of the evil now, 80 aletic events like foot ball and et [ Chi ax 2 liters of home made besm 1adder and balance thereon like the|!er. “I thought you knew him so town house a reception and cotillon | at his broad desk. He pawed over isearried when' the financial news| Dunwoodie.” he asked suddenis and the differents in how Play |, fn to nlay .né New Yotk game, ¥ sailor equilibrist at the circus. there= | "I o nim better now.” Richard °w‘:!;;":fldi;‘:hf?':v"l;‘““;‘-_ mentioning | Solleg ebers. Then Durwoodie. Me ticker 4t his elbow rasped nervousiy | vou phone all the papers:” them in N. V. and vicinity and oul inlare suopose to discard the genial Ly attaining a plane one better than ’ assured him. “On what joyous little fonly that Richard Bibley Van Kleeck |are the ‘.,,,,"nfnf,fl",,"v" secretan *" and ('Iu-k:d a burple line of “tesyng _‘no: nr 1l of them. the far west like Ohio, California dnd!::!l;:e you gen rally wero at other func. i i errand would you have me journey | was and, if you are not|°"% RE 4 . esting. testing” across the broad | ~The Sta Ee——" | tions < emi-mo the apox. But it Ba.did a0 1t Would bl forth nescr- . 7| astidious st enter the’ houdoir of | piaces YOUF desk. sir. in the usual piterinbon of paper, Irritated. he | -Yes, sir " A, Marcard beats yale 40| 100K Kind of sullen, Tike You wished Wwithout summoning the press. ‘| T don't think of anything else in|Mrs. Randers on the following morn- |5 . © . ~|was about to turn aw: when the| downtown bureau or the main| For inst if Harvard beats Vale 40| vou was clsewheres, rolling a hoon. if anvthing, he had to confide to the® | your particular line this afternoon. |ing. oI domt mean the business clip-|spinning lettered wheel swung back el downtown | Lochntenr viery o nra uhg 4 |and it don't make no differants if the public ibout his vast affairs reached | drawled Burton—"that is, unless you| The breakfast tray removed. she PINgs, but that social rot to marginal alignment and printed| ~The financial bureau down echnical victory for Harvard and a|other players is Brother Moose, you the newspapers in the form of & mene | €4 Suggest some bther interview a0 el e Lselt ombactibly 8 5 ) Dunwoodie c rer, cau-lout a word that held his attention.| Mr. Randers lowered his gaze. o moral vy 'n’\'\u{”»r.-‘:‘“u » :I““u!\ West!got to treat them like you had been | "“I am’in deep thought," said Rich- with inw: “I can't understand it, sIr,”” | The word spelled. letter by lettef, Was| thing he seldom did. He moistenel Bl that & e m » to Canada with them in a balloon. ker typewritten statement distributed | 5rg 2" S0P thougRt. Sald B ehe d prote “There weren't any. May I Jja-m- ollowing quickly then|lips. ~Call up the Star's main office. [is the only winner. excent in a ca Tf one of them trys to indulge in ihrough his private secretary by mes- | another member of the Randers fam- Vaffairs had to say of |Ask. was ihe er—a—cotilion post-|J-o-s-i-ach. and inevitably, Rea-n-|he xaid heavily. “Ask for Mr I;!Sh;;lli“”;“"“v"' 1919 world serious when Cin. vt it cnathetwesn deal, shut s office re- | Ay Whom 1 might—-" In her hands was the | poned?” {d-c-r-s. 1t was the next word, how- | Bipjley Van Kleeck, Put him on my pri- [intiti win terhnl ut the fis )im up with what ever remark seems seiiger. From his luxurious 0"\\; : “Beat it laughed The Desk. Herald, She was subtly f ith | Mr. Randers whecled like a locomotive | ever, that caused the financier to|vata wire yictory roosted, under Chicazo's pil-|appropriate like . porters, one and all, were barred for, pron the corner settee in the tea- | every division and subdivision of its on a turntable und stabbed Mr. Dun- snort. It was h-e-a-l-t-h. The ticker| Aq Mr. Dunwoodie bolted through the Ok you taile irapit aitisiciion File How funny your Adam’s apple all time. Mr. Randers called them | room at the Ritz, Richard Van Kleeck : {donr Mr. Randers turned agaln to the | (1 sou take track athaletics Thevs | founders around “when vou talk vipers of the press.” and he meant it | rose at one minute after 4 o'clock [ stock ticker. C. 8. T. was sloughing oft LecMier the table manners and facial l_\"-4 l-lx ka8 s rare day when _lr!‘\;‘ that afternoon to greet a girl who between sales. The ticker rasped hard ‘:m:;_-,:nn K1) .';,:‘,:,,‘-I.:“ v“.m(.‘,‘“; rame Randers did not appear in print. | was a_girl. When Richard had met to keep up: s the conven His power was so potent. his influence | har three vears before they had Bt ¢ {only catched on to a few of them =0 great, his fortune so swollen that, ook a gely and 2 /1 to date yithout it fex chronicles of events i | i R R A g L g i o 05007767 3,000 /7 (When the dealer starts off with, ‘“\;- mum.v world :'err cy:vll?lele | a window seat they had again looked Mr. Randers groaned ""H- withou 'v! is supposed to be an e e Ehe, VA8 the socially im-at cach other strangely and smiled | slaughter Aohreyiation ‘of one ithont reasel portant Mrs. Randers and a particu- | Then each hud repeated. -way down e Dunwoodie was buck | and it means the dealer has got nine jar lovely daughter, Helen. concern:!where one repeats. that love-ut-first- ute and' @ half. “Not in." he high in 3 suits and jacks or bester in R om much appeared in the social | sight formula: “Well. I didn'. know briefly. . 1ehe lothwr A _pisin Wil of uk Hiwn ¢ Brmt heen Eracityian e e ehe | £Xactly how yowd look. but this is Mr. Randers scowled. “Where is gne dismond meaus atranth in1he lamented with her husband the in- | Y04 _ ! he . ofpi | dccompanied by frothing at the mouth creasing tendency of the press to|, .fclen’ he said abruptly. when o1 didn't ask. sir. ndicates a high blood pressure. If hound the wealthy. And when he sai, | {23 and Engiish muffing and marma Well. find out | the dewler blds 2 of either of ¢ id, tha v s |1ade had been wheeled before them,; Mr. Dunwoodie was back in a min- i h < 2 of either of these 43 he otten did; That he wished thece her hates me.” ute. At the RItz” he announced. suits it s a hint to take him out was some way of enjoining the whole hate e. he R the room s ton stuffy. A bid of one k nm}‘:u:dle from ever printing the she | queried. puzzled, hre_filtlzlfinr,fir" ! spade merely calls attention to a mole name Randers again she ed "G ! - sore Helen Randers usually smiled, a bit he preas, ; o a 2d | e Randers usially suiled 'a B “Youre mAKINg fuil (of Mimy> Eaia A SMARTLY drossed page mo: i ke % Richard - Bibley- van Kileeck had|the girl coloring. She had often £\ gracefully in and out among the [ A Pid of one heart don't mean noth- have to. Having that name and R . a sl p is right hand. in. T earts 5 & decent income, he had tried nearly | the Star today & alip./of (paper’in 1 o0 gmvk{,d ot . Ywo hedsis wile tssiag. & Manken all of the quasi-professional occupa- | Helen let her hands fall helplessly and every now and then he loo ]\hlef indicates strenth in the olfactory l\}::_l:ers.n ;mhpul.qlr with _}nlung New | :Pl't_:”:l:rm!:i‘yzig:;!q;:is}nrded him with it. Then :slnml lro|rl|1)\ho'ln|3? 2 ‘«:x; organs. A double of the two heart bid s of his type; and his popu- zzicul smile. of subdued cry or whine 3 3 g larity had increased as his business| “Dick, won't you ever settle r‘imn“g lnflor:lc’n. :‘neofl,:h"o: :xadl ;5 ::'r:'s::::le(-h:lc:::\f D1t Imany Triends e had pochiao sk |1V, “Tou owe i to mer - Hurely, A vanoine Eirl ()l Nor "o, {panied by planting the feet on the v ends he had seen so much | I¥ e S ely, 3 she said, that's you. e rnify! r of life in his twenty-five years that|you're not going to be an ordinary Aren’{_you imporfant. though, since e MEuitys Mt denler is gotes if death had yawned at him he would | Teporter on a New York newspaper?” | you became a viper of the press! hests Mitle to the plar: woxgpiedil X 4 - 1 3 play after the haye yawned back. ‘Ordinary? I went down today to| “Publicity is a great thing.” sald 1st. lead. The man that done the bid- Not'that the was yawning just now. | interview your father.’ Richard Bibley Van Kleeck. 400 rHERIS . ALIFY lalis acntiiliy Slvass . He was standing by the desk of Bur-| “Dick, are you crazy?" this every day” He beckoned thej ' ":.M"" R oaria ont oniers U e ton, the city editor, in the local room | “You and he have been comparing boy to him. A coln and the &lip{NAMED PADDOCK THAT RUN A 5ty (1™ gnd if you question him of the New York Star, waiting like | notes.” he commented mildly. { hanged hands as if by rehearsal. and | 100 METERS IN NOTH o Setia Dig wtam 5 the cubblest of cubs for his first as- | Helen flushed. “Dont you know e b o b iured wpoiogy e R ent. ey ha nown each he eats reporter: at it, puzzled. v $ y other—he and Burton—for years. “I do mow," said Richard grimly. B oMcer he said. He read |that run a 100 meters in nothing. | Fae cards down el s or headr ore Well, Van," the city editor queried. | “Until today I had only a vague : "Call 2336 Rector at once. Im- {but the record don't count down here | paorniid, O™ M 5 T these the dryly, “how in the name of Peter|notion of the intensity of that ap- portant. on acet, of the differents in time and | pariners s suppose to say anything Stuyvesant did you ever get the news- | petite.” *Father's office number,” exclaimed |besides if you told a New Yorker!they can to irritate each other. 1ike for paper bug? “And are you angry and hurt the girl. .. |about it he would say if Paddock|inef suppose they was a heart led and * % x % she asked. Richard looked at her sharply. “I{was in such a hurry why didn't he|gpades was trumps and your partner RFOU aFe mete: o loss mro “No." Richard spoke slowly. It hope our meeting here hasn't caused | take a taxi. e have B st hn Daher X rong.” an-|vour father doesn’t want his name any rumpus.” he said. Or you take poker or the game We gpade down and took the trick. You swered Richard Bibley Van|in the papers that's his business.” He Y“Rumpus—over me? He probably[use to call by the name poker out infure suppost to say: Kleeck: “I haven't got the news- paused because T did it “Are you angry and hurt wants to thank you.” “For what”" Michigan and Indiana, and only men played it and if you had 2 pair be- “Haven't you no hearts. partner? like you thought he was either blear- Paper buy. I've simply got a hanker- | ““That's a foolish question, Dick. O BT ile touthed: Hgisnia] Doty the doe e Aad Zipelr bellikegouanoughe ing to put one over without trading {1 was disappointed at first. But if lips: but she made no answer. “Any-{pot and felt like you had better than! If he leads back the wrong card you on what my folks were during the|You're sincere——" She gazed at him Way, hurry up and telephone’ she |x even chance to win but you set i |sax: Van Buren administration | questioningly. ordered. “And if it's father himself | what they call a poker game down| *Is that all the better you know how g - | “Helen. no man knows what he be sweet. f{here and ‘at least 13 the people in it|to play partner?” get yo! said Burton. “You can do best until he tries,” he said Richard's face was 80 serious when s of the silly sex and the cards 1 * &k % Sound like Frank Ward O'Malley or|earnestly. “I'm not sure of any- he returned from the telephone that |is wild to match the players and if - g Irvin Cobb. or some other illustrious | thing in this world except that I she rose involuntarily and asked: you pick up 2 pair you threw them D there's still another convention expatriate g{li;zrl‘( Row» nara, | 123E SoU" o1s e ill7 ) in the ash can because a straight that is libel to come up severai T glarize,” saia Richard.| The girl leaned toward him and No. It's the newspapers.” ush ain't barely enough to stay in |y SRR What am I to do?” impulsivsly placed a little hand in Don't teas " she fretted. “Surely.lon. times during the coarse of the even Your first duty,” said the city|his. “No matter what happens,” she he doesn't understand and appreci * x x ¥ ing and that is when your partner editor with serious frivolity, “will be | whispered, “I'd rather have the tini- ate. She hesitated; her blue eyes o, | B€t8 the bid and gets set 3 or 4 tricks. to skip down to the southwest cor- ner of Wall and Nassau streets, take the elevator to the seventeenth floor #nd obtain there an interview with our popular fellow townsman, Mr. James Josiah Randers.” “Don’t kid me,” said Richard. know the old gentleman. In fact, 1 know his daughter.” “Of course you do,” retorted Bur- ton. “That's why I'm giving you the assignment.” A frown touched Richard Van Kleeck's clean-cut face. “That's the sort of stuff T wanted to get away est chair in a Harlem flat with you than every -seat on the stock ex- change with any other man I ever saw. But please hurry up.” He squeezed her little hand until she winced and withdrew it. “Tell me,” she said. “why do the newspapers—'hound us’ as father expresses it?* “Because the name Randers means potential news. It's ane of the curses of being powerful and socially im- portant, and, in your case, wonderful and beautiful and sweet and lovely and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs, met_his squarely. . 5 “He certainly appreciates it. H has asked me to come down to h office at once,” Richard said, soberly. “Then I'll g0, too.” She began draw- ing on her gloves. It did not daunt her when Richard protested that the journey could be made quickest by subway. She was seated by his side as they roared out of the station. Richard picked at the cleats on the car floor with his stick. Presently he took a piece of copy | paper from his pocket and wrote something on it. Then he folded it ‘\ND you also take bridge whi ‘X T use to play a game by that name out in Chi and T was a careful bidder and use to let somebody else play some of the hands and when.I bid my partner knowed I had some- thing and when I doubled everybody got goose's flesh. and all and all, the boys and gals ull said I was a pretty fair bridge player a specially as when trumps had been led around a few times T could generally always figure how many of them was still out yet, so0 the 1st. time I got invited to play A dirty look ain't enough to cover this kind of a incidence but should be followed by some such remark like: Your a fine cheese partner, “Who learnt you to play bridge?" This is a important convention and they was a Chicago man here a few wks. ago that didn't know about it and when his partner got set 4, why he smiled and says: “Too bad. partner, but it was my fault for raiseing your bid,” and his partner dropped dead and the Chicago man was ‘arrested for murder which is punishable in this state by a $5 fine. or, from.” he said after awhile. “You |James Josiah Randers.” carefully and thrust it into his walst-| g 3 Y. players, why I say ! 3 3 ith 3 N. Y. ; s, RING W. LARDNER, S e, ! She pursed her red lips in thought. coat pockel. 7 e less| Y5 Wwithout batting a eye because May 1 HONE, cin Ot be foolish” broke in the|Then, “If 1 were a newspaper edi- During the twelve minutes or ¥ editor. “You'd sell him a bond, | or she sald simply, “and father that the express rushed toward the wouldn't you? Transact any decent sort of business with him, wouldn't You? Why balk at an interview just because you happen to know him so- cially—and his daughter? This treated my men as I know he treats all reporters, I'd get hopping mad imyself and never print his name again.” “HELEN,” HE SAID, ABRUPTLY, WHEN TEA, SH MUFFINS AN D MARMALADE HAD BEEN WHEELED overweighted _tip of Manhattan James Josiah Randers stood by his desk, watch in hand. He had ceased to look at the ticker. There wasn't any use. The last C. S. T. quotation LISTING IN EZ ( Continued) E:r-c-a-t profession of ours must not o L o R 4 20 THEe, “YOUR FATHER BATES N noted was forty seven, & drop of Bfty | distance, you know, even in a crowd. | 1&ure which had folded in the runa- p i lines.” % one points since e opening. Teé| By the time I had w: Vi o oroughly. course It Richard held up his_stick as if to| P05 10 screnming hendfinesls | v page: her practiced eye took |woedie with a glire. “Dunwoodle.” he|always omits the aposthrophe. The | had ‘been nothing like it since the ilidlone down‘:lth‘«l;:i.:l(:lo b:,ck; SR Eot i Anenro ward off a blow. “You're conning|yiew him?" in seven columns at a glance. There- | inquired crushingly, “haven't you rcad|full subhead was— Hocking crash. As each succeeding nding her ko ok me something terrible. Steve.” he| ppe only thing T ever expect to|fore she ahemmed impatiently and | the papers” James Josiah Randers health. strip recorded further sickening de-}suppose I was a little panicky. Any-|__ .. z #aid, grimacing. “But I'll go. What | i cerview him about again 1s a girl | turned to the page following. Doubt-| “Thoroughly,” sir.” replied the secre-| Under it came this: scents, Mr. Randers spared himself the| way, what I said to that bone-headed | B was. When the four of we ehall I talk to him about?” named Helen.” Jess, she reasoned, the affair had been | tary, getting red. ~There was nothing| “Rumors of the sudden illness of Mr. [ 3&ony of looking. I { night watchman who was guarding e reached the spot and surrounded About Consolidated ~ Suburban| 'ghe plushéd prettily and fingered |given so much space that it had been : | Randers. although met with prompt| He stood like a man the police had her she had squirmed Traction.” Burton hunded him |y 1?7,k 'on a chair beside her. Then:|put on & page apart from the! “Why . [denials at his office today, 'caused|Put through the third degree. On his|pile of bricks and sand wasn't par- | 1%/ o on top and was clipping. “Read this on your way|.jy's nearly 6. The car is waiting. | society items. Byt as she scanned the| “Nothing," repcated Mr. Dunwoodie, | marked une: in the stock mar-desk was a pile of afternoon papers.| ticularly sane. sitting jauntily on this perfect down; It's interesting.” I must be going.” next and the next and the next page ! doggedly ket. This coupled with rumors that|He had combed them all. The name he| .yoy haven't seen my friend Inez |SUT3nSer. Who was considerably fiat- Richard saluted with his stick, and | " gugjant she faced him as he stood, |a queer ook came over the lady’s face. | of James Josiah Randers was | there was some change in the plans|Sought was missing. Ponderously de-{ = % 'L "0 0 0) ' |tened amidships and was groaning was gone. hat in han the door of the lim- {and. squeaking chagrin, she threw the |, . A hot wave of anger swept | for financing C. S, T. brought a sharp | jected rather than infuriated, Le be-j have you™ I asked. teebly: “Take her off! Now. it was one thing to have inti-1 ;) in. ednesday night.” she|Herald to the floor. laughed nervousiy | from gaitered feet to his massive | decline in that stock.” gan pacing up and down tbe room.| “Which?" says he, through a corn- [ ‘*bl¥: “Take her off: Oh. take her mate pleasurable knowlege of the |, iq'gay1 ce'll map out plans that {and rang for her maid. hend. Yet, save for a fleeting compres- | MT. Randers did noi wait for more, | The door marked “Private” opened 80{ cop pipe. oX changing Dblue of Helen Randers'| i TILT" My Hearst look like the| “Bring me the other morning Da:|ion of the lips his heavy features gave He jabbed viciously a mother-o'-peari | Softly that he did not see Dick and ", oo "ol o' cin with vellow hairsw| 48 for Inez. her best hat was a fen, dpd quite another thing 10| cgitor of a farmers almanac. Come |pers.” she commanded: “all of them” o hint of his tmotion. bution ‘labeled “Stenographer.: ‘and |Helen enter. 2nd he stopped om)Y. LN 1 ands v total wreck, one sleeve of her shirt ther's business life. Of the rebuffs | 41N |\ i whipped in sharp- The maldidi sea ey tor ace thome . vimern paye o s | room it was (o B urried Into e Siher"she exclaimed. “you look | OB (hat one’" says he. “She duck. | waist was ripped at the shoulder and Yeteran reporters had met at the |, TG0 Gy night—he had in- | Mrs. Randers opened the Times. only o, ; ” tated statement, also under @ sub-{lll ¢d across the street, over there. JUSt ghe was preathing rather heavy. hands of James Josiah Randera in|iTned telling her ali her father had |to discard it with & gasp. a8 i€t had ® i 4rruid they have” Mr. Dun-|head The sublead, worded by Mr | At the sound of her volee ~Mr. DSsel ESCY DUTIPE] By, taX1 100 Tuon, Tnes says I “Are you hurt” v nothing. s her. In tru i a r 1 (o GALTLElY anders himself, was “To the Press.” nde: T 3 b 2 o aae o ; “ = chief concern. us he swung_south- | %ald, Obvicusiy now. "“Helen: mine Dreatning wa @ bit labored now. and e« fairly sprawled | ThiS was the statement: = then. turning, caught her in his arms. { -That's Inez” says 1, and darts in| ‘Mo says Ine But Aye—Aye Tieton, itk her heen sense of Mamas |18 o morning paper.” he said in some | with fingers R e o n %ar | O the opportunity to let the jacket of | Based abparently on the omisionby | -Nonsense, my desr’ he muttered tham, oon he was Bolntiig hia | ARy N raver Boble giri™ breaks ia en, w er keen sense of humor, ; 2 ¥ i searching the other papers. In her i ¥ b L dae !l the newspapers of accounts of certain|as he kissed her. “Are these - ) 8 * re s latest tack in his career. 5 X not escape her. But the quest wasi opit vou. s S \ome of James Josiah Randers, mali- wn family?” 2 ¢ 3 : Arrived at that great bile of white | fore T call again. T tnink vouwd bet; | did nor escape Wt B "Gl "ot | ink_for vears to keep my mame out of | 1 R | T e ATho, “Wild rumors” had |%€t P Somebody having a coming. | Dag in his hand. Take it away from fone 2 hundred yards east of Trin-| “Before she could protest he had appear once. The cotillon had beenj oy s shects? s ing Mr. Randers health and the man- | no significance for her. She was re. |OUt party. or snnouncing an engses: |MIN o o\ o+ save Junius “But urch, a racing-car of an eleva- < L 4 " Lo . ’ 3 agement g ce 'S A i b s 4 P x Tor Shot him skywerd and begore he|bowed and swung off toward Sth lEROTed. ... pe yitter to the| Mr Dunwoodie said something inar- | A5SMent of certain properties with e e ot whe ‘aid. abrubsrs |She would call “swell people” arriy-|would it not Be better to get an had framed his questions he had passed the outer corral of mahogany and entered the great man's office. “Mr. Randers,” he began after they had shaken hands cordially. “wiether your secretary told you or not, [ came here to interview you for New York Star.” The great mahogany chair built especially for James Josiah Randers creaked as he leaned forward. “Rich- ard” he said impressively, “to my knowledge nobody ever gained any- thing by practical jokes. Now what s it Richard drew from his waistcoat pocket the clipping Burton had given him, and spread it between his fin- gers. “What I should like to get he explained, “is a chatty little inter- view with vou on the Consolidated Suburban Traction situation. My city editor would appreciate a good talk. Mr. Randers had always liked Rich- ard. and for probably a quarter of a minute he regarded him calmly and hopefully, waiting for the smile that would brand it all « joke. But Richard did not smile. He mer stood there. the clipping between h fingers, waiting for Mr. Randers to reply. The great mahogany chair creaked again. James Josiah had risen to his feet. His face was the color of a Harvard pennant. His right arm wus raised menacingly. " he roared, “are you 1 know of" replied the young man “Then why this unheard-of Imper- tinence?" “This is business’ protested Rich- ard. "I came here to interview you. This g-r-e-a-t profession of ours. “Rats'" gnorted Mr. Randers 1t} You've really become a reporter for that vellow rag of a Star. you've #ot less sense than I credited you with. I have standing orders hers 1hat no reporters are to be admitted on any pretext. If you are in earnest You know where the door is.” Richard thrust the clipping care- fully back into his pocket. «x v w M downright sorry you take it 80 hard,” he said “I'll be up to sce Helen Wednesday night, and maybe when you've had your dinner and are feeling better we can dis- cuss the ethics of the wituation.” avenue. “Well,” she gasped. “Home. said to the chauffeur and settled back among her white furs. I * ¥ * ¥ F{'S,_ night assignment covered. Richard and his city editor lunch- ed together in the restaurant for employes on the fourteenth floor of | the Star building. “Still sore about Randers?" in-| 1 quired Burton. | “Me—sore? Not at all. You !el-i lows are the goats,” said Richard. “From what I gather the old gentle- man has been booting you out for years, and you not only go back for more but cling to the delusion that ! no story below Fulton street can be | written without his name. Know what I'd do” N what?’ Burton checked a sandwich in midair. “Cut him out absolutely. Put an embargo on the name Randers for six months—a year—two yeurs, if necessary.” Burton put the sandwich carcfully back on his plate, and shot Richard « look of pity. Then he laughed good- humoredly. | “Revengeful youth he said melo- | dramatically, “1 thought you weren't| sore.” “I'm not; and the idea ism't even| original.” “And it would be about as popular with the newspapers as evening dress in Canal streer at high noon. Might} {as well suggest cutting out base ball “In reply to which, returned Rich-| . lighting @ cigarette, “I say tom-| It can be done. H togethsr. Quarantine him 1 All the papers agree not to print the | nume Randers till he hollers 'nouxh ck to it, and I'll guarantee results Teach him once and for all that this B-r-e-a-t profession of ours—" Burton hit the table a whack with his open palm. “By thunder, Van."” he cried, “I believe it'll work! If there's any sand in the rest of the papers we'll have the man without a try looking like an also-ran.” ou boil quickly." Richard re- marked. “On the level, you'll tryl i “rry it? Do it! of editors at luncheon. Great conference As father of i dea you are invited. I outline In my house’ shouted James Jo-|{he U YOO SOS MG Cheers. tiah Runders, “reporters are as un-|The question: “Shall the New York weleome 3 ey . ress. crushed for years under the plcome as they are in my ofice | B o Jamer Josiah Randers, turn 1€ you have an engagoment with my | 05 wiing him in his only vulnerable aus Wednesday night you|spot—his bump of importance?' More | will consider it broken | eheers. The vote: Ah! The ayes have Richard bowed and backed toward | have it overwhelmingly. The embargo the door. His face wax a bit flushed. | jx on'" “You will do me a great favor.”| Rurion stopped, out of breath. “And Jir. Randers fired after him. “fo|Mius Randers?’ He raised his eye- keep my name ou! of your publica- brows If consistent. pass the word| “Will be tickled to death’ replied Richard. “It is her suggestion.” «n hour later Richard sat} Only those whose privilege it has :ing @ lem off the ity desk at [ been to gaze behind the headlines the Star into the field of the Fourth Estate, ‘Burton.” he said. “I have ob-|where the public cow seldom grages, sained from eur feliow townsman, koow anything abeut tbe famoua the jumble of papers on the floor. | steep. floor and sank limply back among the illows. p")!alhrr. what in the world is the| matter?” _ Startled, Helen Randers stood in the doorway. Something that might have been a homeopathic groan came from among the pillows. Helen, now quite alarmed, ran to the bedside. Her glance caught “Oh. mother,” she exclaimed, “why { do you let these newspaper articles! get on your nerves? Let them print what they want.” “Have you seen the papers?’ This from the pillows. Well, we're insul insulted by every paper in the city.” Mrs. Randers sat up by way of emphasis Helen ~snatched up the Herald “What have they printed?" she cried Nothing!" This weakly from the pillows. Helen Randers gasped. “Nothing”" ——she queried incredulously—"the | papers have prin nothing—about | —the—cotillion?. Her face had the look of a child challenging a fairy tale. Mrs. Randers nodded. The Herald siipped from Helen's fingers. Her eyes were flashing mis- chief. For an face away. mother. o _wonder you're overcome.’ the said. “They let us alone at last. We're free—free from the vipers of the press. Hooray! Won't father be happy! instant she turned her Then she bent over her| How gratified you must be.” Mrs. Randers sighed. “I'm most| gratified. my dear” she said. “And vour father will. of course, be greatly | relieved.” i * Kk ¥ ¥ \WHEN James Josiah Randers reached his office that morninz, an hour before hix wife was awake, he saw clearnes: things with the exaggerated | that comes with loss of | Today he saw with particular _vividness that the time was at hand for floating the fifty-million-dollar bond issue of Consolidated Suburban Traction. In a two years' secret campaign Mr. Randers had acquired control of 500 miles of tottering street-car lines) tributary to New York. ' Scattered through a dozen different companies, with most of which passing a dividend had come & habit. the securities had in the past been kicked about among the cats and dogs of the curb. But when Consolidated Suburban Traction way born with a capitalization of one hundred million common and fifty mil- lion preferred stock, there was a: scramble of the minority to swap old lumps for new—at u ratio xatisfuctory to Mr. Randers. Pending the bond i%- sue no improvements had been mude but the common, (s first offered at 75. had risen steadily from the moment of its listing on the exchange. The magic name Randers had worked won- d “When the common hits par and the | Runders, ‘uncon | had followed the wake of ‘punier ru- | in a ticulate to show that he had been hep [all along. and withdrew. He was glad to get away from there. Left alone, Mr, Randers seized the of clippings—the financial _clip- minus that “social rot.” Here, | T reviews. ame Randers would recur with satisfying annoyance. He the lot & column articie on Consolidated Suburban Traction. A he ran his eye down the clipping his face grew grav Something was surely wrong. Instead of the name Randers speckling sentence T and paragraph there appearcd such watery phrases as this: “A “well known banking house;" “a financier of international reputa- “an operator known for his esight and astuteness;” “a promi- nent interest heretofore identifled with this undertaking.” Mr. with a deliberateness unus; He picked up another. showed that it was likewise mysteri- ously expurgated. Beads of perspir: al to him. tion popped out on Mr. Randers forehead The telephone rang. Hello, Ran- ders.” It was the voice of an old associate in the Street. “Who's sn:k‘ our house?" obody,” snapped Mr. Randers. o sald there was?" Nobody.” The voice was cheer- ful reason your wife's affair was culled ! off Jast night!"” “I thought maybe that was the ‘ho said it was called off " obody. But the papers haven't got a line about it, and my natural inference was-— “Hang the papers’ Randers. “It is an outrage.” sympathetic. “Get me bellowed Mr. The voice was " shot back Mr. iously slangy in his I don't want my name in the Good-by, ¢ swung flercely about from the telephone and glowered at the heavy rug on the floor. Panics, he kne right mors than reports of illness capitalist's family. Many a bear raid had sprung from a germ less fertile than the omission of his name in connection with the C. §. T. It was an oversight of course. The next sheet of typewritten flimsy fs- suing from his office would be seized upon and played up by the newspa- pers as in the past. That he had been right in his attitude toward the press admitted of no argument. The man who talked much lost his power of emphasis; the biggest headlines were built over scant material from po- tential sources usually dry. Witness the case of his friend down the street, who regarded all reporters as pirates and was besieged by forty of them every time he departed for or re- turned from Xurope. P EBATE of this kind. however, is not satisfying. James Josigh Randers rose guiltily from his desk, and looked gloomily out the windyw. Mr. Dunwondie re-entered, cautious- ly. There was a white ring around chose from ! ~|s:r-x Randers laid the clipping down | A glance i ‘when seen at his office today, was in | the best of health. He took occasion to deny that there had been any and financine (onsolidated Suburhan Traction. and added that he would ue 2 statement giving full ails of the proposed bond issue.” “Tell Dunwoodie to give that fo lthe reporters.”” he directed. ‘Make | plenty of copies and see that they all it Less than ten minutes later tele- |phone belis were jangling in the {financial bureaus of fifteen news- {papers. Mr. Dunwoodie was an- | nouncing ‘that an important state- Iment from James Josiah Randers was then on the way by messenger. He had always enjoyed making these an- nouncements; but the first comment he heard now made him wince. The mecond he interpreted as a joke. The third left him stunned. “Randers, ou say? Thanks; old man. No hur- ry ubout it, though. Don't bother with a messenger. Mauil it to the office.” Meanwhiie the market was breaking ibadly. in Wall street rumor does the ihundred in ten flat. Mr. Randers had !been variously assassinated, sent to Matteawan, killed in_an elevator I smash: had died suddenly of apoplexy, a ieloped with Norma Talmadge. His {brokers, instructed to take every share of C. S. T. offered. braced them- i selves for swept off their feet by the flood of selling orders that poured on the floor. iLambs and professionals alike were unloading. Before Dunwoodie had stumbled from the telephone booth. the ments stinging his numb brain, the stock had dropped ten points. fr. Randers stood at the stock ticker, feeding the tape through his Before his eyes Consolidated Suburl Tracticn was resuming its former junk-pile rating. In his vaults were fifty millions in bonds to be floated on a rising market. They would float now—like mad. Dunwoodie entered. He was making a queer noise in his throat. Mr. Ran- ders looked up, a question in his frown. [—I—notified all the newspapers,” finger: faltered the secretary. . “Those were my Instructions.” re- turned Mr. Randers coldly. “Why an- noy me further about jt?" Mr. Dunwoodie looked at his em- oyer helplessly. His throat hurt him. ‘Speak,” boomed Mr. Randers. Mr. Dunwoodie swallowed. “They don’t want it,” he said bluntly. He had intended saying something else, more diplomatic; but, after all, that was the simplest. A mass of ticker tape fell writhing {at James Josiah Randers' feet. he demanded i What did you say? hoarsely. “They turned your statement down. Mr. Dunwoodie spoke hollowly. He iled = he spoke. He had ‘never en Mr. Randers look as he looked The great man's cheeks were from James Josiah Tt was impossible: _ Moore than that—it was uncanny. Mr. Randers blinked a mo- ment in dazed perplexity, and then, as ‘statement A Randers refused by the press! fchange in the plans for reorganising | the onslaught only to bel last of the reporters’ languid com-! irrelevant. She nodded toward Dick. who stood aloof. Mr. Randers bowed heavily in em- barrassment. “I asked Mr. Van Kleeck to come here on a matter of urgent business,” he finally managed to sa: “If you will excuse us, my dear- 4 “I won't!” pouted Helen. I left a pertectly good luncheon to dash down here. Besides, 1 want you to thank us for keeping your name out of the papers. I suggested it. you know.” * ® ¥ % LAPPED with the suddenness of this. Mr. Randers blurted out the first ill-chosen words that came to his mind. “You!” he cried. “Why, my poor deluded littie daughter, I sent for Richard to get my name in the papers.” He looked at the young man appealingly. “Richard,” _he asked solemnly, “what do you know abo this conspiracy? It will ruin me. He waved a hand toward a tangle of ticker tape. ‘While Helen's blue eyes widened. Richard Bibley Van Kleeck replie “I wouldn't call it exactly a coi spiracy, Mr. Randers. As 1 under- stand it. the editors thought it best not to molest you further, in view of your well known antipathy to the pres: “And Helen?” Mr. Randers looked at his pretty daughter wonderingly. “‘Mentioned casually that you would of course be pleased to have your long-cherished hope for privacy grat- l{lad." Helen nodded in naive ratifica- tion. Mr. Randers’ big hands fell at his sides. His mouth opened like an as- tounded youth's. Then, all pride ha ing fled, there was suddenly born to {him a sixth sense—humor. He threw |back his Pead and laughed. Helen and Richard laughed. too. un- til the great man laid a hand on Rich- ard’'s shoulder. “Richar he said. suddenly, “I need a press agent. Need him bad. Do you think you can get a statement from me in the next edi- tions?" Richard drew from his pocket and handed to Mr. Randers a folded sheet of copy paper. It was the sheet on which he had writtén in the subway. “Here is a prelimi- nary statement,” he said simply, i;"whllch 1 believe will 1jft the quaran- ne.” While Helen. waistcoat curious, looked over her father's shoulder, James Josiah Randers read: “Mr. and Mrs. James Joslah Randers announce the engage- ment of their daughter Helen Eliza- beth to Mr. Richard Bibley . Van Kleeck.” ! The girl looked up, face crimson. {Her eyes. caressing Richard. were ia blue he had never seen before. |” James Josiah Randers looked grim- ly at his new press agent. There ‘WHI a twinkle in his eyes. “If both yparti have ratified this statement I see no reason why it should not go out at once,” was all he said. ing or going away. That would be enough for her. I should have to talk to Inez again about the danger of trying to rush across 5th avenue Een fashion, without waiting for the traffic lulls. About wandering alone, too, at this hour of the night. 1 had gone nearly to the middle df this side street and was almost op- posite the canopied entrance, looking into every doorway in the hope of finding Inez staring out from behind a shadow, when I noticed this little group of folks that seem to be milling around so odd and seriseless. 1 caught a glimpse of a podgy little man in evening clothes who was hopping about nn his toes as if he was tryin' to jump into his silk hat which he had dropped on the sidewalk. Then there was a large, fat woman with an ofera cape hanging from one shoulder and her arms waving wild- 1y as she clawed at a slim voung chap who was tugging to get away. Also there was a fellow in a chauffeur's uniform who edged in and then dodg- ed back out of reach. And they were all so busy and silent about it. Not a word spoken. Only now and then a heavy puff. evidently from the fat woman, or a grunt from one of the men. 1 couldn’t make out what it was all_about. i Then the slim chap gave a final irl, hit the fat woman in the chest with his elbow, kicked vicious at the chauffeur, and broke loose completely He was legging it toward the East river when the screams started. The fat woman had found her voice. “Police! Police!” she squealed. “He —he's got my jewel bag!” Sven that didn't seem to disturb any one. As a matter of fact, there was nobody in sight to be disturbed. I heard a front window shoved up and then banged down again. “Stop him! Stop the thief!” shouted the fat woman. “Police!” But no police came on the run, or even sauntered up. Any more than they would if you'd staged such an affair _on Main street in Tamarack Junction when Constable Sol. Heffner was playing pinochle in the back of Feltner's general store. And mean- while the slim chap was making a speedy getaway L T suppose 1 was. watching him run, kind of excited and nervous, but not thinking of doing anything in particular, and perhaps rather hoping that he wouldn't trip or stub his toe, when I saw a bulky female figure_step out directly in his path. open her arms and fold him in. Tt was*almost as though he had jumped through a trap door. Anyway, both of them went down and I could dimly them rolling about the sidewalk. the fat woman. hysterical. —“See, “See, Junius? do_something.” The podgy_little so anxious. However, his silk hat, gave it & hasty brush on his sleeve, and started. with the fat woman. hanging to his arm, her opera cape dragging behind. The chauffeur went along. too. 1 hadn't been asked, but I feil in behind. I wasn't sure, but there seemed to be something familiar about that husky man didn’'t seem A He's caught! He's caught!™ shrieks | Now for heaven's ukel We picked up |Inez. haven't you officer first? Otto, see if you cannot find a_ policeman. “And leave us at the mercy of this robber?” protests the fat lady. “Why, he might get away.” “Not him!" says Inez, jouncing up and down a little. “Aye got him, all right.” “0-0-0-0! gurgles the jewel cher. “Don’t worry, lady.” sayg I. “He couldn’t be safer if he was spiked to the sidewalk. Inez will hold him.” “Then you know this herolc young person?’ says shew “Who is sh “Miss Inez Petersen,” says I “She’ a friend of mine, and there's 130 pounds of her.” “I'll_take the car and bring back a cop,” volunteers Otto. 1t took him nearly ten minutes, at that, but imaf}y he rolled up with one and we helped Inez to her feet while the officer yanked up the breathless thief. “Huh!" saysythe policeman. “Slim Joe. eh? Only two months out of Sing Sing and at it again, are you? Well, it's headquarters for yours, Joe. Any—anywheres you say.” pants Joe. “Only don't let that baby elephant sit on me again.” At that T tried to lead Inez away, but the policeman wouldn't let me. He said she had to go along with the others to tell the chief all about it. And the next thing 1 knew they'd ail piled into the limousine and were gone. There didn’t seem to be room for m: so 1 walked back to West Bith streef and waited. It was a long wait, too. 1 finished my half of the sandwiches and pickle and had all I could do to keep m: | teeth out of the rest. for somehow this adventure stuff had worked up an ap- petite. It got to be 12 o'clock, then half past, and no Inez. 1 was just beginning '!u wonder if she had been locked up, t00, when I heard her gentle tread on the stairs, And if it _hadn’t been for the red feather on the wrecked lid I'd hardly have known her, at that, Wearing a gorgeo lk_opera cape. “For the love of Pete!” ‘Where did you collect that “Misa Snunfus Stokes present.” announces Inez. “Swell, eh?" “It’s all of that, “But where were you 50 long? “'Oh, we g0 1o big, place. lotta police- mans,” says Inez. “Funny talk. They tell me 1 must go on force to catch thieves. ““There's more truth about that,” 3 hungry, affer ‘wich for you.’ ice man, that Joe.” saye Ines. ‘ou mean Junius. T suppose.” savs “Mr. Stokes—the Dodgy one? Inex shakes her head. He's ail right, too," says she. “but Joe, the slim jone—""and then she ducks her chin “If she hase™ Bay. y dicretion " He—he got nil es,” Insists Tnex. “Good-night!"” says I, meaning overy word of it. For 1 a.m. is mo time to start in prying a fool idea out of such a slow-working mind as that. Besides. with this hero of hers locked up s 1ight, why worry? (Cepyright, 198L by Bewell Pesdd for she's says she make me say; than comedy *I expect vou're 1 saved & sand- ‘I. coy. Hal-lup!” 1 gasps. fallen for the purse snatcher!