Evening Star Newspaper, October 4, 1925, Page 92

4 THE PROLOGUE They Could See No Reason for Staying Married Any Longer. INNER was over. The table had been cleared by the tall, impressive butler. Donald Ryder stretched comfortably in the big chair before the living-room fireplace, his finely chisel- ed, almost ascetic face limned sharply in the glow of a reading-lamp. His eyes—habitually a steely gray, but now softened to a humorous glint— rested amusedly upon his wife. Doris was curled up on the lounge, her dainty little figure almost entirely logt-in the heavy upholstery. Her viv- 1dly expressionful face was turned toward the dancing flames. She seemed comfortable, yet somehow she imparted an impression of restlessness. There was a petulant droop to the lips, a faint light of resentment in the big black eyes. Ryder looked upon her gemlike beauty with the impersonal eve of a connolsseur. He inspected her minutely and with approval, but he experienced mo slightest surge of possessive interest. She appealed to him as an exquisite work of art—it had been a long, long time since he had regarded her as a mate. Her dinner dress was of silver cloth, with a robe of sapphire sequins; a sapphire and diamond bracelet gleam ed from her arm. Doris Ryder knew how to dress—and spared no pains in the process. Beautiful clothes were a passlon with her. “Well2" Her voice cut coldly through the warmth of the biz room. “Well—what?" His tone was sar- donio. “I have broken my the ment, as vou requested. “That was very kind of you, Doris, T assure you- “Don’t be sarcastic, Donald. was it you wished?" He lighted a clgar—performed the ritual with maddening deliberateness. “Perhaps the novelty of an evening with my wife. It is a novelty, my dear. For almost a 2 Her foot tapped impatiently. “The prospect of an evening alone with vou doesn’t excite me in the slightest. Nor does it interest you.” “Quite true, my dear girl. Of late we have had little in common—very little that we cared to discuss. To- night I believe I can promise to inter- est you.” “How?" He puffed lazily, enjoying the situ- ation to the utmost. There was some- thing almost sinister in his relish of the drama which he proposed to en- act. When he spoke again it was as though to himself. “We have been married nearly four vears. We have had everything in the world we could ask—except hap- piness.” “We had that—once “And tossed it away. Lack of mu- ality, dear. diverse interests freedom from necessity. All very sad——" He was mocking. “Why do we remain married?’ And now the little foot ceased its tapping. The big black eves clouded and rested upon the lean, cameo face of the man in the easy chair. The faintest suggestion of a vertical line appeared on her forehead. She breath- ed deeply “JTust why do you ask me? urfosity, Dorls; stark, staring cur- ios 1 wish to see just how much of vour boasted honesty vou will inject into your answer." * ok % % TTHE atmosphere of the big room was tense; it always so when they were ness, What ar—- alone—scrupulous polite- mocking deference, constant rasping. “We remain married,” she answer- ed softly, “because, I suppose, it 1s too _ troublesome to divorce.” “Right. Quite right. Divorce is rather a noxious thing and we are so magnificently respectable, we two. But which, my dear, is the more un- pleasant, a brief sion in the divorce courts or a life of this veiled hostil- fty?” She shrugged. irself, Donald.” “Then,” he said quickly, “if the de- cislon is to be mine, I suggest an im- mediate divorce.” The little fizure on the lounge grew taut, then relaxed with a visible effort. It seemed as though a strong, unseen hand had reached out of the past and closed momentarily about her heart. Vague memories assailed her; memories of moonlight and sentiment and passion; of love and idealism and worship; of marriage and rapture of honeymoon. Then it all merged into the drab monotony which had som h climaxed in this. She wa: amazed at the calmness of her voice— ihe icy indifference with which she freighted her words. “Very well. Whenever vou The ‘man stirred uneasily. sccond his expression softened and a slight flush stained his pallid cheeks. The cigar lay unnoticed on the stand. “At once, of course Doris. I fan- cied you would not be unwilling. Queer, isn't it, that the only subfect we have found interesting in the past vear should be that of separation? Things have changed so. Now that we have agreed to disagree there are & few things vou should know: mat- ters that I regret to di with you, but which. unde; umstances, are quite neces: | “Yes? “I am speaking of fina Her face flamed. e me that.” “It is necessary that’we discuss it There are certain facts. My dear girl, T'm ver uch afrald that I cannot offer you u settlement which will mean financial independence. I— She rose abruptly. “I am not inter- ested 3 “Stop! clashed She reseated herself. “You know well enough that T don't relish _this discussion any you do, Dor Mone secmed repuls 3 until res “Answer that for ¥ " At least Sit down!” Their eyes has alw vely material ntly. Until His voice was softer leaned forward. ‘‘The unfortunate f: are these, my dear: I have no mon None at all. The circumstunces don't matter—facts are sufficient fortunate speculation— end your provider is virtually penniless Dorts, explains why I found neces to mar your perfect] od evening with such a materfal discussion. That fs what I meant by saying that you must ac- cept your freedoin from me as a final gIft; not <o Lrilliant a glft as diamonds and sapphires, but certainly the great- est gift it Is in my power to give.” * ok ok Kk HE swred, then removed her gaze from the sardonic face of her hus- band. It irritated her that he should be enjoying the scene. It did not oc- cur to her to question his statement of fact. She heard his voice as though from a great distance “—and so we will see our lawyers in the morning and complete arrangements. I under- stand that these affairs can be han- dled quite expediently where there is no_contest. “Donald—"" “Yes?" You have—nothing left?" “No. Nothing that counts. don’t let that worry you.” “It does worry me. Oh! can't you see what this does? Can't you?" Her 1rigld reserve was gone. It was a wo- man_speaking. “Don't wyou under- stand?"” “I'm afrald not.” t means this, Donald—it means that I can not divorce yor now and she That But “Can not? Why?" more_than | nothing when we married—you were wealthy. Qur friends know that we have not been happy. If I were to di- vorce yau\now—when you have lost everything\—ean't you imagine what people would gay? Don't you know ‘they would say I remained with you only so long as you could indulge me, and that when things went wrong I quit? Can't you see it is an impossi- ble situation from my standpoint? Can’t you?" ‘Mmm! I don't know th: particularly what people say. “Well, I do. And I shan't divorce you—not now. He stared at her quizzically, and as he watched, she did a very pecu- lar thing; something that was not at all in keeping with her aloofness and gndifference of the past year. She sprang to her feet and ran from the room. He fancled, as she mounted the stairway, that her handkerchief was at her eyes. Long into the evening he sat before the fire, smoking innumerable cigars— thinking—thinking. At hand-grips with financial disaster, he yet experi- enced an unaccountable lightening of spirit. The feeling defled analysis, yet it was undeniably there. At length he rose and went to his rooms. He slipped out of his dinner jacket and donned a loungingerobe. There came i knock on the door. Sur- prised, he said: “Come in.” ok ok % as vivid in a brightly em- broidered Japanese kimono! a dark-blue thing with embroldery of impossible birds and gleaming flowers. He eyed her curfously; this was the first time she had visited his rooms in months. He wondered; but she was grave now, and impassive. All trace of emotion had departed. Her voice was lmpid and casually conversa- tional. “I want to talk with you, Donald.” “Very good.” In a practical way. how embract; have suffered Quite matter-of-factly _he made his report. He was virtually bankrupt— rely enough money to pay off his creditors. “The home must be sold, and the cottage in Miami. Your jewelry—that's yours. No—don't offer. It really isn't needed; I have suffi- clent to pay my debts. I own pecu llarily enough a business—or the pos- sibility of one.” “You own a business? He grinned, but it was not a sar- donic grin. “Yes. A year or more ago I accepted a mortgage on a_ first- class garage. The place falled—too much overhead. I foreclosed. It is now mine. But that is all I do own. s are horribly embarrassing, lose figuring on my own position ates that 1 am as close to being broke as a man can be. And I don't understand, Doris, your attitude about ems unreasonable.” misunderstand. the divorce as much as For us to continue living together utterly senseless. We mean nothing to each other. If this thing—if things—hadn’t occurred, I would have been anxious to go ahead. Now it's impossible.” “I see. And what do you propose?” “Just this.” She leaned forward, tense and earnest. “We wish to di- vorce each other. We can't do it now because it wouldn't be falr to me. People would say that I left you be- cause you lost your money. All right —I refuse to give them that ammuni- tion to use against me. But that duesn’t change my feelings—our feel- ings. And I have a proposition to make.” She was silent for a moment. Her face was lighted with interest; Donald found himself regarding her through v eyes. “What is it, Doris?" chall earn my divorce! ou will what?" “Earn my divorce.” “I'm afraid I don’t understand.” “Let me explain.” She spoke quick- 1y, the words fairly tumbling over one another. “Beneath all your austerity I've never doubted that a man lurked. I don't believe you're the type to sjt back and let fate hit you with mever an effort to hit back. I believe that you are a fightery” ‘Thank you, Doris.” An hour before that remark would have been freight- ed with bitter sarcasm; now it was simply spoken, meaning no more and no less than it sald. “I don’t belleve that you will accept a position from one of your friends; vou've too much pride for that, haven't you?" “Quite: “And you must work. Now, why not this; the idea clarifies as I speak. For two years vou've had a hobby— automobiles. You've also had a pet toplc of conversation; personal, guar- anteed, high-class service. You tell me that you own a garage, that it I care ORT Tell me; just is this—reverse—you my men and double prices from my customers—advertising slogan: Is it worth double money to secure perfect service? By jingo! Doris—it's won- derful. I haven't been so eager in years: ‘And you'll do it?" '“Do 1t?"* His face was radiant— boylsh even. -“Why, you couldn’t keep me from it. It's u knockout. I'm talking like a mechanic already. T'll start right away.” Her eyes were shining. T‘m so glad, Donald: so very, very glad. And T'll help. We'll get a little two-room- and-kitchenette apartment, and when the housework is done I'll come to the office and keep your books—and flles— and whatever else it is that garage offices have. And we'll make a suc- cess of it. And when we've done that 1 can divorce vou, feeling that I have earned my freedom." Divorce! The word filled the room; stifling the camaraderie of a moment since. The man stopped as though he had been struck physically. A hurt look came into his eyes and a bit of his habitual grimness returned. “I see. I forgot that this is to be a prison sentence for you; a term at hard labor in anticipation of freedom. Yes. I forgot that for a moment. I apologlz But she was unruffied. “Tomorrow, Donald, we'll get together as business partners. We'll wind up vour affairs and lay plans for the future. I am anxious to start. It means so much to me—" T haven't a doubt. And, of course, we'll be successful; any undertaking which has so worthy an end must suc- ceed. We are striving for more than mere money—we're working shoulder to shoulder for freedom—from each other.” She gazed at him level-eyed, imper- turbable. “Precisely, Donald. Don't you believe it is worth the effort?” “That,” he answered shortly, “is for you to decide.” * k k% ‘HE launching of the business in. volved a mass of detall work; | irksome, irritating, unforseen details which were doubly difficult to him be- cause of his unfamillarity with busi- ness. ~ But slowly and surely order was brought out of chaos. The garage which was left to him affer his creditors had been pald proved to be unusually well fitted to the project. It was roomy and fur- nished with the most modern of equip- ment. There was a glassed-in office which Doris insisted on beautifying. Donald’s first direct move was to engage the man whom he considered, as the result of long experience, the finest automobile mechanic in the city {and he also employed an electrical | expert. With this force in hand, Donald launched & campaign of advertising. He selected The Motor Service Corpo- ration as his name, and his slogan was “Double Service at Double Prices.” His campaign was directed at the owners of fine cars—men who wanted results and were willlng to pay the price. His ex-intimates were amused and tolerant. They very cheerfully: patronized him at first and later be- came enthusiastic customers because the service was more than merely excellent. From the moment The Motor Serv- fce Corporation was launched the Doris whom Donald had known since marriage ceased to exist. Without complaint or harking back to the days of greater affluence, she buckled to her self-appointed task. And she worked s hard as he did—or harder. She found a dainty little two-room- and-kitchenette apartment in a starkly new and amazingly gaunt apartment house. He was amazed to learn that Doris could cook well. She disdained a servant, save once a week for heavy cleaning. The washing of course was given out. It was at her insistence that he resigned memberships in the Country Club and the City Club; al- though she forced him to retain his card at the Athletic. Within a month they had settled into a domestic groove. And after the apartment was stralghtened in the mornings Doris would appear in the office and busy herself with the books. She proved to be an excellent office woman; she evolved a card-index system for sup- plies needed, attended to the reorder- ing, sent out the bills, dled bank deposits, chatted with patrons—until recently her intimate friends—and her manner was so bright and cheerful and optimistic that many who came to condole went away a trifle envious. Socfety shook its head doubtfully. “It just shows that you never can tell,” was its sage comment. “I would have taken oath that the Ryders were on the verge of divorce. And now— well, it's simply wonderful.”” Their domestic relations were anoms BY OCTAVUS pear to diminish; instead she took greater pride in her work at the shop and exhibited more and more enthusi- asm over her task as housekeeper. * ok ok ok THE business grew slowly, but it grew healthily. Among the own- ers of fine cars in the city there de- veloped a stereotyped comment: “If there’s anything wrong with your car, take it to Don Ryder. He charges but he gives service. Elght months after starting in business Donald made his first step in a carefully meditated program of expansion. He leased a small build- ing adjoining his garage and laid in, part on cash and part on credit, a large stock of accessories and parts. He and Doris held a Httle tete-a-tete celebration when this was decided upon. They were more like a pair of children than they had ever been during their husband-and-wife days. “I believe I'm going to put it over, Doris."” “I know you are. Right now—" “Precisely. The big money in the automobile game lies in the sale of parts. It's my ideal to be able, eventually, to pay cash for parts and to stock them for all makes of cars. I want to handle the finest line of accessories in the city. ‘If you want it. Ryder can give it to you! Some line like that, see? Do vou know, the more I see of the service I give the sorrier I get that 1'm not wealthy so that T could have the pleasure of tronizing us.” Pohe laughed. “Perhaps, The smile died from her 1t eyes were bent to her. didn't mean that, Doris. 30 never get that wealthy—again. They finished their meal in silence. She was consclous of his scrutiny, knew well the thoughts which were agitating him, but neither by ‘word nor sign did nhom‘ilve any indication e understood. lh;;eshwu not unmindful of the change that had occurred in thelr lives, and she realized, too, that it was not transitory. Certain funda- mentals of their nature had been al- tered. She knew that she was a dif- ferent person, just as she knew that he was a different man. They were shoulder to shoulder, salvaging hap- piness; striving as partners to earn their freedom. * x k¥ THE stocking of parts and acces- sorfes increased the efficlency of the Motor Service Corporation and slowly builded its bank balance. In the vear which followed the business passed from the category of “solid” to the classification of *‘successful. by one, hand-picking his men, Donald Ryder hired additional mechanics until he had under him a force of factory- trained experts, each a master of a certain type of fine car. The machine shop equipment was augmented and modernized; two carmine roadsters were bought and equipped as wreck- ers for road service; another buflding was leased. furnished as a retail store und devoted exclusively to the sale of accessories. In the office now there were two stenographers and a trained bookkeeper; Doris had become office manager. So far the corporation had invested its profits in itself. At the end of the third year it possessed very little cash, but boasted a great capital worth. Success had bred success. It was doing capacity business and never faltering in the quality of its service. It was reliable to the ultimate degree and stood four-square behind every Job it did and every sale it made. And yet. with it all, Donald Ryder felt that there was something lacking; a bafling sensation of incompletenesas persisted. He tried unsuccessfully to analyze it. He took stock of himself; harked back three years and found it very difficult to believe that he was the same man or Doris the same woman. Financlal disaster, their queer compact, had developed unsuspected traits in both. Yet he wondered whether they changed basically. Or, at least, whether she had. Her actions were different. She was more allve, more vitally interested in things, but toward him she maintained her attitude of scrupulous impersonality. He set his teeth grimly; somehow he wished that she were not so steadfast. * x % X T was less than six months later that, he recelved an appointment request from Gardner J. Hanrahan, a retired capitalist. Hanrahan had been from the first one of his best patrons. The grizzled old man looked out at him from under buhsy brows and growled a greeting. ; “Sit down. I've got something to some His 5a; Donald sat. “Yes, sir? “This business of yours—it is very successful. I've been investigating. Your wife has shown me the books. Now, T don't belleve in beating around the bush. I'm not a dickerer. I think you ought to expand—open up else- where. Your idea {s sound, your meth- ods are excellent. You need capital. I have plenty. I want to buy a half in- terest in your business for $50,000!" Donald Ryder stared. In a moment it came to him—the astounding fact AND SHE WORKED AS HARD AS HE DID—OR HARDER. will still be yours after your debts are paid. Donald why don’t you give the public high-class auto service; double service, double speed—and dou- ble prices * K ko SHE paused. The air of the room was surcharged with the magne- tism of her own intense personality. It galvanized the man. “By George! A garage—high-class work on hig class cars—personal supervision. That's an idea. I say! Ta f: that myse‘l'(, :'ml I'm an ulrrt on rows in surprise. | internal combustion motors. play e b for the high-class custom, and perfect “Qb: you must understand. T had'service guaranteed. Double wages to alous, and not entirely lacking in zest. One of their two rooms contained a large closet behind the door of which was concealed a swinging bed. This served as Doris’ bedroom; the other was Donald’s. She invariably left the shop in time to market for dinner, prepare it, and greet him with the calm air of the woman who has been at home all day preparing for her husband’s return. He marveled more and more, and wondered how long it would last. Perhaps, he thought at first, it was the novelty which inter- ested her; but as the months whirled by and the novelty wore away, her ab- sorption in this pew life' did not ap- Iy, that within three and one-half years he had built a business which, on this conservative man’s cold-blooded es- timate, was worth not Jess than $100,000. That was his first thought. His second had nothing whatever to do with business. With eyes half closed, his mind conjured a picture of Doris. The big voice boomed through the room. “Well, what's the matter? Have you gone to sleep? Why don't you answer?” ‘ “Mr. Hanrahan—really, “‘Ohl to thunder with that, Yes—or ROY COHEN \ I thought you had the right stuff. I hoped for your own sake you would turn me down. It's cheap at 60,000, but that's my best offer. I'm hard-boiled.” ‘Yes, sir. ‘Be hard-bolled yourself. That's the ror:d»lo success. Now, I'm busy. Get out. But Donald did not immediately get out. He was thinking, and thinking hard. Finally, he spoke. “Mr. Hanra- han, you just hinted that you were looking for a gilt-edged investment.” “Yes—always." “You put a minimum appraisal on my business of $100,000. I should like to borrow $50,000 frem you on that business; giving as security a five-year mortgage payable $5,000 a year for four years and the balance on the fifth; the loan to yleld 7 per cent, payable seml-annually.” ‘The brows beetled. “Why?" “T want $50,000. ‘None of my business, eh? Come back tomorrow. I'll let you know. ‘Two days later, after an audit of the company’s books, the business was mortgaged to Hanrahan and the $50,000 paid to Ryder. He deposited the money to the firm's credit, and then wrote another check. When he rose from his desk, Doris was donning hat and cape. She looked very pretty and tiny and eflicient as she stood be- fore him. T want to ask a favor, Dorls.” “Yes?" “Please splurge tonight. Get a big dinner—lots . of fancy things—you know. We'll eat late. ‘Let Martha go after the cooking is done. I want to talk to you. If she caught the serious nuance in his tone, she gave no sign. She set the dinner hour at 7:30 and waved him good-bye. He did very little work for the balance of the afternoon. The immediate future seemed fraught with great potentialities. * x % ¥ A’l‘ 7 he entered the tiny apart- ment; they had three rooms now —his room and hers and a real dining room. From the kitchenette drifted appetizing odors, and when she sum- moned him he came forth in dinner clothes. But the impression he ex- pected to create was somewhat negatived by his amazement. Doris smiled at him from a gown of sap- phire and silver. They then both fell silent and there was a peculiarly con- strained air in the room. Martha served dinner and left. It was a wonderful dinner, gauged by the standards to which they had accu: tomed themseives during the past 3 years: there was cocktail of fresh lob- ster and hors d'oeuvres and filet of sole and succulent lamb chops and creamed potatoes and dainty ramekins filled with French peas and hearts of lettuce with Thousand Island dressing and ice cream served with little choco- late squares which Doris herself had made; then coffee and cheese and tiny toasted cracke He tried to appear at ease, but knew that his conversation was forced and unnatural. It was almost as though he were dining with a stranger. No, not that: he felt like a man at dinner with the girl whom he hopes some day to marry. ‘They cleared the table together, but dispensed with dish-washing. And then with the big center light ex- tinguished, they seated themselves side by eide on the lounge which had been brought with them from the other home. There was no light in the “Good. Fine. room save the piano lamp which shed SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. O, OCTOBER 4, 1925—PART 5. its soft radiance over her little face. She waited patlently for him to speak, and somehow he found that speech came with difficulty. There was 80 much he desired to say and #0 little that he could say and it never occured to him that in all this 3% years she might have believed that he had never swerved from his desire for a divorce. And yet there had been times when she had looked closely at his lean, finely featured face and wondered, and wondered. - “Doris, where did you get that din- ner dress?” She blushed. “I've had this fer more than 31, years. “It is the one you wore—that night?” Yes.” “I see. Queer; the same dvess. This dinner suit of mine. We haven't had much chance for dressing up in the last 3 years, have we?" “Have you missed if es. Delighttully.” silence—which she broke. *“I just let down the skirt a little and changed the waistline.” “It is the same dress. you guessed—" “That you were thinking about—us? Perhaps.” He leaned back and clasped his hands behind his head. Abruptly he questioned: “Have you been happy this past 3 years?" “Happy?” She looked at him curi- ously. “We—we didn't do this—for happiness, did we?” Ye-es, in a way. separation. “And you, Donald?" “I have felt—different. Tt is diffi- cult to analyze just how I have felt. T have enjoved ft.” There was a hint of bitterness in her volce: “Like camping out?” And a touch of the old sardonic humor in his answer: “Perhaps.” * %k % ¥ THEN for a while they said noth- ing. This was not at all as he had expected. He was afrald to trust himself. Now he took from the pock- et of his dinner jacket an envelope which he handed to her. She looked at him and then at the envelope. T wonder 1t The happiness of My She took from the envelope a check. Her eyes widened. “To my order—for $50,0001 What does it mean?"” He sketched briefly the detalls of his conference with Hanrahan. “That is the estimated value of a half-interest in the business, Doris. For three and a half years you have worked shoulder to shoulder with -me—for your free- dom. I believe that amount will prove sufficlent. She tried to appear calm, but the effort was not entirely successful, and he—blind as he was—could not dis- cern the emotlonal stir within her. She heard his volce: “I appreciate all you've done, Doris; without you this measure of success would have been impossible. You have done your part and more. If ever a woman earned her independence you have. There it is. I am glad—for your sake.” His lips were tight set. She looked at him steadily, and suddenly her eyes filled with tears. She tried futilely to control herself—then rose without a word and crossed the room. The door of her bedroom closed behind her and he fancied that from beyond the door he heard a sob. * ok ok x E sat smoking, very much alone. In a moment the material su cess had become pallid and worthless. Gone was his pride of achievement, gone the warm glow which had come from the fact that he had done it— | he and Doris. She had left him. He cursed himself for a sentimental fool; what right had he to believe that this three years should have changed her? What ‘basis for hoping that perhaps she would reject freedom when it should be offered? He thought back —in all their three and a half years of close companionship there had been no moment of intimacy. They had been friends and partners, but never lovers. One hour passed; two. The man hag not moved. And then the door to Doris's room opened and she came to him and stood before him; dainty and exquisite in the silver and sapphire dinner gown. Her hand was extended and in it he saw his check—the check which was to buy her freedom. It had been torn across and then THE ATMOSPHERE IN THB BIG ROOM WAS TENSE; IT ALWAYS WAS WHEN THEY 'WERE ALONE. S i - i ee ), ; = Fishee across again. “Donald 7 Yes, Dorls? ver since we were fi we have been hon with each other It was a trust each placed in the other, and T do not believe that elther of us has ever been false to that trust Sometimes our honesty has amounted to brutality.” he paused, then went on rapidly “You asked me if T have been bhappy during this three and a half vears. 1 evaded vour question. I shall answer it now. 1 have been happy—happle: than ever before in my life; happier, perhaps, than I shall ever be again And I have been miserable, too. No. stay where you are. Let me finish It is hard to say what I am going to say. “Tomorrow, Donald, T shall leave this apartment. We will go through with the divo You have worked for three years—faithfully and hard— for that. I made the conditions, and I shall carry them through. But 1 cannot take the money from you. It seems too sucred a thing to use—for such a purpose. I have destroyed the check." He rose and put his hands on her shoulders, looked down into her eyes. “Why—why is it too sacred?” She did not evade. She met hi< gaze with glorious directness. “Let us not put into our parting Donald, a lack of honesty which i= foreign to our natures. When I leave you in the morning, T want you to know one thing—one thing— And that is?” T love vou. His hands tightened until the fin gers dug deep into the soft, whi flesh. Tt was hard to understand.- difficult to grasp in a second the s ficance of her words. And then his hungry arms were about her and she was crushed against him—held in a clasp ehich she could not doubt, and he was talk ing to her—talking foolishly and sent mentally—talking as he had talked on that other wondrous night when she had promised to be his wife, lowly her arms crept about his L married necl opened. The torn bits of the check floated to the floor and lay there—forgotten (Copsright, 1925.) The fingers of her right kand He Didn’t Know a Thing About Taxation, So He Qualified for Debate on Subject BY § T LOOK: M HELLM/ .’ 1 remarks to “High Dome” Finnegan, “that the next Congress is going give the income tax a boyish bob.™ ose they do.” comes back that vhat good's it going to do?" ““What do vou mean ‘what good’ I inquires, puzzled. “Don’t you think the whole country’ll be helped by a slash in the rate?” “Just how?” returns Finnegan. 'Well,” says I, “take a corporation that’s being rigged about ten million in taxes now. Won't they he able to sell stuff cheaper if the Government tap Is cut in half, for examples”"” “They might.” agrees “High Dome,” but what makes you think they will? Aln’t they more likely to take the jac they save and slap it into extra melon cuts?” “For a while, maybe,” I replies, “but competition is bound to smash down prices in the long run. “Admitting that's true,” says Finne- gan, “won't wages g0 down, too?” Why should they?” I demand: “Listen, feller,” goes on “High Dome.” “It's the cost of living that regulates pay rolls, ain't it? Vhen a bunch of labor birds go on a strike for more jack what's their excuse—that they got to have more dough on ac- count_of rents, rags and rolls going up. Yes.” 'What of it,” T wants to know. “Just this,” returns “High Dome “You push down the cost of living 2! per cent, let's say, and just as sure as green apples make tummyaches the price of labor'll go down that much, and then what have you gained?” 'Well,” says I, “the—"" ‘The bunk,” finishes TFinnegan. *“You're like the rest of the flat tires velp for lower taxes and lower costs of living with- out thinking what the effect’ll b Taxes and the price of stuff you have to buy ain’t got nothing to do with the standard of living in this country. “What has?” I asks. “Your old man’s_toupee? “Labor and crops,” says “High Dome.” “You get a lotta stuff raised on the farms and have enough work around for carpenters, hod carriers and the rest, and the prices and taxes don’t mean a thing. What's the dif- ference if a bim gets $16 a day, pays $14 of it to live and $2 in taxes, or if he gets $12 a day and has to pay $12 to get by on? He's not paying any taxes and he's eating just as good as he used to, but he ain't saving any re. ‘That's all right,” I comes back, “but they is one big thing you're overlooking.” “Your shortcomings?" negan. E}"ou‘rfl giving the snow and ice to the fact,” I goes on, treating the slam with the contempt I deserve, “that thers are billions in this country tied up in the sock, bonds and stuff like that that'll be turned loose into build- ing factories and the so forth if the tax is cut down on regular invest- ments. Won't that make a lot more work and Ip_’tel,d a lot of jack around the country? “No, it :v’;?n't," says “High Dome.” ‘Why not?” T asks. ‘Because,” goes on Finnegan, “building more factories and things like that ain’t got nothing to do with the taxes here. It's got a whole lot more to do with the taxes in Europe. If we was to manufacture a lot more stuff than we're making now who do you think you'd peddle it to? Our best customers over the other side of the drink are broke, and nothing that we do with taxes around here is go- ing to make ‘em any less broke. As queries Fin- THE FIRST PLACE.” SAYS FINNEG. 1S THE BEST POLITICAL CAMPAIGN MATERIAL THERE 1S a matter of fact, I was reading the other day that a lotta textile mills hadda shut down on accqunt of their export business being shot to pieces. What good would & reduction in taxes do_those concerns? 1 returns. “If they could make slufldrheflp(‘r they could sell vad."” “That’s right,” nods “High Dome,” “but then you get back to the wage proposition. The mills have already started cutting in New England, and a tax lop would just be an excuse for slamming another slash onto the pay scale. “Well.” I remarks, “they must be something good in cutting taxes or there wouldn't be so much yelling for it.” “In the first place,” savs Finnegan, “reducing taxes is the best political campaizn material there is. You tell the average voter that you've cut his tax from $8.50 a year to $6.15 and all he sees is a saving of § “He is saving that much, isn't he?"” I insists. A Mammal That Sees With Its Ears. 'I‘HE question is often asked, How can a bat, flying at great speed in a room, know that there is a fine eilk thread just ahead of it and turn in time to avoid {t? The bat, accord- ing to the investigations of a distin- guished English naturalist, émits tiny sound waves too high to be audible to human ears. These sound waves send back an echo from all solld ob- Jects near by. The bat possesses peculiarly attuned ears, provided with many external facual appendages, and these receive the echoes. The bat may be said to receive a sound pic- ture of surrounding objects. It may be sald to “'see” with its ears. It has been discovered that the short wavelength sounds given forth by the flying bats while near the audible limit of man are really above the limit of most people. The bats, while peculiarly sensitive to such sounds, have little or no_capacity to hear louder sounds: Experiments have shown that bats were not dis turbed when persons spoke loudly to them, but that they were greatly disturbed when hands wers clapped or paper was torn. The tearing of paper caused the bats to slacken their speed and to flutter. Bats move their wings very rapidly. They make about 10 or 12 strokes in & second. This produces an extremely 1y high note that is not generally su- dible to man, but easily becomes so ‘with the aid of the microphone. Now this high note strikes all the surrounding objects, becomes modified by their character and size, and is reflected back. These reflections or echoes are received by the bat's ears. ‘The best informed naturalists have for years understood that the bat possessed some extraordinary means of guiding its flight, but they failed to understand the true nature of the apparatus until the results of the English experiments were made known. Cuvier thought that the bat's power of finding its way about in the dark was due to an exceptional de- velopment of touch residing in the delicato membrane expanse of the wings. . 1t is in the ears and the surround- ing parts of the face that the most remarkable development of the bat is to be found. The varicus species of bats differ greatly as to ears, but all possess an immense superiority of ear over all other animated forms. The pinnae or outermost parts of the ear are not only quite large, but they are mogable and most sensitive. These mo¥ements and this sensitiveness were never accounted for until the British investigator threw light upon a pecullarity of bat behavior which had baffled the scientists of some gen- erations past. “Yes,” admits “High Dome.” “he ix but if le's 4 business man he's proba bly losing several times that much on his profits if what you say about com- petition pulling down prices is true. If he's a laborer it’ll come out of his wages Weforc long.” ay vou T tells him. “ft'd probably be better to double the taxes instead of cutting 'em down.' “It wouldn’t make any difference in the long run,” returns Finnegan. “The taxes have been pretty high in the last few years, haven't they “I'll tell me they have been swers: " I an “Just same,” says “Iligh Dome,” “evervhody that's been will ing to work couid get a job at good wages, more automobiles were bought than ever before in the history of the country, savings deposits have In creased two and three times over, the standard of living is higher than ever before, and they ain't a_free soup kitchen in the country. How do you account for all of that if the taxes have been crushin The farmers haven't been doing very zood.” T suggests The farmers!” splutters Finnegan. “They don't even pay any taxes. A bookkeeper in New York making $30 < puts more in the Gov ernment kick than an apple-knocker out in Towa with a thousand acres of corn and three automobiles. Tt wasn't taxes that ailed those babies out in the Northwest. Tt was just a lot of cheap Jand speculating with dough borrowed from bankers that knew about as much ahout banking as a fish does about flute plaving. Get the idea out of vour head that taxes have got anything to do with pros- perity. It's” just lke the tariff—a foot ball for the feeders at the public crib to kick around near election times. There's only one class that might be helped for a while by a cut in taxes.” “And them are’” T inquires. “Salarfed men and _professional men,” answers “Hizh Dome,” “and it wouldn't take long for salaries and fees to come down, either, if the tazes were cut much. “How do you happen to know so much about taxes?” I asks, ‘I don't know a thing about ‘em,” returns Finnegan. “That's why I can discuss them in behalf of the great American publi A Skyline Road, N the vicinity of Canon City, Colo., 15 a unique road. It lies along the summit of a hogback ridgs a thousand feet above the surrounding plain on both sidés. This drive is about 35 feet wide, it winds to and fro and sweeps gently up and down on the narrow crest for about 4 miles. The view from this skyline is beyond de- scription. The top of this ridge is really 'tho “skyline” on the west of Canon City, and as vehicles are driven along the skyline for miles they are silhouetted against the sky in a very interesting fashion. Thousands of autos visit this place ever year to take a ride over this unique road, which is as smooth as a city street. It is & monument to John Cleghorn, warden of the State prison, who has the work done by convicts, free to the State. e “Isn’t Foot Ball a Love-ly Game!” He—Look, our captaln is kick the goall Sotag (o) She—What 414 the goal de?