New Britain Herald Newspaper, October 29, 1920, Page 13

MRS. GORDON JUDSON look- ed at her watch, as she sat in the crowded ladies’ walt- ing room of the Union Depot in Wash- ington, D. C. She had been so pre- occupled with her thoughts of the past two weeks, the ten minutes she had been waiting seemed to have fairly ' jumped Into two. A woman whom she bad not noticed before, must have also forgotten the passing of time, for to- gether they joined the crowd on their way to the many trains, The door swung back and forth as the stream of people came in and out. The woman in her excltement to get/ through the door, pushed Mr. Judson maside. “I wonder how any one can be #0 rude, exen if one is In a hurry”—she thought, she stooped to pick up a magazine that had fallen to the floor. To her astonishment, a black velvet bag lay beside the book. She looked around—no one scemed Interested in her or the bag. There was not a mo- ment to lose, or she would miss her train, so picking them up she hurried through the gate and was soon seated in the Royal Blue Limited for Balti- more. Mrs. Judson belonged to the smart set. Her husband, Gordon Judson, was well known in all the large east- ern and southern citles as a shrewd business man, a man of wealth and. AROL DODGE came into the room where her mother and sister were sitting. “Russell went home a littl@ later than usual, didn’t he?” her mother re- marked as she put up her sewing. “Why, yes, a little,” Carol replied, “but only a few minutes, I think.” “Well, you better be going to bed, row. Good night,” she added, as Carol's younger sistér left the room. Carol was not long in following her sister, and in the privacy of their room she appeared very much awake. Her sister, Virginla, immediately sur- mised that the bright eyes and flushed <cheoks were the result of a serious talk with Russell. But without a sign of interest she slowly began to pre- pare for bed. At last Carol could resist no longer. “Virgle, do you like Russell?” she asked. “Oh, yes, Carol, of course 1 do. 1Is " that what all the excitement is about?” Carol wheeled suddenly. Did you Botice anything the matter?” ' “Why, no, dear, but I know some- thing was on your mind. But you'd better go to sleep now and dream on it,” and with this she dismissed the subject, Three days later was Carol's birth- T was I1 o'clock in the morning. and the brokerage offices of R. Davis & Co, on the twentieth floor of the Hayden bullding, were humming with activity. A dozen stenog raphers were pounding typewriters and Mr. Davis himself was having an important business interview in his in- terior office. Three men entered the door leading from the hall. They were young, very well dressed, and rather professioual Jooking. They swept the entire office with one glance, then approached the gate, and asked if Mr, Davis was “in." ‘ “Mr. Davis is in, but busy just now,” sald a stenographer. “WIill you be seated and walt? “Cannot wait! Must see. him at oncel” sald one of the men. And pushing through the gate he strode in- to the president’s office. The other two fellgws followed their companion ;behind the rail. Then, suddenly and simultaneously, they pulled revolvers, and the first robber covered the aston- ished president and his business call- er, while another backed up the clerks and stenographers against the wall! It was all methodically dome. The safe was clesned of considerable cash and a bunch df Liberty Bonds and other securities. The men were cool, OOK, tellers, he's counting his money! It's piled up two feet g high on a table—gold, silver, paper!” Four young men crept up excitedly to the cabin window. There sat old “Cabin” Wilkins, as he was known in the town, sitting at a rickety old table, with a dim kerosene lamp, couting his money—the accumulated fortune of & life time! The old man was assort- fng It into plles, and the gold actually glistened and shone, while the miser would handle and fondle it affection- ately and smile with a look of infinite satisfaction, and then cast a few swift glances about the room to make sure that he was alone. “Damn funny the old geezer didn't pull down the curtain!” whispered one of the gang. “Ah, he's t00 old to have any sense!" replied a companion. “Fellers, it's mighty easy pickin' ™ observed another. “We can sneak in- to the back window, cover the old man, and get away with his coln before he knows that we've been here! What do you say?” “We're gam the others whispered, and Jim Pruitt, the bose of the party, everyone who had spent an hour in his company knew of his perfect devotion to his wife. At present, he was some- where on the Gulf coast, looking after his interests in orange groves. Mrs. Herbert Lee of Washington had insisted on Mrs. Judson making her a /vinn during her husband's absence, “Gladis Judson is entirely too attrac- tive to spend her time alone while Gor- don is away,” Mrs. Lee had told her friends—so the two women who had been girl friends and room mates at school were again under one roof. One the hostess, the other the guest. Theater parties followed dances and automobile trips, and always Captain Trevers, who had won many honors and as many loves, was with the par- ty. The Judsons had been married for nearly three years and though belong- ing to the gay and wealthy set, there had never been the slightest scandal attached. to their name. Mrs. Judson, who was considered the most beautiful brunette in Baltimore, was also known as the most circum- The Candy Box Camouflage =" ——— | day, but not one in the house noticed how eagerly she waited for night to house. Not one even noticed that she took particular pains with her hair and dress, except with a casual remark that she looked very pretty with her twenty Summers. Six o'clock brought the florist’s hoy with the largest bunch of roses that had ever been brought into the Dodge household. Carol carefully selected three of the daintiest blossoms and pinned them in her waist. Finally her patience was rewarded with the coming of Russell. Hardly had he entered the door when he hand- ed her a large box with the words, “Many happy returns, Carol.” With one look Carol set the box on the table. “Thank you, Russell,” and with this she seated herself on the opposite side of the room. Russell tried in vain to coax her out of this sudden change, but not a word did the least good. Finally he said he “n en Mpect. “Who is that charming woman dancing with Captain Trevers?” asked Mary Nell Lewls, one of the younger set, who's mamma at least-had her eye on the handsome Captain for her daughter, “She is some ome from Baltimore who is visiting Mrs. Lee, and I can't help but notice, my dear, how she con- tinually makes eyes at Captain Tre- in vers.” This last remark was from Betty Heald’s mother, who's husband died some years before, and the fam- ily purse had dwindled down to the point where Betty, a cute little blonde, was expected to marry well and re- plenish it. Betty wasn't particularly worried, as long as she could laugh, dance and have all the chocolate bonbons she could eat. The dance was given by Mrs. Clark Frizzell, Captain Trevers’ sister, a widow with a fortune which would be the captain’s some day. The ball room of the New Ballard Hotel was ablaze with lights and flow- ers. The beautiful strains of Lional Slater's orchestra could be Heard at must go, and with a careless good- night, Carol rah up the stairs to her- 1f you are going to do so much tomor- come that would bring Russell to the own room. The astonished Russell left the house trying to remember what he had said to mak arol feel like this, but soon bega hink he had done all he could, apd would have to leave the rest to her: Meanwhile Carol had gone to her room and flinging the box in her sis- ter's lap hurriedly began to undress. “Why, what's this, Carol?” asked Virginia, as she untied the wrapper. “Russell’s birthday gift to me. “Why, Carol Dodge, do you mean to tell me that you didn't even open it?” “Well, Virginia, that's exactly what I didn’t do, and I wish you wouldn’t ever say another thing about it. And tell mother Russell won't be coming here any more.” . Virginia opened her eyes in perfect bewilderment. Then she untied the gold ribbon and lifted the cover of the box, “Oh, my goodness, look at this won- derful box of candy,” she exclaimed, Break” the far end of the conservatory where Captain Trevers had led Mrs. Judson before the waltz was quite over. “Will you go with me for a canter to Chevy Chase tomorrow? I have a wonderful riding horse for you. My sister gave him to me when I returned from France.” Mrs. Lee, who had been looking for the couple, came up time to hear the conversation. “I will answer for her, captain, she sure- ly will go—and turning to her friend, she said, “Gladis, dear, you will find Captain Trevers a wonderful rider, and the nights are ideal now.” The fol- lowing evening the moonlight lit the road far out of Washington, it was nearly midnight when they turned their horses’ heads toward, home— and somehow the wonderful night, the moon and Captain Trevers’ love-mak- ing cast such a spell over Gladis Jud- son, that she forgot everything but that she had promised to elope with the captain the following night. When she awoke the next morning, the sun was shining in her windows and the birds were singing (things do as she passed it to her sister. But Carol, under cover of the bed clothes, only shook her head. Carefree Vir- ginia calmly selected the biggest piece in sight and began to eat with delight. Then she re-covered the box and crept into bed with her sister. The next day failed to bring any- thing to light. Carol refused to eat a single piece of candy and no onme in the house could imagine what was the matter with her and Russell. Even Russell himself, as he sat at home near the telephone, was wondering why he had been treated so cooly. Finally, he closed his lips with a stub- born snap, “She’ll just have to come to me first, this time,” he resolved, and immediately called up her house to say he was going away on a business trip. Even this failed to bring any re- sponse, and he left the city with a heavy heart, for after all he knew he still cared for his beloved Carol. The next Sunday Virginia had three girl friends at the house. The first thing she did was to bring out the By Jennie Slater look different in the morning) she realized what she had done. Her per- fectly discreet past and her husband's absolute faithfulness to her made her see the terrible mistake she had made. She hurriedly sent a note to Captain Trevers and kept to her room all that day, complaining of a severe headache. She must get back to have the house in readiness for Mr Judson’s returnm, she had told Mrs. Lee in answer to her urgent request to stay a few days longer. So the day following, Mrs. Judson left \Washington without seeing Cap- tain Trevers again, and hoping that her husband could not ,detect the thought of guilt in her face. The train was a half hour out of ‘Washington - bétore she thought of the bag she had found. She almost wished she had not picked it up. It must have belonged to that rude woman who rushed past her in the station. The bag contained some bills, a ticket to New York and some letters. Casual- ly picking up the letters, she found that all were open; one was addressed box of candy and pass it to her friends. Carol turned her head away as she saw the beautiful box start on its rounds among the guests, and with freezing coldness refused her share as it passed her. “Isn’t this just glorious candy?” Vir- ginia asked as she nibbled at a large caramel. “I should say so,” a pretty girl of 16 replied. “I'd llke to see my sister ving ‘me a box her friend gave her.” “That’s right, Amy,” came another -yoice, “my sister wouldn’t give me a ece, let alone a boxful.” “Well, you ought to have my sister,” Virginia struck in again, as she took another plece of candy. Then she ex- claimed, “Oh, goodness, what have I .gotl" Gracefully taking out the piece of candy she drew a hard object into sight. “Excuse me a minute,” she add- ed as she left the room. In a second she was back and called her sister to the door. Pressing some- thing into her hand, she said. “Take this upstairs. It's something I found By Joella Johnson Ina few days for Balttmore. who is the most devoted of been visiting her school chu she will meet me in Baltin return. So we met and must forget, that you have an adoring I a wife who's every alone. Au revoilr, GORDON Mrs. Judson stance of her letter to the- Washington, Dear Captaln Trevers: Tj tiful morning makes me indiscreet I was when I p elope with you. You were company, and I was a fooll I am leaving immediately fo meet my husband who is from Jacksonville, Fla. A soldier and a gentleman ly forget this little af ~ GLADIS | The bag sld slowly to The letters so strangely b gether lay in her lap. One by bit she tore them into and threw them out of the “All out for Baltimore,” 8 porter; Mrs. Judson aiGaN her hat and as the sm l:ql husband appeared ouy dow, she started toward the Well—she thought, i¥'s break. to Mr. Bert Hammel, Twenty-third street, New York, and read as follows: ‘Washington, D. C., June 9th, — Dear Bert: I thought I'd send back the letter you copped from Mrs. Ald- well, but as I had a tif with Mrs. Frizzell yesterday, I just up and tells her I was going to quit. Funny, isn't it, when I was cleaning up Captain Trevers’ room (he’s her brother, who has" just come from France). I finds a letter under his pillow with the same name signed to it as the one you sent me. If Mrs. Aldwell pays well for that letter, we can skip somewhere and she will, for she never would want old Aldwell to see it. If Mrs, Frizzell won't let me go tomor- row, I'll send this and the other two letters. Yours, MOLLY. With trembling fingers another let- ter was taken from the bag: Jacksonville, Fla., May 27th, — My Dear, Dear Mrs. Aldwell: I am so miserable since you left, why did your friends in New York take you from me just when I had discovered how adorable you are? I am leaving the' ring for your birthday.) “Yes, but Russell, my, can not be explained. hr I can do now is just to much you will forget.” “Y have forgotten - I think it will teach us b in that piece of candy.” not to take so much for Carol hurried upstaid, and then “Indeed ft will, but opened her hand. There gleaming in added, shaking her curly the sunlight was the most brilliant dia- YOu give another girl & box mond ‘she had ever seen. Gradually don’t leave her until she her color deepened, and then with a €very piece 3 cry she flung herself on the bed. “You're the only one n “Oh, Ryssell,” she murmured, “I see ever eat my candy, and I it all now. What a terribly selfish girl you very closely.” I have been.” Then with one ®pring .And then they started she hurried to the telephone and left o a message for Russell to call imme- diately when he arrived in town. She Private Washington o0- didn’t have long to wait, for that night knows most all about dese | Russell came in answer to her call. De cross guns is for de in “Oh, Russell, I'm so ashamed of my- de cross flags is for de sign: self I don’t know what to say. But I'm Private Stonewall Gra: 'going to tell you the truth and not try de pineapple is for de ord to spare myself. I was very angry at de corkscrew is for de m you for giving me that box of candy what I can’t figure out for my birthday, especially after our dere pen<-ten-shry stand talk the other night,” she added shy- M. Ps.? & ly. “I know, dear, and I don’t blame-you, After telling you I loved you so much, “Are you fond of fiction?” and then asking you to marry me, of “I used to be, but my b course you thought I would give you got me fed up on it.” nhlllm' The Failure of “Angel” Jim each knew his role and played it to perfection. They were bold and didn’t even attempt to put on masks! One of the stenographers, a petite, attractive young girl, kept her eyes riveted upon one of the men. He soon feit her gaze, and he returned it “Angel” Jim Clough, as he was known by his Eighteenth street pals, felt un- usually ill at ease, and the more he looked at the girl the more convinced he was that he knew her or at least bad met her somewhere. The girl, too, seemed to be trylng to recognize or place him, and he was quite as pos- itive that they had met at some time Neitiver could undersfhnd it, the draw- ing to each other, the almost uncanny influence which one seemed to wield over the other. The girl appealed ‘o “Angel” Jim like an old friend or pal —=a girl he had once known, and th impression she had made upon him was so strong that he forgot for the moment his purpose in the office of R. Davis & Company. ¥ The safe was quickly robbed of its valuables, and the money and secur- ities were deposited in a bag. Sud- denly the girl who had so mysteriously appealed to “Angel” Jim took a short- hand notebook’ out of a pocket in her dress, and scribbled something oh a sheet of paper and handed it to the astonished robber. Their work completed, they were out of the door in an instant. Recovering their senses, the men in the offices found their guns and opened fire upon the fleeting bandits. “Angel” Jim got a bullet in his body, and fell over. His companions picked him up and they managed to get away. Getting into theiy room, they laid “Angel” Jim upon an old cot in a cor- ner. The room was dark, having no window, and they had to light a candle. “Angel,” said the boss of the gang, “We'll have to get the doc, eh?” “I'm thinkin’ I'm pretty well shot up,” he answered. One of the men was straightway sent to summon Dr. Goldthwait, who was an old physician, living in the same tenement house, a man who dispensed dope quite freely and practiced largely among the criminal classes of the city. “Angel” Jim was in fearful pain, and though he remembered the note that the girl in the offices of R. Davis & Co., had handed him, and he wanted to read it the worst way, his arms were paralyzed and he couldn’t move. Gradually he sunk into a stupor or unconsciousness. “Angel” Jim was both a mystery and a source of amusement to his pals. They had nicknamed him “Angel” be- cause he was repeatedly talking about death and about angels and spirits, and was never so bappy as when discussing the “future life.” He read books continually about spi communication and about reincarna- tion, and more than once he had said, “Fellers, I don't know why I am here— but T know I don't belong in this bufch or in this line of business! T'm switched off somehow. There was a slip somewhere in my reincarnation, that’s all!” And then his companions would laugh, and ridicule him, “Angel,” they would say, “If you doped consid- erable we'd say that that was what was the matter with you, but as it is, well you're just plain batty, that’s all —there’s bats in your belfry!” There was a knock at the door. Two of the fellows jumped to their feet. Opening the door cautiously, they ad- mitted Dr. Golthwaite, who came in, set his medicine case down, and turn- ing to the cot, went to work method- ically upon his patient. “AngeN’ Jim opened his eyes. “Doc- tor,” he whispered, “I’'m pretty well shot up, but I've got a note in my pocket—there—read it to me—quick! I must know what it says before I— croak!” cabin. They located the rear window. Then, Jimmying it quietly, slowly, they succeeded in getting it open without disturbing the old miser. His mind was concentrated on his regular nightly sport, the counting and re- counting of his hoarded gold. Pruitt was the first to crawl through the window and into the cabin. Two others followed him. Pruitt drew his gun, and waited for the other members of the gang to get into the room. Sud- denly “CdBin” Wilkins looked around, and either saw the intruders’ shadow or sensed their presence, for he sprang to his feet catlike, and grabbed a cane which was close to his chair. Then, turning around, he faced Pruitt and his four tompanions. His face was like that of a hunted animal, and his breath came in quick, short gasps. He was looking into thre muzzle of Pruitt's gun! For an instant nobody -pole_. The cabin was as silent as the only sound that was heard was the hooting of an owl out in a nearby tree, and the slow ticking of a clock on a mantle-piece. “Cabin” Wilkins smiled. “Young men,” he said, in the trembling voice of old.age, “I take it you have come to steal from an old man—to take from him the accumulations of a life- time, to leave him penniless and help- less, alone in these woods, without friend or relation! Boys, you do not look to me like thugs or bandits or criminals. You are just young men of the village, I take it, and this is the first attempt of this kind you have ever made. May the good God see to it that it is the last!—and that you re- pent—and resolve to live honest and upright lives!"” Jim Pruitt moved up a little closer to the old man. “That’s enough of that bunk, ‘Cabin,”” he said roughly. “We didn’t come in here tonight to hear hand out some fatherly advice. We came in here to get our hands on that coin there on the table, and we're go- ing to get it, and—" “But wait—wait!” the old man in- terrupted. “Wait! I had a boy once —he was just like you, loving adven- ture and excitement, and he heard his country’s call in England when the German emperor tried to lick the world, and he joinedathe English army, and now—now—he lies out there in No Man’s Land in a soldier’s grave! He was my own son—the only relative I had in the world—he paid the su- preme price—and now—now—" The old man's eyes filled with tears, and he took a soiled bandana hand- kerchief out of his pocket and sobbed bitterly. “Well, I'll be blowed!” excisfmed Pruitt, lowering his gun, and almost forgetting that he had it, still keep- ing his _eve on the zlitterin i th “What shall we do, fellers? asked, turning to his companions. “This ts like taking milk from babies, bread from starving children! Shall we —" 0Old “Cabin” Wilkins fell heavily to the floor, and on his knees he looked imploringly up into the eyes of Jim Pruitt. He presented a strange spec- tacle —an old man, feeble with age, with shaggy white whiskers, crouching there in his cabin, trembling with fear in the presence of a band of robbers! “Ah, hell, let’s tie the old man and get out of here with the money!” said one of the gang, decidedly. “We need it more than old ‘Cabin’ does! He's been a miser here for a couple of years. Nobody knows anything about him—and wh{' should we—" A terrible, savage look came over the face of old “Cabin” Wilkins. He sprang to his feet like a panther, By Parke Whitney angels have told me the wh about myself. I am = fallw erable failuref” He gasped “I was once in love with heaven—and her name was loved her, but I bowld not because I had been a murd last incarnsation! Bdith lo The doctor fumbled in the man’s She could not give herself pocket, and pulled out a piece of pa- til I'had paid for my sin—u per. He read aloud, “I don't know made mfl—mflmoc! I where I have seen you, but I know &nother chance, I was you. You must not follow tiis busi- to return to the earth to peo ness—you will break my heart. could go straight and Hve| Edith.” life. Exifth's love was S0 “My God!” “Angel” gasped, and in she too, returned to the the dim, fickering light of the candle Dear me. But upon taking the men could see their pal sink into bodles again, our spirit Jife unconsciousness, but with a wonder- Eotten—and we couldu® 0 .ful look of happimess upon his face. though wehave beenoo 1al] They stood over him, with the doctor, d by our shadowy other and were sflent. One of them took the Dow—here I am—dying—stil crumpled plece of paper out of th> imnal! I have falled—failed | mar's hand and laid It on the old miserablyl” ¥ rickety table. The man fought:for bn “Men, he is-dying!” sald Dr. Golth- and his eyes stared futo waite. ‘was dead! Suddenly, “Angel” JIm seemed to re- “Edith! Baitht™ repeated-o cover consclousness and he looked up gang. “I never knew that ° into the anxious faces of his pals,and a gifT! . ., . Goodby, ‘@ smiled. “Fellers,” he said, “I know it and he touched ~“Amgel's” all now—I understand. I have been to “tenderly, “Goodby, and herel the shores of the ‘other world,’ and yow’ll have better luck: “Walt!” said the mysterious of the village.' “I'll tell yer do! TIll make a clesn bn identity and give you my coin—eh?” “We don’t want your o denly efacidated Jim Pruftt. The men instinctively ducked, and want you! We thought you Pruitt sprang upon the old man's what you are supposed to b shoulders, but was thrown heavily to town, and we came in to the fipor. of your surplus change, General rough-hoyse ensued, and changed our minds! You somebody clutched “Cabin’s” whiskers in’ Wilkins, the miser, but ‘8§ and peeled them off, and they reveal- Daley,’ the bandit and bank ed—a man not more than forty, having recognize your face now- the hardened, desperate face of a picture just yesterday in a criminal! There’s a reward of $5,000 out: “Who are you, anyhow?” Jim Pruitt. and we might just as well H exclaimed, looking straight into the Fellers, collect up the dough black eyes of the prisoner. The man take this guy to the®police sta smiled grimly. “No matter who I am,” rather be the feller to catch he said. “You fellers have won—now and get the reward, than to! take the money and get out!” bandit! Eh? What do you ' Others of the company were picking lers?” up gold and silver pieces and cur- rency from off the floor, and piling “I'm sure you will be in them on the table. “Take the money, said the young man. “It's damn ye!” hissed the prisoner. “But you know; the ‘Ring.’” —er—leave me a little change—to— “The ring?” echoed ‘the —_——