Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 162, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1918 — A CHERISHED KISS [ARTICLE]

A CHERISHED KISS

By MIRABEL LEE.

(Copyright. IhlS, by Wenleru Newspaper Lulou. > A series of rapid occurrences aroused Walter Adsit from the humdrum career of an average young man. and within a week tested ingenuity, courage and the timber he was made of in a signally exciting way. He had dallied in the train shed of a big railroad to wave a departing adieu to a friend just as another train pulled in. He stood for a moment, casually watching the passengers alight. ‘‘Oh, Harry! I am so glad!” and from the hand of a daintily dressed miss a suit case dropped impulsively, a pair of arms encircled his neck and right on his lips a kiss was imprinted. Then, with a dismayed cry, the bestower of the precious favor flushed scarlet and incoherently stammered: “I thought it w my brother —I —”

Her embarrassment was relieved as a man approached her, and Walter started away, lifting his cap, not one bit sorry for the mistake, but too much of a gentlenaan to remain and further confuse the “This is Miss Ward,” he heard the man say, as he tendered a card to the young lady which she glanced at casually and listened closely to an evident explanation. She picked up her suit case and with the man walked through the gates and out upon the side depot platform. He signaled a cab and helped the young lady into it. She dropped something white as she crossed the platform. Walter picked it up. It was a printed card, bearing the name, “Harry Ward,” and an address. 1 A shriek echoed out. It was followed by a crash. As the vehicle whizzed around a corner thatre was a clatter of glass as. the pane in the door was pushed through. Walter ran to the corner. The cab was proceeding more rapidly. As it passed under an electric lamp he Caught a full view’ of the face of the driver. “I’d know him again,” soliloquized Walter, and “and I wonder what .this all means?” Within half an hour he was at the address given by the eard — a respectable boarding house. “Mr. Ward? Yes, sir,” spoke the maid who answered fts summons. “He is ill, but I think he can see you.” She led Walter up a flight of stairs, tapped at a door and left him to his own devices. “Come in,” spoke a masculine voice. “Who is it?"

The moment Walter’s eye rested on the occupant of the bed he traced a close resemblance to the girl on the train. “You will pardon me for intruding,” he said, “but an incident has transpired that Has caused me some alarm and has led me to seek you out,” and briefly but clearly Walter narrated the circumstances of the hour. Harry Ward looked curious, suspicious and then deeply alarmed. His face grew pale and troubled. “I must get .up at once,” he spoke excitedly. “Estelle, my sister! Oh! I see it all. She has been kidnaped to prevent—but you are a stranger and it cannot interest you. I met with a bad fall today and one foot is crippled. That was why I was unable to meet my sister. I counted on her being safe to come here alone.” “You mistake if you think I am not sufficiently interested to wish to be of some practical help to yourself and your sister," observed Walter, earnestly. “It is plain to me that mystery, villainy is involved. You are helpless to pursue the man who has seemingly deluded Miss Ward into believing that you sent him to represent you. Tell me as little or as much as you choose, but let me try to aid you.” dt was a somewhat remarkable story that Harry Ward recited. He was engaged in prosecuting a claim of his dead father. The opposition had fought the case. A final decision in court was now pending and the evidence of Miss Ward, her brother’s lawyer had told him, would win the case. The other side in some way had ascertained this. Bold, unscrupulous, they had Intercepted the star witness, doubtless intending to hold her as a captive until the case was ended, which would fall flat without her evidence, / z The memory of a kiss Impelled Walter Adsit to put in three whole days watching everywhere for a clue he had in mind. .One day he came to a sudden standstill at a cabstand. A newly glazed window in a cab gave him hope. A little later the driver appeared. In twenty words Walter satisfied this man that if h 4 did not give the details of the abduction of Miss Ward and her whereabouts he was headed for the penitentiary. The cab driver was, in fact, only a hired tool, but he knew enough to pdtet Walter as to the best course for him to pursue. An hour later, armed with names and details the cab driver had given him, Walter rushed unceremoniously In upon an old.hag in a wretched tenement house. “From Devoney!” he exclaimed. "The police are on the track of the girl—get her, quick ! I must hurry her to better hiding.” The alarmed woman acted on the fear imposed. Ah hour later Estelle Ward was in the arms of her brother. A week afterward the ease at law was decided in his favor, and later still — Walter Adsit became a suitor, but not In the courts —that is, except the court of Iqve, where his earnest plea was met with the favor it deserved.