Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 289, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1918 — STRAIGHT STREET [ARTICLE]

STRAIGHT STREET

By MAY NEWCOMBE.

From time immemorial what bad once been a country cow path straggled through the nucleus of what finally became Groverdale. As houses were built here and there along its sinuous length, it assumed, or absorbed, or was given a name: “Crooked'Lane.” « When the first small stores began to find a location on ’a line with the depot, the town commissioners cut a broad line west, condemned curves and windings and laid out a eompasscorreet thoroughfare. 'lt was not a appelative they bestowed on the new. thoroughfare, but it was fully appropriate as a Contrast. It became Straight street. To do business on Straight street was to be quite in the business sphere, to live farther out in its residential section was to be acknowledged and -accepted socially. One day a stranger entered the town, a jaunty, fairly welldressed fellow, about twenty-two.. He was straight as an arrow, supple, swift of gait, bright-eyed, wide awake, suggesting a person seeking a brandnew environment and off the alert to seize its best opportunities. A whimsical smile crossed his expressive face as he glanced at the sign on a- lamp

post. .i;, . < ■ “Straight street,” he read, as though it had made a pleasant sound. “That suits me and I take it as a harbinger of fortune. It’s the road I’ve had in mind.” The young man started looking for a room, a cheap room. Side thoroughfares invited in this direction, but he maintained his tramp along the street called “Straight” until he finally found an apartment suited to his thin purse, and then cast aboift for work His brisk, cheery ways and frank, open personality caught the ’fancy of the bookkeeper of a large’ factory and Abel Morse, as he gave his name, was employed. He became a favorite all' around. There was one peculiarity about him—he took long jaunts, and it might have been remarked that he never left Straight street' Beyond were the dance halls, drinking places, tawdry side shows and rollicking crowds,- but, in town or leaving it,Straight street became his beaten path. One moonlit night he was pacing its middle pavement, for'the sides were blocked where new, cement was being laid. Abruptly a spirited horse attached to a high trap turned into the street. The animal became frightened at the presence of a road roller and made a wild dash across the rubble stone and fill-ing-in debris. A handsome girl held steadily to the tense, straining reins, but the Jiorse was frantic. As the vehicle was all but upsetting, the young man sprang at the head of the speeding animal. He clung to the bridle, was dragged, swung, almost trampled, but halted the affrighted steed at last. “Oh, don’t let him get hurt, trampling among the cinders and glass!” called out Miss Eva Powers, his driver, and Morse led the horse to the center smooth roadway. “You huYl better let me drive him home,” he said, and that was how it came about. that he first saw at the sumptuous Powers’ mansion modest, petite Maty Lane, seamstress. I' . ' • ’

, <Theraafter when he called to see Mahfat home or to chat with her In the garden, Miss Powers smiled Indulgently and Mary was flattered and pleased at the attentions of the njanly, good-looking young fellow. Tlfere came about a rapidly occurring series of events. The war came on, Mary was prrtud about her lover when he was the first to enter the service Miss Powers gave him quite a public reception,when he came from encampment, a first lieutenant. Somewhere Abel Morse had learned disci pline, self-control and the power to Ifed men. He and Mary had become engaged. ,He was popular with his comrades, a model to the young men of the town and in direct line for further advancement. % He had just lefMlary one afternoon and was crossing the garden to the street when a hurrying, flushed and "hard-breathing man almost ran into him; Then the latter halted, stared and regarded Morse with a certain insolent, triumphant look. “Double luck! Well, well, Ned Durand ! and*a blooming lieutenant! I’ve heard of you. I saw you before. And transformed into Abel Morse, U. S. A. Some rise in the world, eh, from convict 2244? What is it worth to shut my mouth?” “Hold that man!" burst forth sharply, and Miss Powers came rushing into view. Her direction was to Morse. “He has just entered the house, and has stolen a case of' jewels. There they are, in his pocket Bring him to my father, and we shall see how far his unmanly threat will carry him!” Todd Brewster, ex-convict thief, left Grovedale that evening a cowed skulker, with evidence sufficient behind him to send him back where he belonged, if .he dared even to menace Abel Morse again. Within a week the assumed name of the latter was legalized. To heartbeat and to drtnrorat, • real soldier led his comrades through the little town in farewell. From the Powers automobile Mary Lane kissed her hand to this beloved fiance, and Eva Powers, who alone with her father knew of his buried past, wavedher hand in fervent recognition and encouragement that told him that whatever came, honor and glory were his portion.