| Show TODA TODAY'S YS Y'S SHORT STORY F Fiction ion by Gy Americas America's Greatest e W Writers I l. l q sa C hUl br es i th nov C. C MR DEVLINS DEVLIN'S DECEIT Frank Condon By The rho marriage of Mr OIl Ir I Lawrence Dc tt to Miss Ernestine Childs occurred promptly at 8 o'clock in the evening nt at St. St Bartholomew's church an and a 3 small number of close friends alten attended td the pleasing c ceremony rem n The usual remarks were made by br the clergyman an and the he still more usual ones b by the spectators after which the tho thon n newly joined pair went happily away At S 8 o'clock in the tho morning of or the tho same day young Mr Devlin jn was what i it t the be e newspapers would term a Un prominent prominent j millionaire meaning that nent young he possessed large c quantities of or mane money I When Wall an street an and the banks cl closed se in vir Mr Devlin lIn was OS OSworth worth north approximately the cost of or the tho suit milt of or clother clothes he wore ore A trust compan company company com com- nil all hands on onboard pan pany had sunk with board hoard carrying with it the Devlin lIn fortune In Tn the cab which c carried cl them from the church Lawrence looked sadly i lly and thoughtfully at his beaming bride She knew nothing of or the financial crash His friends kne knew To outward appearances he wa was still till th the prominent young oun millionaire Dearest La Lawrence said taking taking- his hiI brides bride's hand tenderly In his hla o own n we weare weare weare are are going to be very verr happy happ arc are we e riot notT Yes Ye Lawrence Tenc replied Ernestine pressing his hand And VAnd to contribute to our supreme happiness to provide for us an unusual unusual unusual un un- un- un usual and unique experience T I have hav thou thought ht out a n plan In which I am sure you u will concur We c have been accustomed accustomed tomed to the good oo things thinS's of or life to luxuries In every form to servants ants I automobiles theatres and all tho the thousand little extravagances that I make life cas easy But we vc have havo never nE' had 1181 an opportunity to t try the oth other r sort of or life the life the life lire exactly opposed to our our own the own the life tifE of the poor Vh What t would be a finer thing than to pretend 1 we were Ere very poor to 11 live as the poor live to deny dony ourselves the thA to wj Ieh wo we have been accustomed I 1 am m sure It would 1 he be delightful his hr bride de responded We Ye could take n a small flat in the poor part of er New York Lawrence continued his enthusiasm We could 1 pretend preten we e h had hll ll scarcely an any money bu buy plain hut but good 1 food do our own housework and study the lives of or those poverty stricken en people Otherwise e we would never ave n an O opportunity opportunity op op- of se seems the lives of tho the leE less s fortunate ones We would have h no noW noway W way ay to compare their lI lives s with wilh ours It wo would ld give he us a IE view of or life at ori oco a Interesting and strange It would be so 50 utterly different from our rl regular regular regu regu- I lar Jar life lite that w we would 1 enjoy it eVe every minute 1 I simply ask yoU vou whether y you u would 1 like to try It 1 I Lawrence dear Ernestine I will gladly go o an any place you ou go o I I Witt will do anything you do and share I your life Ute no matter what happens I 1 tb think It will he be very ery Interesting and fine to study the noor poor and ancl to tn I live 11 as s the they live We will have lots of fun fun tun Then Then It Is IR agreed u rf her r hus husband and continued breathing a sigh of ot silent relief Tho Thc be beautiful girl smiled b happily ather nt at her husbands husband's content Lawrence r ee promised ed to attend to the flat tat hunting I tomorrow With that decision as ns a broad found foun foun- foundation ronn-I ronn d dation there arose far In th the eastern astern portion of or the city a a. sm small flat An I Instalment furniture company filled it with the usual hundred dollar dollar set cut t Itten cutten t ten dollars down and amI two a n. month Mr Ir Devlin paid eight I ht dollars Collars a month for the rooms Erne Ernestine gazed aze l about her with the thc interested of or eyes ER a n traveler traveler trav tray eler who ho has come upon a stran strange e and tOTI foreign n country Each mornin morning the ht beautiful young I bride arose and ancl prepared n a frugal ru al aleal meal eal With her own fair hands sh she washed the dishes clashes dusted the imitation oak furniture and scrubbed the floor Lawrence sometimes help helped her Corning ComIn Com Corn In ing home he carried w wood up the theo four lour flights and deposited tt it t b by the stove They hey had unlimited opportunity to I study tho the habits of th the very cry poor fur for those families about aboul them rested J on I th the bottom stones of ertI poverty's pit At I nl ht Lawrence would read the paper I with ith his feet clad In slippers lIpper and and Ernestine would s sew w on a gingham ingham apron ron AtO o'clock Lawrence would t go o out an and buy 10 cents cents' worth of or ch cheese ese and anda a box of ot crackers an and a pint of ot beer They would then feast together oether laU laughing laugh laugh- ing over the absurdity of ot the whole thing r Lawrence wrence had said My dear girl much as I 1 dislike to be away from your side for even a brief moment there are certain weighty I matters requiring my my presence pres pres- ence downtown We are arc arc at the present present pres pres- ent time Ume in the midst of ot a t. t complex railroad organization and m my Interests in this road require m my at at- at As I am chairman of or the b board ard of ot directors m my task tJ is hc heavy and I must b beg your YOUl indulgence Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow To To- morrow I shall have to be downtown very tn early arl Shall we vc have breakfast at 7 71 r My 1 love Jove Ernestine answered red Condy fondly fond fond- ly y I 7 will prepare your our breakfast at 6 If it you ou wish it it- So Mr Mr- Devlin left the flat at nt half past 7 In the morning and spent nt tho the da day looking for a Job He clipped a column from the morning newspaper I and hunted I In the evening he lie appeared for tor supper You look drawn and weary dear dearone dearone ear one said his hla bride Weve We've had It hard today said Lawrence Lawrence Law Law- rence The market was panicky Theve b been en trying to shoot holes In m my railroad but I refused to let em cm What hat have we to eat cat eaU Tripe Lawrence dear replied I Ernestine She showed showe 1 him a burned spot on on her arm where she Rhe had touched a a. hot pan He kissed It t with tears of ot pride In his his' eyes Promptly every morning morning- as the whistles blew young Mr Ir Devlin Un hurrie hur- hur rie awa away from the east cast 51 side lido 10 flat to toG G guard his mythical millions Promptly I i nt at 6 each night ho he returned Ernestine was trying to run the flat on 7 7 n. n week an Arid and Ras aJ delighted with wilh her hel su success The sc scene ne changes At noon J Ernestine hun hung the dish rn rag I over O the clothesline In tho the kitchen yawned n a wear weary sigh and lot lct down own her hair A vapid afternoon stared her In ht Inthe Inthe the face Cace I think she he raid to herself musingly musingly mus mus- Ing-I Ing that I shall shull go o to n a matinee LinCe today She dressed leisurely in garments long lIel selected a n popular mu musical musical musi musi- l- l cal eom comedy d and went gaily forth At 5 o'clock t In th the afternoon Broadway Broad Bro W l way way was Jammed with traffic Hundreds hundreds Hun Hun- of motor cars drew chow U up before the theatres theatre and waited for fur their theiron on owners owners- At the entrance to the Knicker asher I a liveried JI attendant shouted the numbers Mrs rs Ernestine Devlin lIn came forth Corth forthwith forthwith with the handsomely dressed thron throng of women and children and hel held up lip her hand hund The attendant gave ave ear to her request lt and shouted a mysterious si signal signal sig sig- nal whereupon n a pink lInk taxicab darted darte through the seemingly impenetrable welter of oC traffic and halted at t the curb before Mrs Devlin De She glanced at nt tho man on the chauffeurs chauffeur's seat and gave a stifled gl gasp p. p It was her husband Lawrence looked hash back at her stonily Where hero to n madam 7 he ho asked He was 5 dressed ed In a leather coat with leather leg leggings and anil a chauffeurs chauffeur's cap adorned with a license ta tag Ernestine stumbled Into the cab Home she ahe said paid tild huskily When heu the cab had cleared the tho thick of oC the traffic Ernestine leaned for for- war ward La Lawrence Devlin lIn she asked what Is the tho meaning of this joke Sweetheart replied her husband avoiding u a two foot child carrying a a. rag doll this is no Joke Joke- This i Is tax taxicab leub No 0 N N. KY Y owne owned and operated by the tho Pink fink Taxicab company company company com com- pany and I am the official chauffeur I 1 belong belong- to the chauffeurs chauffeurs' union ration For driving this car ten len hours a day I 1 re received received re- re 25 a week and all the tips Ups I can collect You have hn found mo me out I 1 must make a a. clean breast t of or It Do you mean Ernestine asked In a n trembling voice that you OU have lost your our money Precisely l Lawrence answered without turn turning In in his scat My Iy yarn arn about the railroad was pure fiction The day we were married I 1 was wiped out I 1 haven't a cent In the world except ex except ex- ex what I 1 earn this way You bravo bra bo boy his wife whispered tearfully On the drive home Ernestine became thoughtful Lawrence proceeded with speed an and skill and antl in the tho course of time drew up beCore doorway of at his modest flat He flicked open the door claar and turned down the re red flag on the meter It will be dear one he said Jocosely jocose It will wilt be bc nothing nothing- of the kind Ernestine Ernestino retorted stepping stepping- daintily to the curb You refuse to pay me Lawrence inquired I 1 certainly do answered his wife Then I sha shall 11 ha have 0 to take you oU Jo fo the tho nearest police station I 1 ha have done that several times to troublesome fares fares' When I J ride In a 11 taxicab I never pay money moncy Ernestino answered You will get me mo Into trouble with the Pink Taxicab company compan Ernestine dear I must demand payment sal said Lawrence It has hns been m my custom to taxicab with the Pink company compan Lawrence because be because be- be cau cause e of the fact that I 1 rifle ride on a pass A pass Lawrence inquired Because Ernesine continued patting patting pat pat- ting her husbands husband's arm as president and owner of or tho the Pink Taxicab compan company company com com- pany pan I would bo be foolish Coolish to pay If It you will look ionic at nt the little strip of bt metal back of the seat you OU will notice the wordy words GUILDS CHILDS INC I am Childs Lawrence gazed at at nt his wife In amazement And now she continued sternly as president of or the company compan I 1 can ca'n can Coln dischar discharge e an any I wish You I are arc hereby discharged Take the calto car cal carto carto I to the tho garage garnge ar g-e g nn and turn in your our license You are no lon longer cr in m my employment Then Ernestine kis kissed d the chauffeur S Ve e move mo back to civilization to tonight tonight tonight to- to night she said going up the steps to top toe p e little flat 1 |
