Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-12-08
Straighten, whom he never had ma, ,rv.


where else. But luck was against hin
even In this, for one day Straighten
stopped him on the avenue, not far from
the club, fixed the customary iuouirinr
gaze upon him. and said with his half
smile, half-grin peculiar to short sighted
PERSONS:
"Ah, Mr.. Thornbright, J-ah-thoueht
would say to you that | was-ah-
speaking of you at the Raythams' a night
or Two ago, and-ah-Miss Raytham re-
marked that she had not seen YOU i'm an
age" "'
Inc stare and the grinnish smile con-
tlnuei. Tom flushed and exclaimed:
Confound your impudence! If it
werel't tor your c,o.h I'd break your
neck. What do you mcan?"
URN, smile, and stare disappeared as
the little man in black replied:
m trying to give you friendly sug-
seStion I'm very sorry if you're not
enough OF gentleman to understand it.
Gcoiday"
Away went the little man, with enough
dignity to supply two or three bishops,
whlle Tom gazed after him in amaze
ment What could the fellow be up to?
rom had heard that some of those Quiet
little minsters-St had recently
been ordained-were sly dogs, and that
all OF them were on "still hunts" for
rich wives. Probably that little wretch
was planning to make Tom propose now,
while impecunious, and be rejected for
MS poverty, as most young men were
when they attempted to marry money;
then the coast would be clear for the
man who had both wealth and profess
sional position.
1o1.
TO deny himself the pleasure after bav.
ing the girl so powerfully forced upon
MS MIND. First, however, he made ar
engagements to go upon the cattle-ranch
OF friend in the West The owner
who knew Toms resources, would take
long notes in payment for part inter-
est There was no business at the time
at which a man with good head for
ngnres could soc more certain profit than
IN cattle raising on a ranch. Several
young swells, whom Tom knew. had
gone west with small capital remained
on ranches three or four years. visiting
New York each season, and finally re-.
turning with small fortunes What man
mad done man could do. He told Miss
Raytham what his business plans were,
and again she looked grave though she
soon recovered her customary manner
Evidently she was very fond of him.
Would that her father might speculate,
lndorse for irresponsible friends-do
anything, so that he might lose his
money, and poor man could honorably
WOO the daughter. Tom was half dis
posed to offer himself then and there.
ana ask the girl to wait for him; but he
controlled himself. He admitted that
there were other men as good as he. and
that it would he better for Elite to marry
one OF them than to wait years for a man
who had his fortune to make. He hal
seen girls wait and withe through hone
deferred lie skillfully turned the CON
versatile to such u casr, and spoke in
dlgnantly of the lover who permitted it
Ettlc. in turn, praised the girl for her
faithfulness, and there was no knowinr
what might have followed had not that
short-sighted little minister allied lust
then The two men greeted each other
coldly and Tom departed, growing to
himself, sd give good deal to know
what that little scoundrel's game is
"A few weeks later he thought he found
out, for he learned from a visiting ranch
owner that the best ranch in all tho
West-a ranch where there was plenty
OF grass and water and gcol protection
for tho herd should winter storms be SO.
we're, had New York minister for prin-
clpal owner-a man named Straighten.
Then Tom raved, and his horses wished
themselves dead as their owner rode
whole days at the gallop, filling the air
with severe language about the sncaking