New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-14
O'HARA's INVESTMENT.
HOW HE BEAT HIS RIVAL AT THE
CHURCH POUND PARTY

| story: Denis OHara drove up to the two story
| wooden frame building known as the Imperial
Hotel pulled in the thoroughbreds he drove leaned
forward and inquired: Say, Thomas. how'd you
like go the pound party?''
I'D like nothing better l assured him.
For an hour 1 had on the broad veranda
of the hotel and heard the Of men, tilted back
in splnt bottomed chairs. bet OHara's winning
out at the pound party to be given that night.
After hasty furnishing of my attire, / sprang
up beside O'Hara. We started at a spanking pace
down the road Swallowed with balsam pines and
fringed with ferns.
Il s'pose you've heard that Miss Mullen is goin'
to the party with that fellow Spriggs?" began
OHara.
l assented
I'll spoil that little game" said he, with a
vicious cut of the whip that set the OF at a
tangent. TN show her which of US is the better
man! She can't drop me an pick up with a
mealy mouthed. soft handed. puny cuss like that
Spriggs' The contempt in his tone was wlther-
ing. He was silent moment as II endeaVorlns
TO control his wrath and then he burst forth;
She'll eat supper with tonight, or with no.
body"
why what are you going to do. O'Hara? How
in the world can you prevent her taking supper
with Sprggs If he is her escort?' 1 asked In some
trepdation for a church sociable isn't the place
for
Never you mind Thomas" replied OHara in a
tone of angry intention. TIL show you thing or
interviewed Bonnie Mullen for nothing
Then 1 understood that for a consideration
Bonnie" had found out what color or wrapping
and ribbon would be around the box Of edihles
contributed by his sister to the church pouno
party and had informed OHara.
It was the custom at Calm Lake for certain
swans to receive a gentle hint to the appear
ance of the boxes put up by fair hanos' ana woe
betide the man who did not take such hint. buy
In the box at auction and share its contents with
..Sunnose YOU do know her box. OHara,' l
argued how are you going to buy it in? Spriggs
will have TO bid over you If it takes every cent
he has or Miss Mullen will never forgive him.
O'Hara chuckled Never We fear for that.
Thomas me boy Spriggs don't know the ways
of this town. He'll drop out Of the game early
in the bidding, I'm thnktn'.
The thought seemed to put him In a good humor
We swung into the main street and toward the
house whAre the pound party was being heio
Below the road silver ripples wavered across the
lake beneath the gloom of the pine clad Adron-
dacks Stars quvered above the fringed peaks;
the air was laden with pungent woody odors.
A moment and we were In a large room.
bright with the light OF fmsiy dressed lamps:
full of mingled odors OF orris German cologne and
patchouli. and the gay raiment of rosy checked
Gertrude Mullen who sa! firting fan and and laugh
Ing up into the face Of MI Spriggs. Hers was
bsxo red and h white e pTettiness and her cheeks
+ noticed "Sennie.s Mullen fattened up against
the wall in a corner watching O'Hara with the
most guilty and apprenticeship. EXPRESSION eyer
'enti Ben1i e?ses said al / WHAT'S up"
He nearly jumped of his skin with fright
''Nothin'. NIr. Thomas nothin'!" he gasped ~
up now m arn
isn't it? wont let on TO soul fs ad9eo' As
Further urged he confessed Gertrude. she said
she knowed I'd let what her box was like. an
told her hoped Se to die tduIa hae d4 did s M
that / done told Mr.: o'Iia,a An she said any
how she was goin' to change the color. an she
II was green before. Mr.. Sprggs he said how
green be the color Of hope am What he say
that o.Hara was in more Of scrap than he had
On fhe table Tiers Mere pink and blue and red
and lavender. but no green In the lot.
yous noeed e he asked sardoncay
Vel you're out Of this his I said Ia unless you
'spriggs nothin'r' he gTowled I'm takin no
chances on this thing. I'm gon' to buy up the
gasPsd o Ear was butcher 5y trade but
his present humor, and soon left him to mingle in
When the bidding began. dancing ceased and
faces shining red or Brown according to the nature
OF their compiexions. they wore pleased. e1-
OHara jHmped above each bIdder and nijsd the the
boxes at his side. Some of the demonstrated
The The aTGi9nter n ventured joke Must be all
In the vernacuar of the country oIara grimly
replied II be-" and went on buying boxes scrfb-
bling the price OF each on the outside and piling
them around him.
The girls were grouped about the room giggling
as il they wanted 10 cry. and looking every
way their boxes were stacked alongside of
OHara- one by one the men disappeared. and
after absence of greater or less duration re-
turned and took up their places again in the crowd
about the auction table They trying mighty
hard to be pleasant but It was only the old folks
who sat back and laughed, as If they really en-
joyed the evening.
sort of manner: her color coming and going and
her beautiful black eyes sparkling in n far from
pretty way.
Wait til SprggJ bids said one fellow to me
land then you'll the fur fy'
But. as o,Hara expected. Spriggs dropped out
early in the bidding.
Say. O'Iara." insinuated one of the men You
can't eat all this supper"
Guess not assented o Hara with grin
''What'll you sell me this box for? It's my
o'Hara looked at the price he had paid 1t was
two-hfty. You can have 1t for two-seventy-fve"
he said.
The men had out and borrowed money
Now they gathered around O Hara and maid f9r
e. each box p cents more than the price for which
OHara was &c cd for the money, and had not made
him put up a cent.
the look Miss Mullen cast upon him when he
claimed her for supper She tried to get out Of II.
said she had headache and was going home ~
Sure. you know how the people will talk II vn,,
don't take your supper with me" She Went v,ttb
rim, and It seemed to me that all the anger in her
When he picked up the reins that night and
turned the horses head up the dew sweet road
way ne lamsne ssL IKE a satisfied fec man
Paid the auctioneer $40 and cleared SO on tn.
transaction Wv VI" 'h-
How much did you have when you started I'M"
Just one dollar " ii'
A ID ~ a