The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-02-22
a Chase for
Millions * x
by GISELLE D'UNGER

THE editorial rooms Of the Daily
Rencilings presented a scene Of
activity Men of brains and energy
contributed their best efforts to gain
the favor of the public, and were amp
1y Fewaeaea by the encomiums passed
upoa The broad platform established
some 20 years. Vigorous and concise
were the Summaries of volumes of sta
tissscs, reducing them to a condensa-
lion that practically benefited the
1he reastsc.
Two young men were holding con-
5xersaMon in remote corner where
Ssxs desks were not SO thickly placed.
sOne was tall and of serious manner,
while the other was typical Bohe-
Emian, careless, happy-go-lucky, art
Eistac, scteyer and dare devil as to ad-
venture In assignments. He was dis
scussTng the latest sensation, the re-
ported engagement of a prominent So
Gcial woman to a titled grandee.
Blake, all women are conquered by
sEhe gadS1er of gold. It's case of If
$50 Ia't got no money, you needn't
~conre round.' Grace Ward knows
Aae remarked in a contemptuous tone.
y "You are all wrong, Johnson" re-
8urnef Blake, wincing under the 9th
tssr,s careless words. "Miss Ward was
a not 5as zzled by the glitter of gold. OPP
EEortanity is like diamond in the
rough; it is sspurned by man in its
asrlde=state te, buttcovered when it illum-
mates the jeweled gates of Happiness
zand s3anfent in the land of Successful
4Aftainment- Miss Ward appreciates
, opportunity, and, furthermore, the no.
EBleman has intellectually and man
ESssgood to. recommend him"
Where did Miss Ward live before
axsae Fairbanks took her up7" aueried
aEohnson-
.shs came from Kings Kettle, near
Lady bank, Eifeshire, Scotland, when
quite .younY-but the time flies, John
son, and 4 must finish this" was the
reply eeT Blake.. 49,.
+'1YI right, Ned, I must be going,
Etoo. That last edition of yesterday
lacked a romance; I am going out to
Sind sane-n the slums."
FraIfx johnson nodded to the older
IMAM, au,ttoned his ulster against the
z~intaz BLASTS and stepped off, whist
ling softly the latest popular air.
"Oae man hit in that quarter once,
q zDsi1eve-accounts for the precise
1kne~Sedge of her former home. Well!
sshsas a beauty and Lord Alfred will
xaaa~s no cause to sigh over a good
ad for his household. That's
xa4raay fair to the lady-but the way
Sthe dear Four Hundred tighten their
agrssp upon a poverty-stricken noble
Emzn with bedimmed title reminds
zEne Of nothing more than the LAGOON.
q declare, young, Innocent girls are
g4frained, taught to this exchange of
-Sstrsr charming youth for the palsied
zaazd of age, and it's attendant serpen-
zine coils of title, decayed ruin of
zs chateau or castle, and they submit
SEQ tenderly. It is beyond me, for these
Eanoud, fearless American girls endure
e&artHres known only to themselves"
Thus ran the thoughts of Johnson
las he marched along the thoroughfare,
asstIt he was no nearer to solving the
Mnystery than before. Meanwhile Ned
ERiaRs was not SO mindful of copy"
zas he had intimated to Johnson. Mem
y
<waren the letters of Grace Ward had
zhown to him like flock of tiny blue
xsixIss breathing love and affection and
@ahapPy future. Now all was changed.
"A misunderstanding, coldness, silence,
.fhs advent of Lord Alfred Bruce, i'm
gpozssurities of frie Eds and-the en-
sgagsment.
sJohnson is bright, breezy fellow"
sref1e cted Blake, as he leaned his weary
head against the chair, "and as sharp
=sas "a steel trap. He would make an
excellent correspondent Of an explor-
ing expedition, as he enjoys adventure.
I'll speak 10 Henderson about him.
He is too contemptuous of the follies
and foibies Of humanity to sue
vcee6 here. He spoils a good story
by having sympathetic or antagon-
istic chord relative to it. By Jove! I
must get out of here and have some
-=air and quiet"
Blake had been working at terrible
pace for months and he was even now
=strafning every nerve to accomplish
more than was expected of him,
through the feverish restless striving
from thoughts of himself Work was
the panacea., What mattered it if he
did lie awake night after night con-
sscious OF gradual loss of strength for
the days labor, if at the close of the
conflict for sleep he fell into com
atose state, neither awake nor Sleep
ing, wherein delicious, restful Ian
aguor predominated, granting him float
ing visions of the woman he loved.
Upon his brow he felt the gentle
touch of her cool fingers; he heard her
murmur words of pity and tenderness,
in low, sweet tones, and for few mo-
Insnts his soul seemed to leave the
body and float with hers, as did Fran
r&cesca and Pa,ola, through space.
zH was worth the hard grind of the
Ewearisome day to welcome night, the
sold struggle and once more this de-
licious and dreamy languor. Surely
Paradise could confer no more ex-
quisite sensation than was granted
him in this hour Of the early dawn. AS
the suns rays flashed through the