Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-04-24

had found his chief occupation in trac-
ing his own characteristics in the
growing boy.
He's a Peters, every inch of him."
granther would shout when Jared's
boyish achievements creditable or
otherwise, came to his notice.
Gran'ther Peters had always liked
Rose; and of all the grils in the coun-
try round, he would have chosen her
for Jared. When, therefore. at the
age of sixteen, Jared first walked home
from church with her, gran'ther re-
tired to the grape arbor and chuckled
till he was black in the face. lie did
all he could to foster the budding
romance: and when the engagement
was formally announced. his rapture
nearly caused a fit of apoplexy.
When tattling neighbor brought the
news Of Roses double-dealing, the Did
man fatty refused to believe it; but
when with his own eyes he saw Rose
and Harold strolling by, arm in arm.
in the dusk, he took to his bed. After
two or three days OF misery, mental
and physical, he arose and spent an en-
tire afternoon in inditing letter
which struck CONSERVATION to Jared's
soul. 1t was vague in manner and
matter but he gathered from it some
inkllng of the truth; and Immediately
wrote-not to Rose, but to one of her
girl friends. BY return mail he re-
ceived a spicy and perhaps not unex-
aggerated account of Roses carry
Ings on"
Now Jared, absorbed in speculation
as he was, had kept a little corner
of his heart for Rose; and thought
himself miracle of constancy because
ne had not allowed another to share
it, There are pretty girls in Kansas;
and there was one in particular, with
wondrous dimples. that he had noticed,
Just barely noticed, you know-so he
made the customary remarks about fe-
male perfldy. He wrote Rose biting
letter-and tore it up; for subtler
revenge had occurred to him. He di-
vined that Rose preferred him to
Harold-if he succeeded In making
money; and he plotted accordingly.
From this date his correspondence
took on a dismal hue. The boom was
declining; and there were vague hints
OF pitfalls that ensare the unwary and
the inexperienced. Close on the heels
OF these dire forebodings. followed a
rrmor that Jared had come home un-
eNpectedly, looking very seedy; and it
was surmised, dead broke"
Friends and neighbors, Rose and
Harold among them, promptly gath
cred on the broad piazza to greet the
home conner, and learn the truth of the
matter One glance at the young
mans doleful face was enough. Dis
aster was written on it.
At first he seemed Cisinclined to
talk; but numerous well put queries
finally loosened his unwilling tongue.
Among the friends Jared made in the
west was one who had been born un-
der an unlucky star He was intelli-
gent and shrewd; but everything he
touched turned to ashes. Where others
reaped golden harvests, he reaped mis-
fortune, and his affairs became serious
ly involved. He was too young to
know that while there is life there is
hope; and one night, Jared, who room
ed with him. came home to find his
friend stretched on the floor with
bullet through his head. and the
empty revolver in his own stiffening
right hand.
With the callousness Of youth Jared
adapted this young fellows story to his
own uses. Up to the eliminating
tragedy. he told it as his own, and told
1t well. He was clever actor, and
fully realized the dramatic possibili-
ties OF the situation.
The stage setting was perfect A
rising thunder storm had dyed the