The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-12
Mr.. VAN TAssEu's FALSE TEETH.

Nnen the ltarkinS family moved 70
New York to spend The fortune they
| had come into as a result OF the dis
| covery of oil on the old farm. Miss
Mabel Earhins left her heart behind in
the keeping OF Tom" Bellows. Bellows
hated To see them so. but he was well
established IN the practice OF law 1t Tll-
! tronville. and it would have been folly
Tor him 20 give UP his business merely
that he might be nearer the girl.
Mabel wrote 10 him every other day ard
her letters never showed that the glare
end glamour OF the city had made any
change in her feelings
Ed Arnitage, proprietor OF TCtrcn-
ville's leading dry goods emporium. vent
down 70 the metropolis three months after
the Harkinses had left 10 buy his fail
STOCK OF goods and had brought back
disquieting news with him.
There's a fellow named Van Tassel
fooling around Mabel all the time" he
said to Tom" and l think you had
better go down as soon as you can and
give him a run for his money. He's 4
4 pig. tail, handsome guy with a red mus
tacfe. and he seems 20 be badly stuck
on his shape. They say he comes frcm
one Of the old Dutch families and his
pedigree may make IA hit with Mabel
Anyway YOU had better 80 down and look
after your fences.
work until July. Meanwhile the letters
from the girl continued with no diminu-
ton of warmth of feeling and Bellows
was wise enough not 10 say a word TO
her about what he had heard. At the
same time the story made him uneasy.
and he was happy one evening early in
July he wired Mabel that he was en- his
way TO New York.
Mabel was at the station to meet him.
=, !, l. -.
Van TaSsel was a myth invented 20 bother
him. He found a hotel close to the Har-
kins mansion. and after leaving his things
went over 10 the house 10 take dinner
with the family. So far as he could
see he was on the same old footing and
he fas even more treasured.
But at $50 o'clock there came a ring at
the bell and the man announced Mr.. Van
Tassel. When he came into the room
Tom" saw at once he had dangerous
rival.
Van Tassei was q tall. athletic looking
fellow, handsomely dressed. ana bearing
himself with that all-conquering air which
seems 10 impress most women. Bellows
was forced 10 admit that Van TasseI
was handsome man after his style. and
when he heard him talk he realized that
he was up against hard game"
Apparently Van Tassel was well ac-
quainted with all the fashionable people in
New York. He spoke of them familiar
~, and before he left that evening he
had invited the whole Harkins family TO
take a run up to Newport with him on
the Fall River boat the next day.
Mabel explained that Mr.. Bellows was
her guest and couldn't accept an invita-
ton 10 Newport while he was in the city
Bellows, of course, urged her not to think
of him. He would be there FOR ten days
and she must not deny herself the DAYS
pleasure on his account. But Van Tas-
sci was not TO be outdOne in generosity.
He insisted that Mr.. Bellows must go with
the whole party, including the elder mem
bers Of the Harkins family. should leave
the next morning on the Puritan.
Van Tassel met them ar the pier and
Immediately took entire charge OF the
party. He had engaged staterooms and
dinner and showed himself 70 be entirely
capable. If somewhat onicious. In the
morning ne escorted them to a hotel on
the seashore, where he had engaged rooms
and after breakfast pllloted them in two
carriages around the ocean drive, while
they admired the marble palaces and
wondered at the ruins Of the old mill
Van Tassel had so arranged Il that
Bellows found himself II the rear car
rage with Mr.. and Mrs. Harkins lille
he sat in the front carriage beside the
beautiful and impressed Mabel. Bellows
began TO feel that he had poor show
against Van Tassel. The class was too
fast for him.
At Il O'Clock. after they had got back
&c the hotel, Van TasseI proposed 10 dip
in the ocean. and the whole party gladly
consented. There was a good leach
close 70 the hotel, and shortly Van Tassel.
Bellows Miss Mabel, and her mother and
father were wading out TO meet the long
waves. which came rushing into port after
a long journey across the Atlantic. There
were several hundred other people In the
water. so that the Harkins family had 10
lack Of company.
Van Tassel who prided himself on being
4 good swimmer, took Miss Mabel by the
hand and led he- out into deeper water.
Don't be a hit afraid, he said. Here
comes a big wave. Now. Dive under
1t. Don't let It slap you in the face
Presently Van 'rassci. with the eJident
Intention Of showing OF Il bit, swan G1t
a short distance into the bay with Bel
lows. who was at home himself in the .
water followed him
Finally Bellows, CHANGING up, spied .
particularly big wave coming IN from
the ocean 1t looked like a monster and
Bellows. who happened to be a few feet
ahead. turned to Sc how Van TassS was
taking It. Van Tassel was lying on his
back with his face on the shore and was /
waving his hand and smiling at Miss 1
Mabel Bellows called to him quickly. /
Look out" he cried, here comes a
whale"
Van Tassel turned Just as the mighty
,or1ber was upon him. IT slapped him
full in the face just as Bellows dlved
Bellows came up on the Tar side OF
the wave and turned back to look for
his companion Apparently Van TasseI
had disappeared. But slowly as he look
d a strange thing appeared above the
water. IT bore only a faint resemblance .
% Van Tfssel. There was his hair and
forehead 10 be sure. bit The lower part OF
his face looked as though it had been
Kicked by q horse. Il was 5unkan in.
vnnkIed. cut Up into great pits and gul-
eys. IN the center Of which his beautiful
ed n1ustache was almost lost
What on earth's the matter" asked
he startled Bellows.
The strange face distorted itsclf IL n
attempt TO talk. The sunkea lips had re-
used 10 act Finally Bellows managed
q make out what he was trying 70 say.
''U-r-uv los m teeth Il mumbled.
what" gasped the horriaed Bellows.
'Uv-u-uv los n teeth il N Atlantic
)cin."
What are you going % do
The situation was certainly serious bat
Bellows had hard work 20 keep from
aughing as he swan easily OF the TOP
< the bic rolling waves Here was the
-ardsoue beau suddenly Transformed into
wrinkled and hi1eo1s old man. with his
also teeth sunke1 somewhere 81 the
Atlantic ocean Furtharmcre. Re could
.or see how Van Tassei could 20 Ashore
rs face Miss MABEL Even y be 6d 3
uccccd I'D getting into the bathing hrafse
-lthout being detected they were ir Ncu-