The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-08
The Trails
That Crossed
BY HOWARD DEVINE
Copyright, 1905, by Daily Story Pub. Coz

Two OUT and see II there ism I story
III in these matrimonial agencies,
said the Sunday Editor Join three o.
four Of them brush W against the
game; meet the fillies they have in stock
get some good experiences. Never
mind the fake part of it. l don't care
to expose the frauds so much as TO
print some odd adventures and work up
some interesting character sketches.
Take your time and get page, illus
ttated"
| was dead broke and unattached and
the idea pleased me.
How far shall | so in my eXplora-
tions?" l asked, rolling a cigarette.
The limit" he replied, laconically.
Clear to the altar. Get married. Do 1t
up right"
Then We both laughed and he con-
tinued:
of course you haven't got a sou.
Here's an order for SIS. Come in and
show progress and you can have more
il YOU need it, But mind, no blowing
money. This is rot a news story. Do
It right, but don't buy any wires
took the assignment gratefully and
went out on my quest will not weary
you with the details of my experiences
with the cheap, stout women and cheap,
thin men who preside over the matrt-
monial agencies, and the still cheaper
females who are listed at these places.
posed as Hiram Adams, architect, with
a limited income and great prospects, in
search of wife with some ready money
that would help me get my start. | met
attenuated school teachers. freckled
stenographers and auburn haired spin
sters residing at parental homes. met
stout widows and thin divorces and
sighing orphans of uncertain age.
School teachers seemed to predominant.
I made appointments to call, appoint
ments to dine-all sorts of appoint
ments, the expenses of which the Clar
ion cheerfully paid as | related my story
of progress. Really | accumulated quite
a decent story, but in the meantime |
became most heartily sick OF the assign
ment. The women were all so common
place and their conversation so inane
that it required something of draft on
my reportorial imagination, based on
the experiences Of half dozen years, to
MAKE anything out of the material.
I was about through and had about
enough material whipped into shape.
aud was entirely tired of the game
when met Elsie Norman, registered at
Ba:dys agency as an orphan and an
beiress worth Sl00 900 in her own name,
and looking for a husband through the
agency because of eccentricity.
When | stumbled into the little box
labeled Parlor G l was totally unpre-
pared for the vision which confronted
me. Listen, and l will try to de-
scribe it:
A petite little person. with a wealth
OF light hair. not golden nor brown nor
YET tow color. but of that peculiar
lshade-weIl you know what it is as
well as I; a broad forehead: mis-
chieYous blue-gray eyes, dainty hands
and feet; features not regular nor
beautiful, but interesting and attrac-
tive because of the intelligence mani
tested. She was gowned simply, but
with exquisite taste. and in that Pc
cGliar surroundings and in the light
nj my recent experiences. the effect
was paralyzing,
confess that | stumbled over the
Trayed rug and cOmpOrted myself al
together more in keeping with my as
sumed character than l had vet done.
She smiled reassuringly and apollo
g ed for the rug The conversation
DO not remember very distinctly, but
before | left date had been made
for a little supper the next evening
a. ? coy Italian restaurant in an oh |
seU~e street, known only to the elect
The queer thing about it was that |
seemed TO remember afterward that
she made the suggestion as to place.
Also she told me tina; had been recon- !
meHded to her by Badly as the best
thing flor herr he had in sight.
As | went out Badly called me aside
aad confded to me that this girl surely
was the real thing for me.
She's rich, rich" he said pounding
his old walnut desk land beautiful
and cleyer-beautiful and clever. II
say as well Go to it."
But there's Won ting" he continued
looking me in the eye with so piercing
an expression that | quailed old stager
that | was: dis tid-bit is not for
mere fee | hat secured it for Won
II YOU set it, We must hat an under
standing. | must hat von-kewauter of
the fortune. All you needs. man. is
enough to put you up in business. You
arc in luck to get such a Sirl ANYWAY
Promise me kewauter, and she is
yours.
/ shook him and fed. That night
slept nc. because of my burning mem
cries OF the fair young heiress. 1t
might have been my horrible exDeri-
'ences of the past week, but she GER
taiuly seemed to me to be the fairest
lady OF my dreams-and that is
whole lot for calloused reporter TO
say.
The following day threatened I, nc
the longest had ever spent. Finally
in despair. resolved to go to the
Metropolitan agency and see what was
doing" although all interest in my
assignment had lapsed
My deah boy, I've just what We