The progress., 1904-06-25
The Ghostly Arm.
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BY MILFORD W. FORSHAK.

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ffAEIDDLETON, by all that's great"
lW "Why. Jarvis, where did you come
from? And you, Masters?"
I'VE didn't have to come. This Is
home You are the one to tell us where
you came from"
II can say nearly the same thing
that you have, for this city is now my
home; but it's true that I've come to
town very recently"
"Well, have you been to lunch? No?
Come on with us, then. We want to
know what you've been doing while
out of our sight"
When the three men who had not
seen one another for ten years were
seated-at least, two had not seen the
other Jarvis and Masters looked the
new arrival over with much interest
They had been unusually intimate as
boys and young men. but Middleton
had finally drifted away, and had been
entirely lost sight of. His present re-
appearance indicated state of health,
wealth and happiness that had scarcely
been promised by his earlier career,
and his companions were eager to hear
his story.
"Yes." he responded to their looks of
inquiry, this is home, for live with
my family in the suburbs"
Family, eh? Masters and have
been married several years, but you,
er@"
"Oh, don't hesitate" Middleton
laughed. you wonder how such a
spendthrift as ever could afford to
marry. Am l not right?"
"Just about, may as we'll confess"
Let me add to your surprise by
saying that besides being here with my
family am here to live on my money
retired at 35 frcm all but gilt-edged
investments"
"You take away a fellows breath!
Can't you tell us about it? There
must be something unusual somewhere
in it."
There is"
"Well, then, unless Of course there's
some reason"
''Oh, no, not in the least. We used
to tell one another about everything,
and / don't know but we may as we'll
resume condolences now that we shall
meet frequently. My fortune came to
me by the most extraordinary circum-
stance you ever heard Of. A ghost is
the source Of it,"
"A ghost," his two friends exclaimed.
''Oh, no, Mid, you can't palm off any
of the old rigmarole on us now, in our
mature wisdom"
Honest, Though. Do you want to
hear about it?"
"Of course. We haven't forgotten
your old yarns. We're listening"
Yes, but tell you that it isn't one
of the old yarns. However. I'll let
you hear the whole thing, and you can
form your own opinion, so here goes.
"You know that had three char
acteristics which used to stand out
rather more prominently than others
the knack of making money the fool
ishness of getting rid Of 1t in hurry.
end .hi4hly wrought imagination I
suppose the last trait was in your mind
when you referred to my prospective
statement as one of the old yarns
Undoubtedly 1t was these three in con-
certed action, with the last in the as
cendant, that operating by some hid
den law brought me into conjunction
with the unseen powers and put me in
the opulent state. This Is how It came
about:
when you last knew Of me I was
at the bank. In the way of business
Atherton, whom you Of course remem-
Der. For some reason or other he took
quite liking to me, and invited me to
his home. I returned his affection by
taking more than liking to his daugh- |
ter, the handsomest, sweetest"
Hold on! Story. please"
well. she's Mrs. Middleton now. |
and I haven't changed my opinion. so
you can all it in to suit yourselves.
"As soon as met her l went to saw
ing with the desperate hope that when |
! got little ahead could make for |
tunate investment and be enabled to |
marry. Well, when the bank went |
down I was out Of good place. but |
fortunately my savings wep located
elsewhere. and was not altogether |
cut on from expectation Just then I |
did a foolish thing. told Mr.. Atherton
how I felt toward his daughter. in the
hope that he would give me a chance /
somewhere. II had the opposite effect.
and whatever good opinion he enter
tained toward me was summed up in
the declaration that he liked me well /
enough as a young friend. but that IL
] aspired to the hand Of his daughter
I must be able to draw my check for
at least one hundred thousand.
This let me down a good deal. but
in the process II thoroughly stirred me
up. told Miss Atherton how mat
fers stood. and that II I had her en-
couragement should go hard after
that hundred thousand. OF course.
felt pretty sure Of her answer. and
when ! got II I started out for the
money. As I look back to that time
am amazed at my enthusiasm, but
I was I'm dead earnest then
Il came down from our small town
to this big New York City, thinking
that all kinds Of fortune awaited the
right man here After q veek . began
20 lose confidence. and one day I took
the cars TO get out IN the country and
think awhile. sliskted at Q village.
nDd roufinR 4 wheel ctrrr.k on alonr