The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1906-10-26

THE MERMAID THAT
LURED PERKINS
BY Claude Matson
BY Claude Matson
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Then you are not o. mermaid after
all he remarked lamolN
She laughed "a clear silycry laugh
which was good To hear
only for the circus. she replied.
Father wants me 10 be- a mermaid
Ia the circus. and makes me learn to
swim with this bag on That's why
I have TO get up so early and come
here whore nobody comes. And. say,
its awful hard work to swim with
your arms alone. did YOU ever try
t7"
Perkins admitted that he never had
lie also admitted that It must be a
difficult feat
Who Is your fathor?' he asked
"Blimblcy. she replied. "Bllmb.
lcy's Great Consolidated Shows. you
know"
Yes. Perkins did know lie know
Blimblcy and ne know little good Of
him. Tie could not conceive that he
should have daughter so dainty and
evidently 30 good
why has he not taught you this
bciorcf be- asked
Oh. I never knew he was my
father until month ago. have al
Ways lived with mamma until she
died three months ago. and thon I
went 10 live with Aunt Maria. aud
then father came and took me away
with him. and told me that ! was old
enough 10 do something to help pay
for my living And. oh. sir. you viii
not tell what I told you, will you, be
cause he will beat mc-aud he strikes
so hard"
Your father should be- beaten for
making you do such a thing. replied
Perkins. warmly NO. ! will not hurt
YOU little one"
"oh. must go" she exclaimed. and
gathering up the Imitation FISH, start.
ed for the hotel IN a moment she 10.
turned. and held out her hand shyly
10 Perkins aud looking with childish
I innocence into his eyes. said:
Thank you for your kindness. sir
| II YOU were my father you wouldn't
make me swim with my feet In a hag
/ would you?'
Indeed ! would not replied Per
fius. cmphaticnlly holding the it'll,
hand In his moment longer thar
strict etiquette demanded.
As she ran away with the grac,
Of gazcllc Perkins mutterod &,
himself. "Bllmbloy indeed ~
wager there's some mischief anoat
think I'm take hand In the game an,
see what Il is all about"
Al that day Perkins was very bus,
gathering information. That nigh
lac returned Ia New York. and IN
next morning he sat In the ofiico O
a very wise and very powerful lawyer
Presently the lawyer and no got int
n cab and were driven 20 n tonomen
house on the east side. where the
had very serious talk with n yer
frightened woman AZ the end o
which they departed with cortail
signed documents In their posses
sion. That afternoon they went I,
gothor 10 the seaside. aud that even
ing paid formal call on Bllmbley
who did not seem ovorioyed TO Sc
them. There was considerable lou
talk and clustering. but whom BlImt
Icy realized the fact that they ha
absolute proof that the Girl was no
his daughter and had been turno
over TO him AS the result Of an lnlqu
tous deal with her impccunious aunt
who In turn had betrayed him, an
when the doors Of the pcnitontlnr
were. fguratiyoly speaking, show
him, he caved and turned over IN
girl to their keeping.
That night the mermaid was IN
guest Of the hotel keepers wife, o.
the following day she went to hlgt
class boarding school as the ward q
the lawyer-but at Perkins expens,
Perkins reward? Oh, that wa
three years ago There was a qulo
little wedding last month. and no'
Perkins lives no longer In bachelo
quarters, but has one OF the cosles
fats adjacent TO the park. His friend
cannot understand why he persists 4
calling his wife Mermaid"
Copyright, 1906. by Daily Story Pub. CO