Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-08-06
WHEN HE
HUSTLED.
BY Abbie F. RAMON.
Copyrighted. 1907, by E. G. PARCELS.

Copyrighted. 1907, BY E. q. PARCELS.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
She stood by the window watching
the retreat.ng figure of the young man,
too much absorbed to notice the en-
trance Of her father until he was by
her side. Without speaking she Leaned
her arm Upon his shoulder and thus
they watched until the young man was
no longer In sight. Then her father
spoke:
1T wont do, Elsie. You've got to
tell him Md so. He isn't the one"
The hand which had been caressing
his hair WAS thrown out with indlg
nant protest and the girl faced him.
panied surprise In every curve OF the
dainty lips.
whats wrong, fatherT she de-
manded. Why haven't you said that
before"
The gray eyes gazing into her own
held far more kindness than his words
They were full Of stern decision.
Because | haven't been sure. Now
| am. Fred Denton can never support
wife. He isn't able to now. and lie
never will be. You've got to call 1t
off"
But. father" she began.
Its no use. Elsie" he interrupted.
1T isn't In him. A young man to sue
coed nowadays must get out ana nus
tie. and that's something Fred Denton
will never do. He spends his time In
his office reading. reading, reading. and
that never brought patient to doctor
yet.
"Why, the other night there was IN
accident nj Cedar Glens. kensctt was
mixed up In it. Had drunken chauf'
feur, and the whole car came precious
near going over the cliff. Would have
gone IL 1t hadn't been for young med
who understood sprinting and who
saved 1t I'm the nick Of time.
As It was. Kensett got of with q
broken collar bone, friend Of his came
home with Il smashed hand. and-well
you read 1t In the papers. That saw
bones As fixed for life just because lie
happened to be on the spot and knew
what to do and how to do 1t. But II
wasn't Denton. He was In his Office
reading up the microbes Of leprosy OF
some other outlandlsh disease
Fred was just telling me-" began
Elsie. when her father cut her short.
''Then. too. he had little money Ill
one of the banks. Where's that! lie
| wasn't content to let it stay where II
| was. He asked me what ] thought
| about aurora stocks. and / told hin
they weren't worth the matches Il
burn 'cm. but he invested In them
Where are they now? Whew! No"
YOU see 'cm and now YOU don't
Father, II you would only LISTEN
"I.isten TO what? The same old story
OF love In Gat and your $500 year
Eve got deal on hand and won't b.
home before tomorrow night. In the
meantime you just give me that RIM
On your finger and I'll return 1t t.
Fred Denton. NJ. D."
Slowly his daughter drew OF tht
ring. curious expression growing IL
her eyes. che which her father was
quick to observe.
"Sec here, Elsie" he said as he tool
| It from her Il want you to promise
that II he calls you won't see him until
II give you permission; that Is. II
ever do"
You are very unjust. father; If vol
would only listen
ave waited too long already" he re
sponded. starting off. Mind you
promise. Elsie; there isn't to be an!
more OF this nonsense"
perhaps therell be more instead o.
less" she murmured as the door CLOSED
behind him. Then she went up TIT
stairs 20 her room with tread ms full
of decision as his tones had been.
1t didn't take long for her to reap
pear dressed for the street. and fifteel
minutes later she surprised d certain
young man who was very busily eli
gagged doing nothing ut all In Rpleas
antly furnished office Of downtown
business block.
"He wouldn't give me a chance t
say a single word" she concluded In
dignantly.
Fred Denton smiled cOmplacentl!
into her flushed face. There was N
trace of the Respondent lover abou
him.
I'VE won't try to explain" lie said
Suppose you take this trip to New
York with me this morning? You lool
very bride-y." he answered. "Whit
dress, white hat. white shoes an.
gloves. Really, Elsie, one would al
most believe that you had dressed pur
posely for wedding trip"
Fred Denton. you don't believe
she paused. crimson to the very ears
Then she added irrelevantly:
"Fathcr ran away with mother; w
heard him tell about 1t time and tim
again"
Come on" Denton cried.
1T doesn't seem right. Fred. Fathe
has always been the kindest, the bes
father In existence, and he Is doini
this Just because he loves me-"
That's just the reason we're dolnj
what We are" was his ready response
"Come, dear, we haven't moment t
lose. You go to the Wilson avenue sta
ton and take the train from there
while I'll trolley 1t to Woodlawn an
get on board at that place. Then n
one will see us together until after W
leave the city and we are all o. K"
A ten minutes wait for the Ney
York express Is time altogether inad
, equate for repentance and home going
Besides, there was the danger Of dis
covory. and no one Of Elsie Kingston
makeup ever finched when danger wa
! In the air.
Then there was her ticket to buy
her seat to secure and the ten minute
had come ana gone before she though
II looking ror friend OF foe In tina
,rowded railway cur.
At Woodlawn station she saw Ere,
Denton swing himself upon the plat
form of the smoker, but the city street
. were far behind them. and the trail
vas speeding fast through the countr.
meadows before he Joined her. Whel
be did. he held in his hand littl
rlrclct of gold whose center held u yer.
familiar diamond. Slipping into tn