Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-12-17
The CHRISTINA
Be ARS.
By GERALD PRIME.
Copyright 1908. by American Press
Association

Copyright 1908. by America" Press
Association
W SAREL was having it out with her
father. 1t was only a few days
III before Christmas. n she should
have been ut peace with herself
and all mankind In general. but she
wasn't. She had been telling herself
all this particular day that as soon as
her father came home she would put
her case before him In II light SO con
vinclng that he would be brought to-
admit that ---aad been q little too, ar
bitrary. Her scheme had not worked
She was beginning to realize painfully
that her effort to gain her point had
resulted in confirming her father in his
opinion that it was a mans privilege
to rule in his own house. especially
when the woman of it was his only
daughter. Il girl of twenty. who could
not be expected to know her own mind.
"You know perfectly we'll" said lsa-
bel. with a final heroic attempt to
snatch victory from the jaws Of de-
feat, that Jack and | have been
have been good friends for a long
time. The only reason he hasu't spo
ken about ito you-is because he has
been waiting until be was in more of
n position to do So"
'"Tben it's mighty lucky for him that
he concluded to postpone it." declared
Tom Truesdell testify. Romance Is all
very well for those who can afford it,
but Jack Goodale doesn't belong to
that class. | pay him a fair salary,
and | admit he earns it. But / don't
see how he expects me to accept him
as a son-in-law. How could he ever
provide for a wife as extravagant as
you? Absurd"
"He has a little money, and he may
make Il lucky deal some day." she per-
sisted in spite of the forlornness of her
hope.
do you mean that the young maj
intends to gamble in wheatT be asked
ironically.
'Why shouldn't he? You do, dont
you?"'
Tom Truesdell snorted %impatiently.
No" he retorted. ~ do not gamble. A
gambler risks his property | never
risk anything. ] know how the market
is going because l make the market
There is a difference, Isabel"
Driven to desperation, Isabel played
her last trick. 1.-THE man you want for
a son-in-law," she said, 'is no better
off financially. He has nothing but his
debts to distinguish him."
He smiled s%ardonically. "If want
him for a son-in-law," he returned de.
cidedly, 81 am well enough off to af
ford him. l grant you Gerald Van In
gen has very little means. but he has
something that the Truesdell family
needs a good deal more. He has posi-.
ton"
Hes an empty makeshift." declared
Isabel w%rathfully.
"He isn't very brainy, | suppose,
her father admitted. Hell be all the
easier to manipulate on that account
That ought to appeal to you, Isabel
But l haven't made up my mind yet
Mr.. Van Ingen is coming TO lunch
with me tomorrow, and I shall make a
study of him. He certainly ought to
do great things for us socially"
Van Ingen was punetual at Trues-
dell's office on the following day. As
he entered the busy place he found
the hustle very disquieting to his
nerves. Tape machines clicked. clerks
were shouting p%erplexing fractions
into telephones, and there was an up
roar quite unfamiliar to the young
mans ears. All at C Truesdell
rushed into view, almost ov%erturning
his distinguished visitor. and without