The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-12-20
The CHRISTMAS
BEARS.
BY GERALD PRIME.
Copyright 1909. by American Press
Association


~ SABEL was having 1t out with hei
father. II was only few days
before Christmas, and she should
have been at 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 light so con
vincing that he would be brought to
admit that he had been 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 1t was a mans privilege
to rule In his own house, especially
| when the woman of, ii was bis only
daughter, a girl Of twenty, who could
not be expected to know her own mind
"You know perfectly WELL" said Isa.
bel. with final heroic attempt to
snatch victory from the jaws of de-
feat, that Jack and l have been
have been good friends for long
| time. The only reason he hasn't spo
A.. ken about tito you-is because he has
been waiting until he was In more of
a position to do So"
"Then 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 fair salary,
and 1 admit he earns 1t. But don't
see how he expects me to accept him
as son-in-law. How could he ever
provide for wife as extravagant as
you? Absurdw
'He has n little money, and he may
make lucky deal some day" she per-
sisted In spite of the forlornness Of her
hope.
''Do you mean that the young man
intends to gamble in wheatp he asked
, ironically.
"Why shouldn't he2 You do, don't
you?
Tom Truesdell snorted impatiently.
NO" he retorted, ~ do not gamble. A
gambler risks his property. l never
risk anything. 1 know how the market
is going because / make the market.
There is difference, Isabel"
Driven to desperation, Isabel played
her last trick. "The man you want for
a son-in-law," she said, sis no better
off financially. He has nothing but his
debts to distinguish him"
He smiled sardonically. "If ! want
him for a son-in-law," he returned de.
cidedly, 81 am well enough off to af
ford him. i 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-.
tion."
Hes an empty makeshift," declared
Isabel wrathfully.
HE isn't very brainy, l 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 shall make a
study of him. He certainly ought to
do great things for us socially"
Van Ingen was punctual at Trues
dells 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 perplexing fractions
into telephones, and there was an up.
roar quite unfamiliar to the young
mans ears. All at once Truesdel
rushed into view, almost overturning
his distinguished visitor, and without
even an apology shouted in voice
that seemed peculiarly disagreeable:
Here, Goodale! Get a move on and
sell all you can-10,0O0,OO0 bushels to.
day. Keep cool head, man."
Having given his commands, Trues-
dell turned to his visitor. "You'll have
to excuse me-" he said. II expected a
quiet day, but the bulls are on the
warpath, and Pm having the fight of
my life. Goodale will be back present.
ly, and he'll tell you all about 1t. Come
In tomorrow and III blow you to that
luncheon--if have money enough left
to pay for it,"
The excited operator was away be
fore the startled young man could put
In word. He couldn't understand
why so rich man as Truesdell was
supposed to be should agitate himself
over his business. What was amissj
The idea was SO irritating that he
found trifing consolation in the
fact that his wooing had gone no fur
| ther.
Just then Goodale returned. and Van
Ingen felt 1t due to himself to learn
something of the condition of affairs.
His ideas OF business were exceeding
| ly vague, but he nerved himself foi
the undertaking.
| "Mr. Truesdell seems to be unusu
ally excited today" he began. ~
can't help thinking something must be
up"