The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-07-29
TEN MINUTES I'm
LAND OF STORIES
A GOOD FRONT.
By A. r. Groh.


Maggie Peach was beloved by
two young men. There was moth
ing very wonderful in that, for
Maggie was pleasing to the eye,
soothing to the mind and satisfy
inA - the heart.
first of these two admirers
<Chesterton P. v. Bigg. The
PHILOSOPHY of Chesterton was based
ApQp the great and fundamental
lllcIple of the bluff. Spread 1t
thick" and put up a good front"
were the two rules of his life. He
was convinced that the whole
world is run on the principle of
bluff, and he conceived that man
to be wise who recognized this fast
at the start.
True, Chesterton was only the
holder of a minor position in'the
office of the Steelton Bolt Co. But
he was always there with the
front an dinvested most of his
weekly So in clothes. He had com.
plete lines O ftalk on machines"
and othr like subjects in his rep
ertOire.
Harvey Smith was the name of
kaggies other admirer. You see,
Aght at the beginning, what fear
full handicap he had In the matter
Of name. Names are free and
the letters of the alphabet are not
copyrighted. So it seems that Har-
vey's parents might have given
him a few initials at any rate.
However. this omission didn't both
er Harvey one little bit. He also
had position with the Steelton
Bolt Co., but not in the office. He
was out in the works. where ne
had to get his hands dirty and
wear overalls. He earned Wa
week. Half of this he saited DOW"
in the savings bank.
When Maggie happened to men
ton that a good show was IN
town Chesterton would look wise
and say: "Oh, l hear It's posi-
lively rotten. I want to tame you
TO a good show when one comes 10
town" Shesterton thought he was
unite clever, thus to outwlt
woman. ., ~
Maggie mentioned the show ~
Harvey. "Ill call for YOU sara
Harve. o.o..on IN
When Maggie took Chesterton 10
church with her he wouio drop "
nickel in the collection pia,e 81
that it sounded like half dollar;
"Jt's a shame to fool the dear glrl
tb.t way." Chesterton USED W
cbuikle to himself When Maggie
tnoL Harvey to church he used 10
hodl his coin covered up In MS
fist and slip it onto the plate IKE
sleight-of-hand artist. But ne
wasn't quick enough to escape the
owe of Maggie and she saw that
the coin was half dollar.
Time passed. Chesterton went
on throwing his bluff, dressing
we'll and looking prosperous. Some
times he had to laugh in his sleeve
at the poor old world being taken
in so easily, and by such young
man, too He couldn't help laugh
ing at Maggie. The dear girl was
so easy. He would win her from
poor, Flooding Harvey in a walk.
Harvey went right on plodding.
His salary rose from time to time.
ne Speul every IIihutS vi WYNN
ing hours hard at work. for he
took an interest in what he did.
Every minute outside of working
hours, except while he slept. he
spent think of Maggie. He longed
to lay his heart and his wages and
everything at her feet. But he was
afraid to ask her. He didn't think
there was any chance that she
would accept.
I'm only laboring man." he
said to himself She surely
doesn't care for me as much as for
Chesterton; he works in the Of
flee and he must pull down a pref
ty fat salary"
Thus, pessimistically. did Harvey
commune with himself. Still. he
kept Maggie supplied with candy
and flowers and took her to every
good show.
Chesterton began to get alarmed
and one evening he popped the
question. Bing Biff! Bang! That
for Chesterton.
Next day Harvey humbly asked
Maggie to go to the theater. That
Is, If you haven't any other en-