Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-10
DAILY SHORT STORIES
The Spendthnft
BY J, BERRY cRAPo
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

Mrs. Merriman had fortune. but
she feared at times thai her son Jack
would run through IL before she was
herself done with IL. and then poor.
dear Jacky-swhat would he doy" Jack
was a lovable fellow, with lots OF
friends who ,adored him. belonged TO a
number of clubs--indeed. was In every
thing that induced the expenditure of
money. t d..
Mother" he said To her one day
after lecture. there's no, use in my
trying to get on economically here.
where the temptation to spend is SO
great l must 60 elsewherc What do
you say to, my resigning from all my
clubs and societies and going TO a law
school, where l can learn profession
that will enable me TO take care of
you, my dear mumsey. i'm your old
ageT'
Jack Merriman that autumn entered
university located where there was
nothing but the college and entered
for the degree OF bachelor of laws. But
the leopard cannot change his spots.
Jack found several rich students in
the institution who had automobiles.
What was there To do in the country
during hours when he was 10, study
Ing except 10 run over the smooth
roads? What was more simple than
10 pay few hundred dollars down
for machine and give his note on IL
for the rest? SO he scrapcd together
the few hundred dollars and bought n
5000 machine.
One afternoon during the indian
summer, when the warm cunnght
shone upon the many colCrcd leaves
that were beginning to die on the trees,
Jack Merriman, with Edith Ashurst
beside him and Bob Overaker and Sa-
die Chandler on the rear scat. was run.
ming over to Ii. for dinner and ride
back in the cool moonlight. lie had an
uncle I'm b., and there was danger I'm
his going there, but he risked It.
All went well as a marriage bell till
the party rode up TO the hotel where
the dinner had been ordered by tele-.
phone. Jack WAS about to take of his
goggles and help Miss Ashurst out
when he espied his uncle coming down
the street. II was too late TO push on.
for those in the rear seat were getting
out and the uncle was nearly upon
them. IN hurried whisper Jack told
Miss Ashurst that the man was his
uncle and that they were all TO go into
the hotel. II the uncle asked ques-
tons he was not to belJacll Merrman.
bat Tom Oglethorpe
ot When Mr.. Merriman. Sr.. came
along JACK was at the wheel. his Cog
giles still over his eyes, turning on the
connection.
Jack! Hello! Wait minutew call
ed the uncle.
Anything / can do for you, sir?"
said Jack, the machine chucging as
though impatient TO be Off.
What are you doing here? And this
machine--baye you been wasting your
mothers money!
What are you talking about. and
who are you, anyway? I've no time to
fool here. I've got to he 1T D., forty
miles away. in an hour"
do you mean"-puttIng on Il pair OF
specialization say that you're not
Jack MerrimanT
y
Il laundering old idiot? Get ont of the
way, say. I'm losing precious time"
Jack started the automobile. just
grazing the old gentleman's toes. and
was soon out of sight Mr.. Merriman
looked after him doubtfully. then,
muttering something like I'D have
sworn 1t was he passed OH by the
hotel. stopped, pondered, went back
and entered by tho same door that the
party had gone in. They were waiting
for him in the reception room Bob
Oyeraker accosted him In the hall
II say, sir, has the automobile
gomez
THE one I'm front OF the door? Yes"
That's too bad"
ooh, dear cried Miss Ashurst.
Toms gone of with all tn, wraps.
Wen have to ride home without them.
and It's getting colder every moment"
Tom did you sayY' asked Mr.
Nc riman.
"Hcs. sir" put In Overakor. Tom
Oglethorpc, my cousin. DO you know
him. sir?"
'"Thc gentleman I'm the automobile"
replied Mr. Mcrriman. very much re-
sembeg my nephew, John Mcrrlman.
indccd, ] was sure he was my nephew
DO You say ne is your cousin What
is your naneW
My name is spanglcr, sir. Tom
Oglethorpe's mother Is nay aunt"
HIM muttcrcd MIR Merrimnn. I'm
obliged TO YOU for correcting me.
came very near making n grave mis-
take. Good evening"
Half an hour afterward Jack. hav.
ing left his auto ut q garage. sncaked
in at the back door and learned what
had occurred. Then, directing that NO
one should be admitted to the dining
room, the party sat down to dinner.
Mrs. Merriman did not hear from the