Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-18
DAILY SHORT STORIES
The Spendthrift
BY ]. BERRY CRAPo
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
BY ]. BERRY CRAPo

Woulu run tnfOuSn IL De1Ore she WAS
herself done with IL, and then poor.
dear Jacky-what would he dog" Jack
was n 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.
Mother" he said TO her one day
after lecture, there's no use in my
trying To got on economically here.
where the temptation 10 spend Is so
great. ! must 20 elsewhere. What do
you say TO my resigning from all my
clubs and societies and going TO n law
school, where l can learn profession
that will enable me TO take care of
you. my dear mumsey. in your old
ageY
Jack Merriman that autumn entered
n 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 I'm
the institution who had automobiles.
What was there To do in tie country
during hours when he was not study
Ing except TO run over the smooth
roads? What was more simple than
TO pay few hundred dollars down
for machine and give his note on It
for the rest? SO he scrapcd together
the few hundred dollars and bought q
5000 machine.
One afternoon during the Indian
summer, when the warm sunlight
shone upon the many colcrod leaves
that were beginning TO die on the trees,
Jack Merriman, with Edith Ashurst
beside him and Bob OverakCr and Sa-
die Chandler on the rear seat. was run
ming over TO B. for u 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 we'll as marriage hell TIL
the party rode up TO the hotel where
the dinner had been ordered by tele-
phone. Jack was about to take off his
goggles and help Miss Ashurst out
when he espied his uncle coming down
the street. 1t 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. If the uncle asked qucs-
tions he was not to be Jack Merriman,
but Tom Oglethorpe
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 n minutc!" call
cd the uncle.
Anything I can do for you, sir?"
said Jack, the machine chufg.ng as
though inpatient TO be of.
What are You doing here? And this
machine-have you been wasting your
mothers money!"
What are you talking about. and
who are you, anyway I've no tiEc 10
fool here. I've got-to ID pt'D, forty
miles away, in an hour"
do you mean"-puttinc ON pair Of
spectacles-"to say that you're not
Jack Merrlmani"
"Do you mean TO say that you're not
laundering old idiot2 Get OF 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.. Merrlman
looked after him doubtfully. then.
mutterlng something Ike ia have
sworn Il was he" passed on by The
hotel, stopped, pOndcred, went back
and entered by the same door that the
party had gone in. They were waiting
for him I'm the reception room. Boil
Overaker accosted him I'm tho hall.
II say, sir, has the automobile
gone"
"The one IN front OF the door? Yes"
That's too bad"
"Oh, dear! cried Miss Ashurst
"Tom's gone of with all tn, wraps.
Well have to ride home without them.
and IT'S getting colder every moment"
Tom, did you sayY" asked Mr..
Mciriman.
"Yes, SIR" put IN Oyerakcr. tom
OglethOrpe, my cousin. DO you know
him, sir?"
"The gentleman in the automobile"
replied Mr. Merrlman. Every much re.
sombles my nephew. John Meriman.
Indeed, I was sure he was my nephew.
DO YOU say ne is your cousin? What
Is your nameW
MY name is spangler, SIR. Tom
Oglethorpe's mother is my aunt
HIN" muttered Mr.. Merriman. I'm
obliged to you for correcting me.
came very near making a grave mis-
take. Good evening"
Half an hour afterward Jack. hav.
ing left his auto at garage. sncakcd
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 /
automobile from Jacks uncle, but !
later from Jack himself, who sudden J
-