The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1911-05-25

no desire 10 see me. His letters were
eminently satisfactory, and | confess
! felt keen desire to see what he
was like. So one day wrote him that
l would be pleased to receive his pho
tograph.
He replied that he had been dread.
ing to be thus called on for some time.
tnasmuch as he had no pretense what.
ever to manly beauty. Indeed, he con-
sidered himself homely. But" he
said, Il am making some negotiations
which II successful will put me in
much better condition to marry than
now. They will be settled within a
week one way or the other. If the is-
sue is to my advantage will be happy
to call upon you. hope by seeing you
may be able to do away with some
of the prejudice that would occur from
your seeing my picture unrelieved by
any personnel whatever"
1t was about this time that Tom
Baxter began to be more devoted to
me than he had ever been. OF course
there was no obligation on my part to
my correspondent. That affair | some
times thought was as much in the air
as Toms patents. But Tom really
seemed to have picked up the idea that
he was about to realize something re-
markable. Whether it was his conf
dence or my desire that he should sue
coed don't know, but l found myself
wishing he would. And If he were 60
ing to make IL strike I wished that he
would make 1t before my clover on
paper, as l considered him. should
call upon me- My necessities grew
greater every day. felt it was due
to my family that l should not only
relieve mother of my support. but do
something for them all besides.
reared that II Mr.. Allerton should turn
out to be desirable party l might
lind myself inclined to treat him cool.
~, having Tom in my thoughts-in
other words. by not encouraging the
one available might lose him.
But as bad luck would have il Mr.
Allerton wrote he was ready to call
upon me. and at the same time Tom
became positively aggressive. He said
nothing more about the folly of Der
sons marrying without an assured in
come ana began In hating kind OF
way to really make love to me- nut
him off. saying: Don't he silly, Tom.
You'll never be able to marry-thnt ia.
theres not more than one chance in
ten thousand Of your being so. for
that's all the chance there Is for an
inventor"
He looked very downcast at this
and said he believed that there was
some one who had first choice, as he
expressed it. told him that ] had
not yet seen the man would marry
tn preference to him.
"Oh. cheer up" he said. INV case
isn't as bad as you think it is. I've
Just succeeded in
l put my hands to my ears. l had
heard the words Il have just succeed
ed or Il am just going to succeed"
80 many times that was not only
tired Of them. but, feeling toward
Tom as I did, they were n mockery
with me. He went away without a
word. and I went to my room and
cried.
The next day 1 wrote Mr.. Allerton
that l would be pleased to have him
call upon me at the home Of nv
cousin In the city. a girl about my
age. who l knew would permit me to
receive any friend of mine there. 1
appointed that day week for what
called preliminary interview. There
was no warmth in my letter. but how
could l warm up for a man whom
had never seen?
l received note by return mail stat.
ing that he would meet me on the date
l had appointed. And now" he add.
ed. II am much pleased to tell you
that fortune after many disappoint.
ments has favored me. am an in
ventOr"-
l threw the note on the floor. For
heavens sake, are the only men in the
world | have to choose from inven-
tors:" Then. after walking back and
forth for awhile. l exclaimed aloud:
III l must wait Cor an inventor III
wait for Tom
The door opened. and who should
come in but Tom himself. I blushed
crimson. for | was sure he had heard
me.
The expression on his face was
study. There was satisfaction and.
above all, amusement. His eyes fair.
ly sparkled with mischief They turn
ed from me to the letter on the floor
Ohio" he exclaimed you have
lover
YES" said fiercely. land. like you.
he is an inventor"
He fairly shouted with laughter
Picking up the letter, he read it. Com
ing to where had broken off, he
went on with it: ~ have just sold a
patent right for 100000 and a royalty
on every article manufactured The
money has been paid me-"
by Jove" he added THE fellow
has got ahead of me-"
stood stock still. red as beet and
not knowing what to do. Tom threw